Tostan is a non-governmental organisation that was initiated in Senegal. It aims to empower the powerless including women in the provinces. This is according to the Deputy Director of the organisation Mr. Ansu Kambaye. He added, “The word Tostan is derived from a wollof word referring to when a hen lays eggs and they hatch the small chickens will spread. This is why we use the word because we also spread an share our knowledge with people.”

Mr. Kanbaye added that their aim is to spread knowledge of development to those who may not have it especially African women who represent the highest proportion of people suffering the effects of poverty.
 
In Tostan, Kambaye noted, they engage in youth and adult literacy programmes as well as education on topics such as democracy, human rights, health and hygiene. They are engaged in these activities in forty Mandinka and Fula villages in URR.

On how the organisation came to operate in The Gambia, he said that the government of this country had heard about the organisation’s work in Senegal and decided to sponsor the group to come here.

One of the difficulties they have encountered is the desire of tribes in URR to have all their classes in their native language. Something he says will be a reality soon.

He finally thanked the President, his Government, the Governor of URR, the Education Department and also UNICEF who are the main sponsor of the project. He said with the help of the excellent staff at the NGO and other participants such as the media the group will achieve its goals as time goes on.