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AirTalk

Molly Melching on more than 40 years of human rights work in Africa

By AirTalk Staff
Published Oct 18, 2017
Molly Melching, founder and CEO of Tostan an organization headquartered in Dakar, Senegal. It works to help African communities bring about sustainable development.
Molly Melching, founder and CEO of Tostan an organization headquartered in Dakar, Senegal. It works to help African communities bring about sustainable development.
TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY HORACI GARCIA MARTI AND COUMBA SYLLA Senegalese girls participate in a rugby match along with other youths at the "House of Rugby" ("Maison du Rugby") sports and cultural center, in Yoff, a neighborhood of Dakar, on October 17, 2011. Around 120 youths, many from poor families, come each day to play rugby at the center, and to take advantage of the other activities and services offered at the center, including medical check-ups, literacy programs for the illiterate and tutoring for children facing difficulties at school, and first aid classes. The project is managed by a few Senegalese and French mentors and coaches, and operates thanks to local support, funding by Prince Albert of Monaco, and material support by the French "Les Enfants de l'Ovale" non-profit. AFP PHOTO / SEYLLOU (Photo credit should read SEYLLOU/AFP/Getty Images)
Senegalese girls participate in a rugby match along with other youths at the "House of Rugby" sports and cultural center, in Yoff, a neighborhood of Dakar, on October 17, 2011.
(
SEYLLOU/AFP/Getty Images
)
Molly Melching, founder and CEO of Tostan an organization headquartered in Dakar, Senegal. It works to help African communities bring about sustainable development.
Molly Melching, founder and CEO of Tostan an organization headquartered in Dakar, Senegal. It works to help African communities bring about sustainable development.
TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY HORACI GARCIA MARTI AND COUMBA SYLLA Senegalese girls participate in a rugby match along with other youths at the "House of Rugby" ("Maison du Rugby") sports and cultural center, in Yoff, a neighborhood of Dakar, on October 17, 2011. Around 120 youths, many from poor families, come each day to play rugby at the center, and to take advantage of the other activities and services offered at the center, including medical check-ups, literacy programs for the illiterate and tutoring for children facing difficulties at school, and first aid classes. The project is managed by a few Senegalese and French mentors and coaches, and operates thanks to local support, funding by Prince Albert of Monaco, and material support by the French "Les Enfants de l'Ovale" non-profit. AFP PHOTO / SEYLLOU (Photo credit should read SEYLLOU/AFP/Getty Images)
Senegalese girls participate in a rugby match along with other youths at the "House of Rugby" sports and cultural center, in Yoff, a neighborhood of Dakar, on October 17, 2011.
(
SEYLLOU/AFP/Getty Images
)
Listen 11:28
Molly Melching on more than 40 years of human rights work in Africa

Molly Melching is the founder of Tostan International.

Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, Melching and her organization are most well known for advancing human rights in the region – specifically awareness of female genital cutting, and childhood and forced marriage. Meaning “breakthrough” in Wolof, Tostan organizes community programs on health, hygiene, literacy and other human rights issues.

Molly Melching, founder and CEO of Tostan an organization headquartered in Dakar, Senegal. It works to help African communities bring about sustainable development.
Molly Melching, founder and CEO of Tostan an organization headquartered in Dakar, Senegal. It works to help African communities bring about sustainable development.

Through those programs, more than 7,200 villages in six West African countries ended practices of female genital cutting and childhood marriage.

Host Larry Mantle talks to Melching about her work and mission.

Guest:

Molly Melching, founder and creative director of Tostan, a non-governmental organization headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, that promotes sustainable development in Africa