Child Rights Hero Nominee • Pages 92–112 WHY HAS MOLLY BEEN Molly Melching NOMINATED?

Molly Melching has been nominated for the World’s Children’s Prize for her 40-year struggle to end female genital cutting, child marriage and forced marriage.

Molly and her organization Tostan train people using local languages, in a program based on human rights. They involve whole villages, adults and children alike, in a three-year training program that covers health, education and environ- mental issues. Other important elements include empowering women and children, and raising Molly Melching arrives in the village of Malicounda Historical decision awareness of female genital Bambara in Senegal on a historic day in 1996. Until The women under the tree cutting and the rights of the begin to talk about how they child. Tostan’s unique educa- this day, the girls in the village have always been made their decision. tional model is called the subjected to female genital cutting and child mar- “We have received infor- ‘Community Empowerment riage. Molly hardly dares to believe the message mation that we didn’t have Program’. The program has led that has reached her from the village women: before,” says Kerthio, one of the women. “We now know to over 7,200 villages across six ‘We have decided to stop cutting our girls.’ nations in West Africa deciding that most women in the to stop practising female genital hen Molly drives a thousand-year-old tradi- world are not cut. That sur- her jeep into the tion that has seriously prised us. We have also cutting, child marriage and village, she is wel- harmed millions of girls in learned that a lot of the pain forced marriage. Thanks to W comed by many people. this and other villages? and problems we women live Molly and Tostan, hundreds of Singing and dancing, they thousands of girls in these vil- make their way to the meet- lages can now grow up without ing place in the shade of a the risk of being harmed for life. large tree. And they and the boys in the “We greet you by your first villages will not have to get name and your surname,” married while they are still says the leader of the village children. Both girls and boys women. Before, even talking can now dream of a future filled about female genital cutting with knowledge, where they was prohibited, so Molly is amazed. Have the women make their own life decisions. really decided to talk openly about this tradition, and to put a stop to it? Has her organization Tostan’s train- Adama, 15, is talking about the Tostan program in front of the whole ing in health and human village. When her mother was young, girls weren’t allowed to talk rights contributed to ending like this, but now the village meetings include everyone.

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92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 92 2016-04-14 15:17 with are linked to the cutting The women decide to hold carried out on us as children.” a ceremony, during which Female genital cutting is a both women and men explain dangerous procedure, which why the decision to end leads to lifelong health prob- female genital cutting is an lems. But it is a tradition that important one. And how the meant that a girl could be discussions in the Tostan pro- married and accepted by the gram helped them to make village community. their decision. For a long time, the village Molly is at the ceremony. women have talked about She joins in the dancing and how girls are cut and forced to shares the joy of everyone in All the children have jobs to do, like fetching water, but it’s also important that children have time to play. marry early. For two years, the village. trainers from Tostan have given them support and First children’s centre she arrived in Dakar she had a children’s books in Wolof so information on human When Molly first came to feeling: ‘This is my place in one night Molly wrote her rights, the body, and health. Senegal as a 24-year-old in the world.’ first story book in Wolof, “The most important thing 1974 it was to study children’s The stories she was study- about a girl called Anniko. we have learned,” says stories in French, as part of ing were in French, but the She ran the children’s centre Kerthio, “is that there are her university studies back children’s language was for six years. human rights. And that we, home in the USA. But when Wolof. as adults, are responsible for ‘How are the children sup- Village life protecting the rights of the Molly came to Senegal as a posed to learn when they After six years at the chil- child. That gives us the 24-year-old and stayed. She start- can’t speak or read books in dren’s centre in the capital, ed a children’s centre in the capital strength to stand up for our city of Dakar. their own language?’ Molly Molly moved out to a village rights.” asked herself. to learn about the situation “We have talked with the She learned Wolof and for children there. religious leaders and found started a centre where chil- There was no school in the that this tradition does not dren could read, experience, village. Molly lived there for come from Islam. Putting a learn and develop in their three years and created an stop to the tradition doesn’t own language. There were no educational program in the make us bad Muslims.”

En route to a Tostan meeting En route to a meeting in one of more than 7,200 villages that have said no to female genital cutting and child marriage, thanks to Tostan’s work.

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92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 93 2016-04-04 18:42 local language, based on tra- began raising awareness of woman called Ourèye Sall. Ourèye wanted to share ditional songs, dances and human rights, this sparked She was a traditional cutter, this new knowledge so she poems. The program grew discussions about child mar- the person who carries out visited many villages. Adults out of information on health riage and female genital cut- female genital cutting on the listened to her because she and hygiene, and discussions ting. girls in the village. was a cutter, and she stood to and shared problem-solving But in 1996 when the vil- Ourèye was only fourteen gain from the tradition con- with the people in the village. lage of Malicounda Bambara when she was married off to tinuing. In 1991, working with the was the first village to say an older man. But before this, local people, Molly began to they had stopped cutting her mother had taught her The wandering imam develop what was to become girls, many people were how to perform the cutting Molly’s good friend, an imam the organization Tostan. angry. Both women and men procedure. That knowledge called Demba Diawara, was Tostan is a Wolof word for protested. They called the gave her a better status in the angry at first that Tostan the moment when a chick women in the village horrible new village, and brought in were discussing this tradi- breaks through the egg shell. names, and said that they money to her family. tion. But after talking about Tostan’s aim was to share would never stop cutting girls. By the time Ourèye came cutting with doctors, reli- knowledge with other villag- into contact with Tostan’s gious leaders and women in es in different local languages. The cutter who quit education program, she the village, he came to Molly Once Molly and Tostan In another village lived a already had her own children and said: and grandchildren. They had “I was wrong. I didn’t know been cut, just like all the girls how damaging this is. Now in the village. that I know, I have to do “We were sitting in the something about it. But to be classroom and I turned to my able to end this tradition we daughter and said: ‘No. It’s must persuade our relatives over now. I don’t want to cut and friends. We have to talk girls any more.’ Peace and to all the villages, and I freedom from violence are myself will go to ten villages more important than money. where my closest relatives I realised that then,” says live.” Ourèye. Demba walked from village

Ourèye Sall was the first cutter who took a “I know that I’ll have problems when I’m older and I’m giving birth,” stand against female says Nuima, 14, in Senegal, who was cut as a baby. “Thanks to Tostan, genital cutting and nobody does it any more here, and nobody forces us to get married stopped carrying it out. before we are eighteen.” Her granddaughter Rokhaya, 17, is proud of her grandmother’s important work to end the practice.

Thanks Tostan! Isatou, 11, suffered female genital cutting as a baby, but it doesn’t happen any longer in her village and everyone has promised to stop the tradition. “If it wasn’t for Tostan, we would still be marry- ing off our girls in our village,” says Isatou.

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92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 94 2016-04-04 18:42  

Imam Demba Diawara has been an TEXT: JOHANNA HALLIN & EVELINA FREDRIKSSON PHOTOS: KIM NAYLOR important figure for Molly and Tostan. Once he understood how wrong the tradition of cutting was, he realised he had to talk to relatives in all the villages to put a stop to it. “I myself will walk to ten villag- es where my relatives live,” he said.

to village. His message was eighteen years. Many other met by anger and fear, but he villages have made the same was always careful to be clear decision. Through the Tostan and respectful. Slowly, after program, over 7,200 villages Children and adults set goals together for the development of the village, based on everyone’s right to live in a safe, clean environment, many months and discus- in six West African countries and everyone’s responsibility to keep their surroundings clean. sions, the decision was made. stopped practising female Twin brothers Dyouma and Bilal have gathered up all the garbage in the Together. genital cutting, child mar- village of Keur Simbara and they’re taking it away. Hundreds of people gath- riage and forced marriage. ered in the village of Keur Hundreds of thousands of Simbara to celebrate the deci- girls’ bodies are unharmed, hard. Together with Tostan, sion to stop female genital and free from pain and dis- these villages have done cutting. Now Molly, Tostan, comfort. More girls get to go something really unusual. Knowledge and the people in the villages to school instead of being “Human rights hold the knew that to create a future married off early and becom- key. When we talk about spreads where girls are free from cut- ing mothers while they them- rights and responsibilities, ting, everyone must be selves are still children. Boys everyone understands. Tostan works in six coun- involved in the decision. too are free from early mar- Everyone has a right to free- tries in West Africa: When a decision is made riage and can finish their edu- dom from violence, and at the Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, together, it is strong! cation instead. same time, it’s everyone’s Mali, Mauritania, Senegal Changing a tradition is responsibility to contribute and Gambia. Since 1991, Now 7,200 villages more than 200,000 peo- When Molly visits Keur ple have taken part in Simbara now, 20 years have Tostan's program and passed since the village began used Tostan's material, working with Tostan. And no which is available in 22 girl has been cut here for local languages. Tostan's model means that these 200,000 children and A decision worth celebrating adults have in turn spread When villages that are linked, through knowledge and influ- extended families or in other ways, make a enced over two million joint decision to stop female genital cut- people. The program par- ting, they hold a ceremony where they ticipants talk to their rela- talk about their decision. And a party with tives and friends in other dancing to celebrate it! villages. Knowledge and change spread across entire countries, as well as to other countries.

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92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 95 2016-04-04 18:43 Human Times have changed Molly walking through Keur Simbara with the rights For the cool young people in the village of children of the village. Everybody knows about Sare Ngai in Gambia, the times have changed. Molly and Tostan, and that they have helped make violation They will never subject their children to life better for the village children. female genital cutting or child marriage. Around 140 million girls and women all over the world have been subject- to a society that is free from to improve their lives – about goals in terms of electricity, ed to female genital violence. The Tostan program access to schools, toilets and vaccination, road improve- cutting, which affects shows that although not medical care, about awareness ments, and women’s partici- around three million girls everyone has gone to school, of malaria, or about whether pation in decisions. She is in Africa every year. This everyone can make wise and to build a well or a library. delighted to watch the young is a human rights viola- brave decisions,” says Molly. And about registering adults people’s play about choosing tion and brings a series The Tostan program means so that they can vote. their own husband or wife, as of health risks, both as a that village residents can con- Molly listens to the village part of the Tostan program. direct result of the proce- tinue to make good decisions council explaining the village Then the dancing continues. c dure, and throughout each girl’s life. Better lives with Tostan What is a social norm? Female genital cutting is part of a social In order to put a stop to this tradition, The focus on human rights in the Tostan norm on getting married. A social norm many people have to decide on a new program means that life in the villages is something that many people in a soci- social norm, together. The new norm is gets better for children and adults in ety agree on. If someone chooses to do that a girl should not have to be cut in many ways: things differently, usually people have order to be married. • Over 7,200 villages have stopped female something to say about it. For example, This is how this social norm is changed in genital cutting, child marriage and the idea that you shouldn’t drop litter in the Tostan villages: forced marriage nature is a social norm. 1. Old social norm: Girls are cut and In many societies in West Africa, there married off young. • Respect for the rights of the child is a social norm that a girl has to be cut 2. Tostan training: Children and adults increases in order to be able to get married. This is discuss and learn new things together. • More girls go to school a thousand-year-old tradition, and 3. Raising awareness: Adults and • More children are vaccinated nobody knows where it came from. It children from several villages raise • Literacy increases just is. awareness and discuss the issue • Maternal and child health improves Tostan’s program gives participants together. • Decisions are made democratically information on human rights and on 4. Shared decision: Stop female genital • Women can be leaders too how dangerous it is for girls and women cutting and child marriage in our vil- • Positive environmental impact to be circumcised. They get to talk to lage! • Fewer cases of malaria, HIV and AIDS, imams, who explain that female genital 5. New social norm: Girls go to school, and other diseases cutting is a tradition and it is not men- no cutting or child marriage in the • Solar power brings electricity to the tioned in the Koran. village! villages

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92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 96 2016-04-04 18:43 “You’re getting married tomorrow”

After months of drought, finally the rain is drumming on the roof. Mariama Bah, four years old, runs out to the other children. Mariama doesn’t know that it’s already been decided that she will marry one of the boys who is also jumping in the puddles.

“ hen I was born, a lying there as man and wife. friend of my parents We talked about other things W came over and said: too, about our friends and the ‘This girl is going to be my village. And about our new son’s wife.’ My parents thought home, where we would live this was a good idea, so they together. discussed the wedding, and “The women outside were agreed that I would live with waiting for us to lie together as the boy’s family from when I man and wife. At sunrise we stopped being breastfed until gave them my white sheet, I was seven. So I grew up with which now had blood on it. the boy who was to become my The women started cheering husband. We were like brother and dancing.” and sister.” School for my children Wedding day “A year later I gave birth to my “I went back to live with my first child. It was really diffi- mother and father when I cult. I had to go to hospital and turned seven. One day, when I I was bedridden for weeks was eleven, my friends told me: afterwards. Just over a year lat- ‘You’re getting married tomor- er my second child was born. row’. I was upset. “We struggled to get enough “I was taken to the boy who food for us all, so my husband

was to be my husband. I wore decided to travel to Europe to  a white sheet tied around my find work. I didn’t hear any- TEXT: JOHANNA HALLIN & EVELINA FREDRIKSSON PHOTOS: KIM NAYLOR hips and a veil on my head. thing from him for several My upper body was bare. weeks. He’s still in Italy now, “After the wedding my hus- he has a job and sends money band and I went into the home. He calls us often, and house. Two older women sat says nice things to me and asks outside. Later on, we were to after the children. Now that we give the white sheet to the have lived together as man and women. If there was blood on wife, I have started to love him. the sheet then the village “I’ve learned so much from would celebrate with music Tostan. One of the women and dancing. If not, it would be there tells me everything she a scandal. knows. My dream is good “When we lay down on the health for my family. I won’t let bed my husband asked me: my children get married before ‘Why are you so quiet?’ I they are eighteen years old, and looked up at the ceiling and I’ll make sure they can go to didn’t know what to say. My school.” c husband started talking about all sorts of things and after a while, I started to talk too. We said that it felt strange to be

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92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 97 2016-04-04 18:43 To be married off at age eleven Mariama is running. Her feet strike the sandy ground hard, and she is struggling not to trip in the darkness. She wants to escape from everything. Her stepfather has decided that she should get married, although she is only eleven years old.

fter running two kilo- metres in the dark, Mariama’s new stepfather More atrocities A Mariama reaches her doesn’t want her to go to There’s another thing that grandmother’s home, who school, and instead decides makes Mariama even more tries to console her, but she should be married off. afraid. When she was a baby, Mariama can’t stop crying. If who are widowed must spend Since he is a man, he is she was subjected to FGC – her father had still been alive four months in mourning. allowed to make these deci- female genital cutting. In none of this would be hap- During this time, they may sions. Mariama’s village, they ‘sew pening, she thinks to herself. not even take an object from a Mariama refuses to go up’ a girl’s vagina. When she “My father loved me and man’s hand. If a man needs to along with her stepfather’s is going to get married, the my siblings more than any- give her something, he has to plan. She feels heartbroken ‘cutter’ has to come back to thing else. His death was the lay it on the floor for her to thinking about what life open her up with a knife. beginning of a new life. Dad pick up. would be like without school. “Most girls faint. Many get was the one who supported When the period of mourn- All her dreams for the future ill afterwards, and are bedrid- us, and when he passed away ing is over, the woman can would go up in smoke. den for a long time. It can be everything got harder.” marry again. Mariama’s “My father wanted me to hard to recover,” says mother follows tradition and go to school. If he was still Mariama. Dreams up in smoke marries one of Mariama’s alive then none of this would Mariama knows that it will According to tradition in father’s brothers. This is when be happening,” says Mariama be hard for her to give birth Mariama’s village, women Mariama’s problems begin. to her stepfather. because she has had this done TEXT: JOHANNA HALLIN & EVELINA FREDRIKSSON PHOTOS: KIM NAYLOR KIM PHOTOS: FREDRIKSSON EVELINA & HALLIN JOHANNA TEXT: 

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92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 98 2016-04-04 18:43 to her. Especially as she is still will listen to what she has to so young. But her stepfather say. is determined. “You are going When Mariama finds the to marry your cousin. It’s for women who work with the best for the family.” Tostan and are part of the vil- Mariama cries almost all lage committee, they listen to night long at her grandmoth- her carefully. They say they er’s house. But when she are impressed that Mariama wakes up the next morning, knows that education is so she has decided what to do. important. They think She is going to go to an organisation called Tostan for help. She doesn’t feel nervous, because she is sure that they

Mariama’s wardrobe

Mariama is interested in clothes Work clothes and has a big wardrobe. Her When Mariama does favourite clothes are ones she housework, like has been given by her sisters and sweeping or carrying cousins for weddings and naming water, she always wears ceremonies. old clothes. It’s impor- tant to keep your special clothes nice! Ceremonial clothes For weddings and naming ceremonies, Mariama wears traditional clothes. When her older sister got married she gave Mariama this dress. All the women at the celebration wore the same clothes.

Wedding anklets Mariama’s mother makes these ankle decorations, which form part of the traditional wedding outfit. She has made matching ones for all the girls in the family.

Henna tattoo Mariama gets help to paint a traditional henna decoration on her hands and feet. It can stay on for up to three weeks. 99

92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 99 2016-04-04 18:43 Favourite everyday dress Favourite everyday dress Secret party Mariama likes to dress up when clothes visitors come to the village, or when she is spending time with The older people in the friends. village don’t like it when the girls wear trousers and a short tunic. So when there are parties in the village, Mariama and her friends usually wear tradi- tional clothes with trousers underneath. Once the old- er people have gone to bed, she takes off her skirt and continues dancing with her friends.

Party dress Mariama has embroidered ‘Princess AK Jallow’ on her skirt.

Mariama is ambitious, and she is no longer afraid.

Checked designs The Tostan plan Many of the fabrics in The Tostan group quickly Mariama’s village have make a plan. They have to checked designs, like talk to Mariama’s stepfather, this skirt. and fast. They gather a group but even from a distance she Tostan is clear: girls have a of 17 people, and together can hear that he is furious. right to an education! they go to her parents’ house. “Mariama has asked others Mariama should not have to They are indignant. An for help because she has no quit school and get married. 11-year-old shouldn’t have to respect for her own family,” This could have serious con- get married! She should be he says. Then he shouts: “She sequences for her health, and going to school and getting will do as I say!” and refuses destroy her future. But what an education. to listen to the group gath- happens if her stepfather forc- Mariama stays out of sight ered at his house. es her? to avoid hearing the conver- That night, Mariama can’t sation with her stepfather, Everyone is angry sleep. Her stepfather is still Mariama knows that she is angry and she feels sad that right. The message from this big argument is going on

92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 100 2016-04-04 18:43 Party dress Mariama has embroidered ‘Princess AK Jallow’ on her skirt.

School uniform Mariama is very careful with her school uniform, and always has a bath before she puts it on.

are angry with him because he won’t listen. Several of her relatives are upset that she is not obeying her stepfather. They do not believe that a girl in her village. She slips out of should be able to make deci- bed and out into the night. sions for herself. Without even thinking, she starts to run. It’s as if her feet Help from the police are moving by themselves, When she comes home from leading her along the road to her grandmother’s house, her grandmother’s house. Mariama realises that her When she arrives her stepfather has not listened to grandmother takes her in, but Tostan. He is going to make says that she has to go home sure that the wedding goes in the morning. Mariama ahead, unless something knows what she wants and drastic happens. She has to feels supported by Tostan. At act! the same time she is afraid, because so many people in the village are angry now. Her stepfather is angry with her and the Tostan women

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92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 101 2016-04-04 18:43 Mariama with the women from Tostan who helped her when her stepfather wanted to marry her off. “Lots of girls are forced to quit school, but Mariama was brave and dared to talk to us and put a stop to it. Now she can be whatever she wants to be,” says Kumba Bah.

meeting. The women from Her stepfather is afraid station feeling relieved, nerv- Mariama writes a letter to Tostan are there too. The now, and submits to the ous and shaken all at once. the governor, explaining her police are clear: “Mariama is police officers’ demands. She is delighted to be able to situation. Then she goes to doing well at school and she With eyes fixed on Mariama, continue going to school, and the police. The police have wants to continue her educa- one of the police officers says: that she will not have to go seen similar cases and they tion. That means that you “Remember this moment. through the trauma of child understand the situation. have no right to take her out You have gone through all of marriage. At the same time They invite Mariama and her of school. If you do not allow this to be able to go to school. she feels uneasy. She has put stepfather to a meeting. her to go to school, we will Now promise me that you’ll her parents at risk of being Mariama, her parents, and arrest you,” they say to her do well.” arrested. two police officers attend the stepfather. Mariama leaves the police Keeping her promise Returning to the village is not easy. People turn away from Mariama. Her own rela- tives say unkind things, and the village elder is annoyed. He says that Mariama has disrespected him, and that going to the police was the wrong thing to do. Things don’t get any better when Mariama goes to school. It feels like everyone is

Weekly market Near Mariama’s village there is a weekly market. Everybody gathers there, and you can buy anything you can think of. This week Mariama has saved up to buy new eyeshadow.

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92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 102 2016-04-04 18:43 “At first I didn’t want to listen to the Tostan group, but now I’m grateful that they helped me to understand how important it is to get an education,” says Mariama’s stepfather.

about school, and says all the We will never again cut a the people who have gath- things that Mariama herself girl! We will never again ered. She concludes with a has been saying for the last demand that someone under speech that she wrote herself, few weeks. That schooling is a the age of 18 has to get mar- which ends with the words: right, and education is the ried! “We are victims. But our Mariama AK, 16 key to a better future. In that Mariama is the one who children will not be!” c Dream: To become a nurse moment, Mariama resolves reads out the declaration for Motto: Forgive your enemies and to focus fully on her studies. move on towards your dream Nothing else will distract her. Sad: When she thinks about her She will keep her promise to dead father that stern police officer. Proud of: Fighting to continue her schooling Village for girls’ rights Wants to stop: Child marriage Time passes, and Mariama Responsibility feels that people are no longer against her. Her stepfather and styles! forgives her and explains to looking at her. After school, her, and the whole village, “Tostan taught us to talk about she goes home and goes to that he was wrong. important things with our friends. bed. She can’t eat, and she “All girls have a right to go Both about our rights, and about can’t stop thinking that to school. I understand that how we can influence our own everybody is against her. For now. I didn’t want to listen to lives, although we’re young. We days she just lies there, not Tostan, but now I am glad used to just sit around and wait, going out. What should have that they helped me. My but we have learned that we can been a victory is weighing her advice to everyone I meet is take responsibility for ourselves. So down, and Mariama feels that you should never forget now we do small extra jobs. I shell alone. the people who help you peanuts and sell them in little Then Mariama’s best friend make the right decision,” says bags. My friend Kanku makes fish walks in the door. She sits on her stepfather in front of soup and sells it with bread. When the edge of Mariama’s bed everyone in the village. we make a profit we like to go to and hugs her tightly. When Tostan have been the tailor and try on different “You have fought too hard working in Mariama’s village styles of clothes!” Kora and Kanku, 13, like listening to just give up now,” she says. for three years, the whole vil- Kora, 13 to pop songs from Guinea. Mariama’s friend tells her lage makes a declaration:

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92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 103 2016-04-04 18:43 Best friends with different lives

At the video club in the village, two friends Saikou and Ebrima are watching football. They have a lot in com- mon, and they both support Real Madrid. But their lives are very different. Saikou goes to school and every day, thanks to the Tostan women in the village, he takes a small step closer to his dream of becoming a doctor. Ebrima works in the fields, and can’t give his wife and three children what they need. efore school, Saikou going to work instead of stud- Ebrima and Saikou tends the family’s cows. ying. are best friends. B Once he has given them Saikou stands his ground. But they have lived what they need, he hurries to He explains that if they let very different lives the village school. From a him continue his education, since Ebrima quit very young age Saikou has he will be able to help the school. wanted to be a doctor. He family much more than if he knows all too well what it is forced to get married and means not to have access to start living an adult life this medical care. When his father young. When they still won’t fell ill and died, life became listen, Saikou walks out the difficult for the whole family. door. He knows he doesn’t “Our father loved me and have to solve this problem my siblings. Losing him is the alone. Help is available. worst thing that’s happened to me. When he died, it Help from Tostan became hard for us to make Just a stone’s throw away, ends meet.” Saikou finds the Tostan rep- After while, Saikou’s moth- resentatives in the village. er married again. Saikou’s “It was Tostan that taught stepfather already had chil- us all about the importance of dren of his own, and it’s hard education. They also taught for him to support everyone us that even we children have in the family. The family con- a right to make our voices tinue to struggle to afford the heard. We should be allowed basic essentials, like food and to express our opinions in school resources. important decisions. Tostan said straight away that they You have to leave school! would help me.” When Saikou is thirteen, his The very next day, the mother tells him: Tostan women sit down with “Saikou, you have to leave Saikou’s parents. They talk school and start working. over the situation. Tostan has And we will give you a wife.” a special method to resolve But Saikou refuses. problems and conflicts in the “School is the most impor- villages where they work. The tant thing in my life. And I’m women are experienced and much too young to get mar- know that it’s important for ried,” he says to his mother everyone to express their and stepfather. opinion and feel heard and His stepfather won’t listen. understood. That’s why He has already planned Saikou’s stepfather feels pre- everything and doesn’t see pared to listen to Tostan. any problem with Saikou When they are finished, they

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92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 104 2016-04-04 18:43 have all agreed that the best married and everyone around Never enough money thing for everyone is for him seems to agree. Maybe On his wedding day, Ebrima Saikou to carry on with his school isn’t that important realises he has made a mis- schooling. after all, thinks Ebrima. take in allowing himself to be “I was so happy. Now my Ebrima is a few years older talked into this. Nobody has dream could come true!” than his classmates. Old actually asked him what he enough to get married, his thinks, and he feels that he Talked into getting married parents think, even though At the same time, a short dis- he’s only 16. tance away in the village, What Ebrima doesn’t know another boy’s future is being is that his parents have gath- discussed. He is called ered a group of boys who have Ebrima, and is in the same left school and got married, class as Saikou. and told them to tell Ebrima “If I want water, I can just that married life is better tell my wife to get me some,” than going to school. Ebrima boasts a boy who is a couple is persuaded, and agrees to of years older than Ebrima. marry the cousin his parents “Imagine having a home of have chosen. She is only thir- your own,” says another. teen and Ebrima has never Ebrima is listening. His talked to her before. mother wants him to get

Saikou, 16 Dreams of: Becoming a doctor. Tip for other children: Don’t accept everything adults say. Be sure to include educated people in deci- sion-making. Idol: Ronaldo – he started with nothing and is now the best footballer in the world. Believes in: Democracy. Happy about: Tostan helping us find ways to solve our problems and work on projects together.

In technology and design lessons, Saikou has made a picture of a judge. “I am interested in the judicial system, but I made this picture entirely from my imagination. I’ve never seen a court case.” 105

92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 105 2016-04-04 18:43 Alagie, Saikou and Gibbi go to the video club as often as they can to watch football. Saikou supports Working together for the village, and for fun! Real Madrid. “I admire Ronaldo because he comes from a poor background and has worked his The Tostan program is way up. I wish I could play like based on people in villages him.” deciding together to make life better for everyone in the village. In order for it to was happy when my mother work, everyone needs to told me that I was going to take part in discussing what get married, even though I is important. They agree was so young. I had no idea that health, community, what I would do otherwise. peace and respect are all But my dream for my chil- needed to make life in the dren is for them to know that village as good as possible. there is another kind of life. I Everyone also gets to learn want them to go to school to work together to solve just went along with the shows. When Saikou and I go and not to get married too problems. The children whole idea because he didn’t to watch the football at the early,” says Kaddijato. want to disappoint his par- video club, he can read all the The two friends Saikou and learn how to talk to each ents. signs in English that I don’t Ebrima both work hard for other in a way that builds “Now I thoroughly regret understand, and he can talk what is important to them. community – and they it. I should have made the about things I know nothing Saikou does his best at school practice it all the time as most of my right to express about.” and Ebrima fights to give his they play! my opinion, and I shouldn’t family what they need. They have agreed to get married so Children should get often talk about the future, young. When my wife and I an education and about what a big differ- slept together on the first Saikou and Ebrima often talk ence Tostan has made by rais- night I just felt scared. It was about what going to school ing awareness of the impor- the same for her, she was and getting an education tance of education. If it scared too.” means for your future. hadn’t been for Tostan, “I have been blessed with “I have a lot to learn from Ebrima and Kaddijato might three children and I love my Saikou. When we talk, I real- not have realised that they wife, but it hurts that I can ise what a difference it makes could give their children the never afford to give them whether a person gets an edu- chance to live a different kind what they need,” says cation or not,” says Ebrima. of life. c Ebrima. Ebrima and his wife He has worked hard every Kaddijato agree that their day since leaving school, but children will not get married Ebrima got married at sixteen and Sewing and thinking now he has three children. He and he still can’t make ends meet. before they are 18. “My mother taught me how to his wife Kaddijato often talk about “I’m not educated, and it “I didn’t go to school and I embroider. I usually sit and think making sure their children get the about life here in Gambia. It’s good education they never got. that we are at peace. War is most dangerous for children, because it splits families,” says Isatou, 10.

Ebrima, 19 Wishes: That I could say yes the next time my children ask me for something. Future plan: For my children to go to school. Loves: My wife Kaddijato and our children Juldeh, Jainaba and Ismaila. Regrets: Leaving school too early. Would never: Sit on my big brother’s bed. It goes against our tradition! TEXT: JOHANNA HALLIN & EVELINA FREDRIKSSON PHOTOS: KIM NAYLOR KIM PHOTOS: FREDRIKSSON EVELINA & HALLIN JOHANNA TEXT: 

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Skipping Tick-tock tactical training Keeping the rhythm going “This is a football game. We get into teams and practice tactics. We learn is important when you’re other skills that are useful in real football too. We never do it alone – skipping together. there are always people watching. We use a marble as the football. Right now I’m Real Madrid playing against Barcelona,” says Mamadou, 10.

Music Cycling to performance meet friends When Ilo, 15, plays his Mamadou likes ritti, everyone in the cycling too. It’s village gathers to lis- handy when he ten. The ritti has needs to run errands, strings, but it also or do things with his amplifies his voice friends. when he sings. He is singing about how a woman who is hungry can never be free.

Crochet 25-boxes hairbands “This is a social game. “My mother taught me You’re not allowed to to crochet, and I do it touch one another, and with my friends. if you do then you’re Tostan has taught us out. Lots of people that we have to work can play but only four hard to have a good people run at a time,” life. We can’t just sit explains Hawh, 13. around waiting,” says Fanta, 7.

Battery game “The aim of the game is to hit your opponent’s batteries. Often lots of people want to play so we draw lots to decide who will start. Then we set up a tournament. It’s important for us children to be able to play. It makes us happy and helps us to be able to think freely,” says Gibbi, 12.

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92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 107 2016-04-04 18:43 A better life in many ways

Tostan works in many different ways to make society better for children and their families. Everything is connected, and everything makes children’s lives better. All the children in the Tostan villages have had the chance to share their opinions and learn all about how Tostan works.

Solar power for all Parents’ apology “Tostan has organized solar “I feel free and happy. Now we power for us. We used to have can talk to each other, even oil lamps and that was danger- about difficult things. That has ous. If you used them late at changed my life. night for homework, you could “My parents had me circum- start a fire. cised when I was a baby. They “Before, neither children nor didn’t know it was wrong. They women could express their opin- were really upset when they ions and be listened to, but now realised the problems it causes, everything has changed. and they regret doing it. They Everyone in the village gets to asked me to forgive them and they have promised that they’ll say what they think.” never do it to anyone else again. Awa, 16, Senegal On the day I found out what female genital cutting was, and that it had been done to me, I was devastated. Now that we know about it and can talk about everything, it’s important that we make sure no daughter ever has to go through that again! I want to fight for that.” Ndyaya Ami Bilal Tombong, 13, Gambia Standing up for huma n rights! The children in Kere Simbra in Senegal have a poem about rights Less malaria that the children in the picture are reading together. They stand up for human rights so that they never forget all that the village has “I want to be a business- “Malaria used to be a big prob- learned. An important part of the Tostan program is to dream of woman and work in a bank. lem for us. Many people died. how the future could be better. The children’s parents and grand­ So I need to learn French, English We stopped drinking milk for parents dreamed of a future free from violence. They stopped the and Maths. I dream of having elec- four years, when my stepfather practice of female genital cutting, because it stood tricity in the village, not just solar Helping with cleaning cells like we have now. Round- died, because we thought that in the way of their dreams. bad milk caused his illness. Now instead of child the-clock electricity would make we know that it’s mosquitos that marriage life better for everyone.” Ndeye Fatou, 12 cause malaria. That’s why we “Before Tostan started, boys clear up the village once a week “I love education and I used to have to get married ear- want to be a French teacher. and sleep under mosquito nets. ly, like at my age. But now we My dreams are to build a school Now nobody dies from malaria, “I love history and I want know our rights and responsibili- to be a teacher. My dream is for and to take my parents because we know how to ties. Nobody gets married everyone here to be able to go to to Mecca.” “I love playing football. protect ourselves.” before they turn 18. Boys help school. We need good teachers. Ami, 10 I dream of having a football pitch Musa, 15, Gambia I want to build a school that their mothers with housework, and a team that plays in the is blue and orange.” like cleaning.” league. If we get the chance to Ndyaya, 10 Alasana, 14, Gambia play and train, that will make 108 us strong.” Bilal, 11

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to improve things for them. The TEXT: JOHANNA HALLIN & EVELINA FREDRIKSSON PHOTOS: KIM NAYLOR first thing I would do in a new village is to arrange a clearing up day. Then I’d build a school and register everyone. Tostan teach- es people about hygiene and dialogue. That’s what we need to live a good life, in peace. Children’s rights are particularly important. Once children know Children can take that they have rights, they can also take responsibility and help Back to school Tidy village responsibility to make life in the village better thanks to a cow “My village used to be dirty. It “My dream is to work with for everyone.” “Last year my parents took me isn’t any more, because we’ve Tostan and go to more villages Kajatai, 13, Gambia out of school because it was too learned how to keep it clean and expensive. Then Tostan came tidy. All the children must have and talked to my father about their right to go to school the importance of education. He respected, because that’s the understood, and he sold a cow only way to a good future and so that I could stay in school. I reaching your goals. It’s also was so happy I couldn’t sleep. I important that everybody dream of becoming a doctor and knows how to avoid getting helping women. I also think pregnant.” about how important it is to Fatou, 14, Gambia prevent ebola and maintain good hygiene.” Mariama, 15, Gambia

We are the generation Dyouma Ndeye of human rights Ndeye We accept nothing but human rights Fatou Let’s identify them and let’s ask for them For men For women Women and My sister was For children children married off And for those who claim human involved in “Thinking about Tostan, and the Standing up for huma n rights! rights to apply them decisions fact that I’m not going to be mar- “Before, a man and a ried off, makes me happy. Our woman couldn’t even sit stepfather forced my big sister to “I want to be a business- next to each other and talk. The get married. She is unhappy and woman and work in a bank. men made all the decisions. she has three children already. So I need to learn French, English Women and children were never Life is very hard for those who and Maths. I dream of having elec- “In my dreams, our village allowed to be involved in discus- marry young. They become par- tricity in the village, not just solar looks like the villages I see on TV. sions or decisions. That has all ents while they are still children, cells like we have now. Round- Clean, with lots of trees and and have lots of children of their the-clock electricity would make beautiful flowers. A tap in every changed now. We have talked life better for everyone.” home, and electricity day about human rights and about own. But I’m not going to get Ndeye Fatou, 12 and night.” lots of other important things, married until after I turn 18. Dyouma, 12 to make sure life is good for Instead I’ll go to school, learn lots, everyone in our village. For and get a good job. My dream is example, we have decided that to work with Tostan, talking to nobody should have to get mar- people and helping to solve diffi- cult problems.” “I love playing football. ried before they turn 18, and we I dream of having a football pitch no longer practice female genital Anastou, 13, Gambia “I’m in Year 5. When I grow and a team that plays in the cutting.” up I want to be the Minister league. If we get the chance to for Education. My dream for Fatoumata, 15, Gambia play and train, that will make our village is a nicer school and us strong.” a bigger Koran school.” 109 Bilal, 11 Ndeye, 13

92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 109 2016-04-04 18:43 07:00 Nuima wakes up in the room she shares with her sisters. A day without school 07:15 It’s important to wash before Tostan has changed a lot in the villages, and the adults now know morning prayers. how important it is for both girls and boys to be able to go to school. But there are still families who can’t afford to send their children to school. Lots of progress has been made, but there is still a long way to go.

Before Nuima “I live with my aunt because my mother is prays she puts on dead and my stepmother lives in Banjul. her veil. Time to My aunt doesn’t let me go to school any bring out the more. I have to stay at home and do house- prayer mat. work. I think about school every day, but Nuima turns there is a lot of work to be done here,” says towards Mecca Nuima, 14. and kneels down. “Still, my life would have been different without Tostan here in the village. They have taught us lots about health, and now nobody forces us girls to get married before we are eighteen. So I don’t have to get married until I am an adult and my body is ready to bear 07:40 children.” “Ma an mujamdi,” Nuima was cut as a baby, and every says Nuima to her month when she has her period she has to lie family after pray- down for five days. ing. That means “It’s incredibly painful. I know it will also ‘wake in peace’. cause problems when I’m a grown-up and I give birth. But thanks to Tostan, nobody here cuts girls any more.” 08:00 Fetching water from the well.

10:00 09:00 09:15 Finally, time for breakfast! Nuima has a bath in the bath- Before breakfast, Nuima pounds room, behind a screen. grain in a mortar. When she is finished, she sieves it to remove 11:00 the husks, before using the grain Washing the to make porridge. family’s clothes.

Nuima, 14 Likes: Praying Favourite thing in the day: Cooking Grateful: That she doesn’t have to get married until she is an adult, thanks to Tostan. Wishes: That she could go to school. Last time she was really happy: When she got new clothes.

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13:00 TEXT: JOHANNA HALLIN & EVELINA FREDRIKSSON PHOTOS: KIM NAYLOR 12:00 Nuima makes lunch Shelling peanuts. in a smoky kitchen, Peanuts are an important but she enjoys part of their diet, and are cooking. also sold at the market.

15:00 Time to sweep up. 15:30 Nuima is embroi- dering a piece of fabric that will hang in front of her door when she is married.

16:00 Nuima gets help to tidy up her plaits.

19:00 The family eat dinner.

22:00 Nuima goes to bed after a long working day. As usual, 20:00 before she falls asleep she Nuima watches TV thinks about what her day with her cousins. would have been like if she At the same time could have gone to school some of the chil- instead. dren who go to the village school dur- ing the day are in the neighbouring village, attending Koran school by the light of a large fire.

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92-112_Molly_Meicher_USA.indd 111 2016-04-04 18:44 Solar energy means that Nene can now do her homework in the evening.

Grandma Doussou Nene charges the is the first solar battery using energy engineer in the from the solar panel. village. Grandma is a solar engineer When Nene was little she had to light a candle to be able to do her home- work in the evenings. But since her grandmother became a solar power engineer, now there’s plenty of light for homework – and for playing!

ene’s grandmother er and light. And even the learned,” she explains. the radio. It’s fantastic. I like Doussou was 50 years church in the neighbouring Grandma Doussou is now getting information and lis- N old the first time she village. teaching three younger wom- tening to popular songs, most- boarded a plane. She was “We believe in equality and en to be solar engineers. And ly djembe music,” says Nene, travelling to India, to visit fairness, regardless of reli- she has also taught Nene. who no longer has to do her the recipient of the 2001 gion. So if we get electric “Whenever school is closed homework by the flickering World’s Children’s Honorary lighting in the mosque, it’s I’m with Grandma. I watch light of a candle. Awards, Barefoot College. only fair that our neighbours what she does and try to “It’s easier to do my home- They train women from rural have lighting in their church understand it. I’m proud of work now, and we have more areas of many different coun- too,” she says. everything she’s learned!” time to play! And we can watch tries to become ‘barefoot At Nene’s home, the solar TV and charge everyone’s tele- solar engineers’. Without Sun brings radio and TV panel is connected to the bat- phones,” says Nene. c needing a shared language! Before the village became tery, harnessing the sun’s Using pictures, colours, and part of the Tostan program, powerful rays. Solar energy means that Nene can repetition, Doussou was able a woman had never spoken “The best thing about solar do her homework in the evening to learn how solar panels in front of the whole village power is that we can listen to and get more time to play during work. before. But when Nene’s the day. When Doussou returned to grandmother came home Senegal, she was able to help with 50 solar panels, she was the whole village – all the at the centre of the celebra- homes, the school and the tions. mosque – to access solar pow- “I had never dreamt of speaking in front of every- body, but it wasn’t hard. Thanks to the training Tostan gave us, I felt comfort- able talking and sharing the

TEXT: JOHANNA HALLIN & EVELINA FREDRIKSSON PHOTOS: KIM NAYLOR KIM PHOTOS: FREDRIKSSON EVELINA & HALLIN JOHANNA TEXT: important things I had 

Solar energy lights have trans- formed the village in the evenings. Now it’s no longer pitch black. Circuit board for solar energy from the panel.

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