No one should underestimate the power of the individual to bring change in the world, especially the individual with a public platform. Many celebrities have lent their time, money and visibility to the plight of African nations. While we have seen the late Princess Diana campaigning against landmines, U2 lead singer Bono fighting poverty and disease, and Oprah Winfrey opening a girls’ school in South Africa, it isn’t just the rich and famous who are making a difference. Some of the most important efforts are those native Africans are making in their homelands.

“Tostan” is the word for “breakthrough" in the Wolof language spoken in West Africa. Tostan is also the name of a community-based organization in Senegal attempting to make breakthroughs in African societies. Tostan’s homepage at www.tostan.org lists some of their goals, including abolishing female genital cutting and child marriage, advancing democracy, and improving overall health conditions. Tostan’s efforts caught the attention of the philanthropic Hilton Foundation, based in the United States. On August 13, 2007, the foundation awarded Tostan the $1.5 million dollar Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, named in honor of the Hilton hotel chain founder.

The Hilton Foundation awards the prize annually to private organizations that improve living conditions for the world’s needy. Tostan formally received the award at the Conrad Hilton International Humanitarian Symposium that took place September 12 in New York City. In addition to their Senegal headquarters, Tostan also has a United States office in Washington, D.C. You can contact the D.C. office to learn more about making donations, volunteer opportunities and adopt-a-village programs. Just having a caring heart is all the wealth you need to be a millionaire in someone’s eyes.