However Long the Night: One Woman's Enduring Mission to Help Millions ofAfrican Women and Girls Triumph - Softcover

"Molly Melching saw a deeply disturbing but deeply entrenched practice and refused to accept that it couldn't be stopped. Her relentless efforts are proof that commitment and partnership can drive transformational change." -- Hillary Rodham Clinton "Melching's incredible journey from Illinois to Africa, from graduate student to great humanitarian, is paralleled by the journey of the countless women touched by her work: a journey to understanding, empowerment and human dignity." -- Lisa See, bestselling author of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan "The story of Molly Melching and Tostan proves that determined and loving individuals can accomplish the seemingly impossible--abandonment of a harmful tradition that is thousands of years old." -- Former President Jimmy Carter " There is no way to overestimate the gift that Tostan and its leader, Molly Melching, have given to the world. The amount of suffering they have alleviated is beyond anything we can gauge. What a story, what a power, and what a blessing." -- Marianne Williamson, New York Times bestselling author "Molloy offers a moving account of one woman's struggle to empower African women and challenge tradition...Reading like a novel, this book demonstrates the power of education and grassroots organizing." -- Publishers Weekly "Melching's transformation from Midwestern college graduate to thrill-seeking international crusader makes for compelling reading...Molloy has a reporter's knack for selecting and arranging the most salient details of Melching's experiences, and the resulting story is moving and memorable...Uplifting and inspirational." -- Kirkus Reviews "This is the story of an extraordinary woman: Molly Melching. Molly has worked in Senegalese communities to improve lives of the country's poorest people... This book reinforced my belief that developing communities already have the potential to spark change that will lead to better lives for themselves and their families." -- Melinda Gates

When Molly Melching arrived at the University of Dakar in Senegal to study French literature in the fall of 1974, she planned on staying for only six months. Those six months, however, quickly turned into thirty years, as she became deeply involved in humanitarian work. She founded Tostan (which means breakthrough in Woloff) an organization determined to empower African communities by educating women about social transformation based on respect for human rights. "However Long the Night" follows Melching's fascinating life helping the women and communities of West Africa. Her groundbreaking strategies have led to more education for the women of Senegal, increased health care, and greater awareness of the danger of female genital cutting-a tradition deeply entrenched within the culture. Melching and Tostan have set a goal of eradicating the process by 2015. Tostan's philosophy is to work within a community, allowing the people to make major changes to their culture of their own volition. Unlike many Western organizations of the past that have tried to transform these cultures from the outside, Melching understands that true change can come only from within. In "However Long the Night" we see how this attitude empowers the women of West Africa and how Melching's relationship with these women not only brings about new outlooks on life but also profoundly affects Melching. Alongside Melching's story are the stories of the African women embracing Tostan's vision and breaking down cultural traditions that have been holding them back. The power of their transformative journeys comes alive on the page. Melching and Tostan are transforming the lives of millions of Africans. This is the story of how true change can start with one woman and how the connections between women can lead to a better world.