Peter Easton

Social Policy From the Bottom Up: Abandoning FGC in Sub-Saharan Africa

The authors analyse the experience of Tostan, a Senegalese NGO, with the abandonment of female genital cutting (FGC) in Senegal, the Sudan, and Mali. Tostan uses non-formal, participatory methodologies to support village-based social change, especially in the areas of human rights and womens health. Following Tostans educational programme, some communities have declared a moratorium on the practice of FGC and have mobilised their families and villages to discontinue its use. This article describes the process used, considers issues that have arisen as the concept is marketed and disseminated beyond Senegal, and reviews implications for grassroots policy initiatives.

Weaving a Web of Service: Academic and Civic Life at Florida State University

The roots of service learning at Florida State University reach back several decades. They have begun to bear institutional fruit over the last ten years. The model that has evolved — a web of service opportunities surrounding students and faculty with multiple avenues for relating university and community — took shape over this period through a mixture of administrative intention and individual initiative. Despite real successes, the program is still undergoing decided growing pains that are rich in lessons learned.