The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative

After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. 

Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future. 

On the transfer, co-founder Victoria Martin expressed her pleasure to see this work continue under Wits' leadership, knowing that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction. 

As Wits, we honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades and look forward building from that strong base. This includes co-founders Warren Feek (1953-2024) and Victoria Martin as well as La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA), which continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com with links to The CI Global site. We are also eager to forge new partnerships and entertain new ideas as we consider how best to contribute to social and behaviour change in our rapidly evolving environment.

If you are joining the International Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Summit in Panama, please join Wits and CILA on Monday, 22 June, to share your thoughts and suggestion for the relaunch of the Communication Initiative. We will be in Pacifica 5 from 12-1:25 for the Refuel, Reflect, and Renew Lunch Series: The Communication Initiative: celebrating a driving force for Communication for Social Change and the way forward. We will reflect on the legacy of Warren Feek and family in creating the Communication Initiative, consider the contributions of CI over the years and then turn our attention towards the future in this dynamic session. 

If you are unable to join us in Panama, we still want to hear from you. Please contribute your thoughts by following this link: https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026 or reaching out to ci_surveys@commint.com. 

You can also follow the QR Code:

 https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026

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Art for Peace Project

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Art for Peace is a project for youth affected by the civil war in Northern Uganda. The faith-based non-governmental organisation Africa Youth Ministries Uganda (AYMU) trains former rebel soldiers and former abductees in art and crafts and works to develop their skills. AYMU hopes to reach 600 war-affected youth in the districts of Gulu, Lira and Pader.
Communication Strategies

Art for Peace uses interpersonal communication (face-to-face training) to engage conflict-affected youth in creative, constructive activities. AYMU provides start-up tools and materials to the young trainees. The organisers are also responsible for technical support, monitoring of quality, and marketing of the products that the youth produce.

In addition, the project works to promote a culture of peace and peaceful means of conflict resolution by using community-based group communication that involves:

  • establishing peace clubs in schools in war-affected areas
  • developing a peace education curriculum to be used in schools
  • developing and implementing peace-building programmes and projects
  • sensitising communities about peace building,
Development Issues

Conflict, Youth.

Sources

ActALIVE listserv, January 9 2005.