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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Digital Pulse - Ch 3 - Sec 2 - Radio Oxyjeune

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Summary

The Digital Pulse: The Current and Future Applications of Information and Communication Technologies for Developmental Health Priorities


Chapter 3 - Programme Experiences: Sixty Case Studies Of ICT Usage In Developmental Health

Section 2 – Social Development, Education, Advocacy



Radio Oxyjeune - Senegal




Development Issues: Youth, HIV/AIDS, Sexual health


Programme Summary

A popular community radio station named Radio Oxyjeune, which broadcasts to a poor suburb of Senegal's capital, Dakar, not only pumps out music and chats to its audience, but takes an active role in its listeners' lives. It broadcasts programmes in both the national and local languages to reach as many people as possible. A staff of 50 people work at the station, only 20 of which have full-time jobs. The name of the station tries to capture some of its mission as it is a conjunction of the French words for "oxygen" and "youth".


Summary of ICT Initiatives

Radio Oxyjeune has phone-in shows that regularly tackle subjects many consider taboo such as HIV/AIDS and women's rights. Anonymous interviews with HIV positive individuals have helped to drive home their message in an environment that still attempts to hide from the epidemic. Organizers believe that the use of personal stories is one of the most effective ways to get the message about AIDS across to the community.


The phone-in feature provides an opportunity for two way communication and information exchange within the community using widely accessible mediums. The organizers have recognised that both old and new technologies have the potential to enable various kinds of social change. The philosophy driving their success is that it is what people do with technology rather than the technology itself that is important feature of social change.


These efforts to educate do not stop with phone-ins on the radio. The station has also started up many community groups that talk to people about HIV/AIDS. During holidays, these groups train people to go out to beaches, football stadiums, nightclubs and other places people gather to spread the word about safe sex. Despite some threats, during recent elections, the station also held meetings to help locals put questions to politicians standing for office. To reach as many people as possible, Radio Oxyjeune programmes are broadcasted in both the national and local languages.


The station is hoping to open up sister stations within the year to further its message and expand its audience.


Source: The BBC website and the Global Knowledge site.