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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Walk Your Talk - Global

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On the occasion of the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children (UNGASS) in May 2002, the Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF), in partnership with the International Council of Women and the International School Psychology Association, initiated a postcard campaign and honorary award to heads of state. The campaign aims, first, to empower children and youth to remind world leaders of their promises made when signing the Declaration and Platform for Action "A World fit for Children", and, second, to acknowledge and celebrate the most significant commitments and impacts made in the realisation of promises to children.
Communication Strategies

The postcard campaign starts from the premise that every child has a right to dignity, security, and happiness. NGOs working for the rights of the child, civil society in general, and youth organisations are invited to join in this campaign by addressing cards to their heads of state on a regular basis to remind them of commitments made at UNGASS 2002. These commitments included: promoting healthy lives; providing quality education; protecting against abuse, exploitation, and violence; and combating HIV/AIDS.


An honourary award will be given to a head of state who best keeps his or her promises to children. November 20, 2002 (International Children's Rights Day) will be the inaugural award ceremony at the United Nations in Geneva. The award will be bestowed annually by children.

Development Issues

Children, Youth, Rights.

Partners

WWSF, the International Council of Women, and the International School Psychology Association.

Sources

Letter sent from the Dignity Fund for Children to The Communication Initiative on May 8, 2002; and WWSF website.