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

Time to read
2 minutes
Print
a- a+
Published 15 years ago
Last updated 1 year ago
Read so far

"Life 101, The Journey" Photo Comic Book

5 comments
This photo comic series forms part of the Addis Ababa University - Modeling and Reinforcement to Combat HIV/AIDS (MARCH) Project. MARCH aims to promote behaviours that reduce the risk of HIV infection, such as faithfulness, condom use, early detection, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), by promoting peer discussion and the use of role models to demonstrate positive behaviour change. It also seeks to encourage positive living and reduce stigma in the university. The MARCH project has three implementing partners, the National Defense Forces of Ethiopia (NDFE), the Federal Police Commission and the Addis Ababa University (AAU).

The photo comic series, written in Amharic, aims to use drama, humour, and heartbreak to explore the challenges facing Addis Ababa university students today. It follows the story of three students and a couple at AAU as they go about their daily university and city life, dealing with issues such as transactional sex, condom use, relationships, testing for HIV, and gender equity.

The edutainment print series was produced by the Addis Ababa University MARCH Project with technical assistance from Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, the National AIDS Resource Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Funding was provided by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through CDC.

Publishers

Languages

Amharic

Source

Etharc website on April 9 2008.

Teaser Image
http://www.comminit.com/files/life_101_ep12.jpg
file_268702_3505.jpeg

Comments

User Image
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 07:51 Permalink

we are addis ababa university students at building collage so that we are forgoten by any activities held by aau community .
why did we say that because we didn't get any of these comic books
please engage us with life101 comic bookleets send us some copies

User Image
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 08:00 Permalink

i love the booklet send me with
samuale getachew
pobox 80978 addis ababa

User Image
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/24/2011 - 05:14 Permalink

i used to follow these comic books when i was a student at AAUMF few years back(actually only few editions at that time) and after graduaation and being on another chapter of my life in town far from a i totaly forget abt it and even if i want i had no access to it. but now i accidentally come across your website when i was roaming around a trainingsite far away from addis for aworkshop and i didnt even now what it was i just have this curiosty for things so i browse the site annd boom here it is life 101!i'm so going to download it and show to freinds .(that is allowed right?)
any ways i think it is avery good way to educate the youth about HIV,reproductive health and other issues with out making it so boring and 'temehert like' and it would also be very good if you could cover campuses other than AAU also . keep up the good work and spirit.  :-) cheers

 

User Image
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 23:29 Permalink

What a coincidence, I also loved these comic books when I was a kid. I really wish I had a few copies so I could show my kids one day. I'll check Ebay for some editions, maybe I'll get lucky. 4G LTE Phones

User Image
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/11/2012 - 23:09 Permalink

come on do we've to wait a year for the next edition?!