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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Sex, Etc.

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Sex, Etc. is a social networking initiative, website, and print magazine run by and for teenagers in the United States (US) designed to inform and empower adolescents in the realm of sexuality and relationships. It is part of the Teen-to-Teen Sexuality Education Project developed by Answer, a national organisation dedicated to providing and promoting comprehensive sexuality education to young people and the adults in their lives.

Communication Strategies

Using information and communication technology (ICT) and other communication tools, Sex, Etc. is designed to provide young people in the US with honest and accurate sexual health information in a way that is confidential (e.g., information can be received on mobile devices, eluding parental scrutiny). It is wholly written by young people. The website offers links to blogs, interactive games, moderated forums, and Facebook and Twitter pages. There is also a print magazine published each year in January, April, and September.

Specifically, Sex, Etc. features 17 topic areas plus the following sections:

  • Stories written by teen staff writers and national contributors.
  • Your Voice, Your Rights, which "gives teens the opportunity to create a profile, share stories about sexuality education in their schools and speak up for the sex ed they want, need and deserve."
  • Take Action, which gives teens the tools to advocate for comprehensive sex ed in their schools and communities.
  • The Sex, Etc. blog - Beyond the Birds and the Bees - which "addresses timely sexual health issues that are relevant to teens."
  • Forums where teens can participate in moderated discussions with other teens.
  • Get Tested, which notes that getting tested for a possible pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection (STI) is advisable because "knowlege is power!". Information is provided about where and how to go about this.
  • Comics and quizzes related to sex and sex ed.
  • A frequently asked questions (FAQ) section including topics such as birth control, STIs, teen pregancy, body image, alcohol and drug use, abortion, adoption, etc.
  • Sex in the States, which is a state-by-state guide to teenagers' questions about their rights, such as: "Are there laws protecting me from harassment at school if I'm a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender teen?"
  • Videos about sexual health.
  • A Sex Terms glossary of more than 400 terms.
  • A mobile site that can be accessed on any phone with internet access.
Development Issues

Youth, Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS.

Sources

"Sex Education Gets Directly to Youths, via Text", by Jan Hoffman, New York Times, December 30 2011; and Sex, Etc. website, February 14 2012.