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.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Soccer for Re-integration

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Following xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa in 2008, Sonke Gender Justice, as part of its "One Man Can" project, initiated a street soccer festival in collaboration with Hope World Wide, Western Cape Street Soccer League, and Grassroot Soccer in an attempt to combat xenophobia. The soccer tournament hoped to foster re-integration and dialogue between foreigners and South Africans living in Khayelitsha, a township outside of Cape Town. The event was based on the idea that encouraging communication and shared experiences between foreign nationals and South Africans within a community will help to ease relations within that community and encourage reintegration.
Communication Strategies

The tournament in Khayelitsha attracted 14 teams. Each team comprised of 2 foreign nationals and 2 South Africans with the hope of strengthening friendships, connections, and common bonds. The main message of the event was "One man can halt xenophobia, stop violence, support reintegration, celebrate diversity, demand justice, and make a difference." Teams that attended featured Abafethu FC, Shining Stars, Zim Dollar, Mashall Stars, Shona FC, Future Stars, and many more.

The street soccer festival also included entertainment by popular musicians who passed along messages of unity and tolerance. According to the organisers, "amongst spectators were all races from black, white, Indian, and coloured with one message, to stop xenophobia."

Click here to watch a video about the street soccer festival.

Development Issues

Conflict.

Key Points

The "One Man Can" Campaign is being implemented in 8 of South Africa's 9 provinces, and in Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and Uganda. The campaign promotes the idea that each person has a role to play to create a better, more equitable, and more just world. At the same time, the campaign encourages men to work together with other men and with women to take action - to build a movement, to demand justice, to claim rights, and to change the world.

Sonke is involved in other projects where sport plays a major role in raising awareness about xenophobia and other kinds of violence, such as gender violence. The projects hope to encourage men both to look at their own behaviours and attitudes, and to get actively involved in ending violence and abuse. Other recent soccer events include the following:

  • A soccer tournament was held in Qumbu on December 8 2008. Men told their stories to players and fans in between matches, with HIV prevention as a major theme.
  • On December 9 2008, Sonke hosted a street soccer tournament in Guguletu, Cape Town, in order to talk to people, especially men and boys, about testing for HIV and taking antiretrovirals (ARVs), and stopping violence against women and children.
Partners

Sonke Gender Justice, Hope World Wide, Western Cape Street Soccer League, and Grassroot Soccer.

Sources

Sonke Gender Justice website on February 23 2009.

Teaser Image
http://www.genderjustice.org.za/images/stories/projectphotos/Xenophobia/street_soccer3.jpg