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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Voice of Children Radio Project

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Implemented by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG/CAAC), this project works to address the need for information, recreation, and entertainment among children in war-affected areas while giving them a vehicle for self-expression. To this end, radio programmes and stations are developed that address education and health needs, promote tolerance and reconciliation, give voice to children's concerns, and raise awareness about children's rights. On-site needs assessments have been conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Liberia; initiatives are underway in Angola and Afghanistan.
Communication Strategies

At the local level, Voice of Children helps establish and develop independent local radio programmes and stations in conflict-affected countries. At the international level, the programme develops, produces, and airs programmes specifically addressing war-affected children with the collaboration of international broadcasting companies. Such programmes could also be distributed to local networks.


In Sierra Leone in particular, the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) Radio and the Centre for Media Training & Technology have embarked on programmes that are designed to benefit war-affected children. Plans are underway to provide training and to facilitate the local production of programmes in the countries in which on-site assessments have taken place. An official launch took place in February, 2003. During the ceremony, children performed an interactive skit entitled, "This Is Why We Need a Voice." A showing of a film portraying Sierra Leonean children talking about their experiences during the war and their aspirations for the future, as well as their participation in the project, preceded a media encounter during which the children posed questions on child protection issues.

Development Issues

Children, Conflict, Rights.

Sources

Letters sent from Sarah McNeill to The Communication Initiative on October 10, 2002 and to The Young People's Media Network on March 13, 2003; Second Annual Report presented to the UN in October 1999 at the 54th Session of the General Assembly (para. 59/p. 11); Third Annual Report presented to the UN in October 2000 at the 55th Session (para. 136/p. 26); Fourth Annual Report presented to the UN in October 2001 at the 56th Session (para. 66/p. 13); and Voice of Children page on the Children and Armed Conflict site.

Comments

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Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 11/30/1999 - 00:00 Permalink

it was informative enough to give me an idea about programmes. A good step towards making children part of the mass media. Children's participation in the media activities is essential to bring a halt to the negative way in which children are portrayed in the media

Ms Maleec Calyaneratne
Information and Communications Officer
Save the Children
Sri Lanka

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Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/06/2005 - 09:44 Permalink

This page has provided me an inperation in Achieving my goal as i was amongst those that Ambassador Olara Ottunu whould call the Pioniers of the Voice of Children Sierra Leone. Meanwhile, i am about extending that of my experience to Liberia of which i am looking forward to extange ideas and make it a reality for the children of Liberia. I could be riched via email harrygbetuwa@yahoo.com I am looking forward to work with you in making it a success in Liberia.