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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Asociacion VIVIR

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Asociación VIVIR in Ecuador is based on a comprehensive health approach, where health promotion and disease prevention are the foundations for constructing a culture of health.
Communication Strategies

The objectives of Asociación VIVIR are: to provide a comprehensive health care model that includes an alternative medical system and is respectful of culture and; development of health training programmes geared towards health promotion in daily life. VIVIR launched a "Comprehensive Health Centre" that includes a promotional approach and focuses on preventative health care. VIVIR provides training and advisory services in alternative health programmes to health professionals in public and private organisations.

Development Issues

Health

Key Points

Based on a Ministry of Public Health study in 1997, the health situation indicators for Ecuador are among the lowest in Latin American, especially among low income populations. To remedy this, Asociación VIVIR took a community health approach that incorporated low cost alternatives and traditional forms of health care and focused on health promotion and preventative care.

Partners

Tumbaco Health Council, Municipality of the Quito Metropolitan District, European Union, Fundacion Esquil, UNICEF, Susila Dharma International, SD Germany, UNPFA, INNFA, Ministry of Public Health.

Sources

Click here for the PDF version of "Association VIVIR: Promoting Daily Health with Community Participation" by Dr Mariana Galarza.