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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PAPER The Drum Beat - 24 - Ohio University - Women - India

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The Drum Beat - 24 - Ohio University - Women - India
Additional Information and Commentary - Please contact the student identified for a full copy of their paper.


By Devika Thayanban
International Student of Ohio University
July 1999
dt350192@oak.cats.ohiou.edu


11. Women's Organisations of India: Communicators of Social Change

The women's movement emerged in response to a crisis of the Indian state. By the 1970s there was a surge against the inept and corrupt government and the women's movement was part of the surge. The women's movement in India in the last decade has been of great significance. It saw the emergence of new style of feminist organisations. They are Agitational groups, Grassroot or mass based organisations, Groups that provide shelter, homes etc., Professional women's organisations, Women's wings of political parties and Groups involved in research and documentation on women's issues.

Justification of the project.

The Indian value system has presented the dual concept of women where the Indian women is charaterised to possess power whereas this is just a myth. However, I thought this could become a reality if the women's forces unify and felt that women's organisations are just about the unification of the forces. Thus my research investigates the role played by the women's organisations in affecting values and behaviour of the society, especially women. I have researched the communication strategies adopted by the various groups and analyzed if there has been any catogerization in their use.


Research Strategies.

The study followed qualitative techniques, making use of multiple case study design. My references were books and largely websites of the organisations.

Findings

Interpersonal Communication (Training sessions, Workshops), Print Media (Publications, Booklets, Pamphlets.) Audio - Visual materials (Audio cassettes, Video)
Folk Media (Folk songs, Theatre) Rallies, Protests and Demonstrations were the strategies adopted by the various women's organisations. What I could perceive was the emergence of Alternative Media against the biases of the sexist media. The Alternative media is defined as media for women by women.

Conclusion

Women's organisations have played a crucial role in influencing the values and attitudes of women through their own creative media.

In this process, the creative talents of many women (urban and rural areas) have come to the fore. We could say this has been an opportunity for self- actualization.

Recommendations

There should be better coordination amongst the various groups to improve their interpersonal skills, their bonds and solidarity.

They should make use of the resources of the state and International agencies and make wide use of mass media (Radio and Television) in order to achieve their goal of 'EMPOWERMENT'.