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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People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA)

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People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that offers services to women in South Africa who have experienced domestic violence, sexual harassment, or rape, as well as to adult survivors of incest. Established in 1979, POWA is based in Berea, Johannesburg’s inner city area, and serves the entire Gauteng Province; it also has branches in Katlehong and Vosloorus in the East Rand, Sebokeng in the Vaal and Soweto. POWA aims to help enhance these women's quality of life and to reduce violence against all women through training and public awareness projects. The ultimate aim is to help create a safe society that does not tolerate violence against women, and where women are powerful, self-reliant, equal, and respected.
Communication Strategies

POWA works to empower women through a process of counseling, education, advocacy and lobbying. It reaches out in particular to those women who come from communities with limited resources. To that end, the organisation has two shelters that accommodate about 20 abused women and their children. POWA also seeks to reach men, perpetrators and young adults, especially through training and public awareness projects.

Among POWA's interpersonal communication approaches are outreach programmes that involve workshops and presentations in schools, clinics and organisations. POWA also works with women's support groups, training them in the areas of counseling and crisis handling. Specific activities include:

  • Providing a gender-sensitive therapeutic service to women who have suffered all forms of abuse, including sexual harassment and rape. This includes counselling as well as crisis intervention.
  • Providing shelter to women who have experienced abuse in their relationships.
  • Offering legal advice and court preparation to women who have been abused or raped.
  • Providing ongoing training and capacity building for volunteers and other service providers.
  • Offering awareness programmes to communities and organisations, with the specific aim of encouraging them to take responsibility for finding solutions to eradicate violence against women.
  • Facilitating economic empowerment projects for survivors of abuse to encourage financial independence and group networking.
  • Offering prevention programmes to facilitate early recognition of gender-based violence and intervention..
  • Advocating and lobbying for legislative and policy changes in the following sectors: Criminal Justice System, Health, Welfare, Housing, Correctional Services, Safety and Security, and Education. Part of this process involves working with networks and other organisations with similar objectives.


POWA also draws on information and communication technologies (ICTs) to support abused women. Its telephone helpline takes calls nationally, although it deals mainly with women in the Gauteng Province

Development Issues

Women, Gender, Rights.

Partners

Royal Netherlands Embassy, Department of Social Services & Population Development, National Lottery Development Trust, National Development Agency, Kimberly Murrayfield Trust, Nedcor, Agency for Personal Services Overseas (APSO).

Sources

POWA website on June 2 2005.