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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School Education Programme - HelpAge India

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A year round programme where students are taught about the process and dilemmas of ageing.
Communication Strategies
HelpAge India's Education Programme fosters interpersonal communication between children and the elderly, engaging young people in community issues. These valuable relationships kindle respect & friendship for India's ageing population.
Development Issues
Ageing, Health, Education, Children, Population
Key Points
There are over 6,000 schools in the HelpAge network. Listed below are some of the enterprising activities commited to by schools throughout India:
  • Visits by school children to old age homes
  • Theme based competitions encourageing children to think about ageing issues
  • Involvement of school children in HelpAge projects (students were taught to identify those in their community who needed cataract surgery in the Eye Camp Programme)
  • Audio-visual presentations of ageing
  • Talks and group discussions in schools
  • Grandparents meet to encourage greater understanding between generations
Increased understanding of ageing issues also serves to improve inter-generational relationships in the family home. The School Education Programme works to reinstate values, the natural support system & increase the quality of life for India's ageing population, which has been noticeably deteriorating with industrialisation, migration, urbanisation and westernisation.
Partners

Mr Cecil Jackson Cole, founder member of Help the Aged in the United Kingdom; HelpAge International

Sources

HelpAge India Education Website