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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Star School Project

2 comments
The aim of the Star School Project is to build high school students' inner strength, encourage them to believe in their dreams for the future, and support them to live an AIDS-free life. The programme, which is being offered in schools in South Africa and Namibia, includes a number of workshops in combination with regular and spontaneous programme activities that occur over a three-year period.
Communication Strategies

The Star School Project uses learner workshops (LW) to motivate learners to become mentally strong and make good decisions throughout their lives. The programme is designed to inspire students to dream and have hope for the future, as well as strengthen their self-confidence and self-image. The programme also intends to give students the skills and knowledge to:

  • understand the consequences of unsafe sex;
  • create behavioural patterns in which each individual takes full responsibility not to have unsafe sex; and
  • create a new positive identity under the theme: AIDS-free - that's me.

Over a three-year period, the Star School programme holds six workshops for students with the main purpose of creating motivation and inspiration that will lead to healthy decisions and a healthy life in school, at home, and for the future. The workshops have the following themes:

  • First year: LW1 - Dreams can be fulfilled
  • First year: LW2 - The power of thoughts
  • Second year: LW3 - Journey to success
  • Second year: LW4 - The power of knowledge (of HIV and AIDS)
  • Third year: LW5 - Journey to self
  • Third year: LW6 - Shine on!

In addition to these workshops, Star School activities are incorporated into learners' regular school routine on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, depending on the activity. They can be divided into different areas such as:

  • formal procedures;
  • education;
  • pleasure;
  • prevention programme;
  • development talks; and
  • other activities
Development Issues

HIV/AIDS, Youth, Education

Key Points

The Star School Project in South Africa is registered under the Jobs AIDS Conservation (JAC) Initiative Star School Project funded by the Thanda Foundation. It was one of the first programmes implemented by the JAC Initiative. The project, which was piloted in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, has since expanded to Namibia, and will soon be launched in Durban through a partnership with Volvo of Sweden.

Partners

Thanda Foundation, Jobs AIDS Conservation (JAC) Initiative.

Sources

Star School website August 1 2008 and December 3 2009.

Comments

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Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 07:18 Permalink

Dear Sir/Madam:
I am a Liberian working with the Network organization of people living with HIV/Aids in Liberia.
I hold the position of the Administrative Secretary. I went to request that you please have a partnership with us in the area of Advocacy for the right of PLWHA Liveing in our country Liberia. And also Prevention programme. This will help fight Stigma and Distramination.

We will love to be a part of any of your coming confrences or workshop this year 2009 to help our staff members gain more information on Advocacy etc. Please contact me through my e-mail address (geago2006@yahoo.com) and send me information on your your coming Projects and ativities.

The name of the organization is Light Association of Liberia, Inc.

Thanks.

Sincerely yours,

Geago P. Junius

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Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/26/2010 - 10:17 Permalink

The program sounds, good. Our own Teen STAR (Sexuality Teaching in the context of Adult Responsibility) has similar goals but approaches them differently. See our website: http://www.teenstarprogram.org. Teen STAR is currently present in 31 countries.

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