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.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Chiapas Media Project - Mexico

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The Chiapas Media Project (CMP) began in 1997 with a series of consultations with indigenous community leaders throughout the state of Chiapas. At each of these meetings, the leadership explained the importance of information in their struggles for human rights, democracy, land reform,and respect for indigenous rights. CMP was born from these discussions and close cooperation has been a central element of the project in every step.
Communication Strategies
CMP provides video and computer equipment and training to marginalised indigenous communities in Chiapas, Mexico. Communities produce videos to document their struggle for human rights, democracy and land reform, and to disseminate this information. In 1999, they gave 4 video workshops and 2 computer workshops with students from 4 regions, held their first women's video workshop with 6 women from 4 communities, and began their first series of video and computer workshops for the Community Human Rights Defenders Network (HRP).
Development Issues
Political development, rights, education
Key Points
Through video technology they can tell their own stories in their own words. Through computers they can distribute their stories via the internet. Since its inception, CMP has been a bi-national collaboration. Every step of the project is developed and carried out in close consultation with leaders of indigenous communities and the young people who are learning new skills.
Partners

Support provided by private donors and The Peace Development Fund, The Funding Exchange, The US/Mexico Fund for Culture, The Angeles Arrien Foundation for Cross-Cultural Education and Research, Downtown Community TV, Museum of Modern Art/NYC, Vanguard Public Foundation & the Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation.

Sources

Chiapas Media project website