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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Sesame Street Beginnings: Language to Literacy

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Created by the Sesame Workshop, this multi-media toolkit aims to foster awareness of the significance of enjoyable verbal exchanges between adults and children. It provides suggestions for things that adults can do everyday to help children learn.

The kit includes:
  • Videotape (VHS, 25 minutes) - Sesame Street characters and real parents and children show easy ways to help children communicate, speak, and enjoy books;
  • Audiocassette (15 minutes) - Sing along with new Sesame Street songs, as well as old favourites;
  • Parent Pages - ideas for everyday activities designed to be fun and help children develop language skills and a love of reading;
  • Facilitator Guide - a guide for professionals working with parents and caregivers who would like to implement the Sesame Street Beginnings programme;
  • Poster - a colourful reminder of the learning possibilities in everyday parent and child routines; and
  • Book plates - fun character stickers for children to identify their books.
Click here for more information.

Publishers

Source

Sesame Workshop website, May 18 2006.