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.
Time to read
less than
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Published 22 years ago
Last updated 1 year ago
Read so far

Suitcase Radio for 'Radio Browsing' - Mali

1 comment
The four radio stations of Timbuktu, Mali, received a suitcase radio from UNESCO to encourage the production of programmes using the information resources of Internet.
Communication Strategies

The suitcase radio comprises a complete broadcasting unit and can also be used as a production studio. It is to be housed in the community telecentre of Timbuktu, a UNESCO-supported project, in order to enable radio staff to produce "radio browsing" programmes. The launch ceremony was broadcast live from the suitcase radio by all four radio stations of Timbuktu. The radios also broadcast simultaneously Timbuktu`s first radio browsing programme, produced in French, Tamacheq and Songhay. The theme chosen by the producers was "world heritage" and the programme browsed the World Heritage Centre`s website, discussing the site`s contents with a local expert in charge of safeguarding the many monuments of Timbuktu which has been on the World Heritage List since 1988.

Development Issues

Technology, Community-building.

Key Points

In "radio browsing" programmes, presenter browses the Internet in response to listeners' questions, describes in local languages the websites selected and discusses their contents with a local expert. In this way, the entire community has access to online information in their own language, explained and contextualised. Radio browsing programmes raise awareness of the value of Internet and encourage listeners to make use of the telecentre's computers.

Comments