Development action with informed and engaged societies

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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Bring on the World

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Launched by Oxfam just prior to the June 2006 World Cup (a global football (soccer) tournament), Bring on the World is a communication-based initiative centred around a series of free online educational activities for use with 9-11 year olds.
Communication Strategies
Bring on the World drew on the popular sport of football to spur young people worldwide to explore the context of the World Cup - from the countries taking part in the competition, to the trade issues behind the sporting glamour. It primarily uses information and communication technologies (ICTs) - in concert with in-person classroom curriculum activities - to introduce students to global issues including the sportswear industry, whether competition is 'a good thing', and the inequalities between participating countries.

Designed to be implemented in schools as the World Cup competition was taking place, this initiative sought to explore the themes of competition, teamwork, and thinking skills in a fun and interactive way. Activities were designed to engage and stimulate students and included a 'country trumps' card game, mapwork, debate, and photo activities. (For teachers wishing to explore the global sportswear trade in more detail, a simulation game called "Looking Behind the Logo" (ages 13+) is also offered; for free assembly plans and to order the game, click here.)

Specifically, the Bring on the World website offers teachers the choice of either 5 mornings (2.5 hours x 5) or 5 whole days of activities (2.5 + 2 hours x 5) - a strategy designed to fit the needs of those teaching a summer term. The resource uses different teaching and learning methodologies, and emphasises foundation subjects such as literacy and English. A key emphasis is placed on developing thinking and debating skills, research abilities, and teamwork. There is comprehensive background information for teachers, and a scheme of work, as well as a list of various weblinks related to each of the lesson plans in the resource.
Development Issues

Education, Overseas Development Assistance and Fair Trade.

Sources

Press release forwarded by Is Allen to The Communication Initiative on May 15 2006; the Bring on the World website; and email from Jo Tomkinson to The Communication Initiative on July 13 2007.