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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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Dear Tjomma (Friend)

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Dear Tjomma (Friend) is a global dia(blog)ue about HIV/AIDS in Africa. It is a web-based resource aimed at raising HIV/AIDS awareness in Africa, inviting participation from people around the world. The blog was launched to create dialogue among those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and globally. Dear Tjomma is hosted by the Canada-based AfricaFiles, a network of volunteers relaying African perspectives and alternative analyses for viable human development in the interest of justice and human rights.
Communication Strategies

This programme draws on information and communication technologies (ICTs) to involve Africans and others who otherwise would be unable to attend the next International Conference on HIV/AIDS, scheduled for Toronto in 2006. The blog discussion will serve as part of the pre-conference dialogue, as well as the foundation for a printed publication which will be sold as part of the working group's medium-term campaign goal.

Dear Tjomma uses writing to create a dialogue about HIV/AIDS to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS support in Africa. It encourages students and the public to offer comments and questions about living with HIV/AIDS. To foster this spirit of participation, a working group was formed, with several students adding their support.

Specifically, the Dear Tjomma blog encourages the public to post ideas and views using the "comments" section. The blog is interactive; questions and comments feed the dialogue to come which, in turn, becomes the basis of a campaign to raise awareness and funds.

Development Issues

HIV/AIDS.

Key Points

This blog is hosted by Kenn Chaplin, AIDS Editor for AfricaFiles, who was diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1989. He hopes that the Dear Tjomma dialogue, which was initiated by students and staff at Humber College in Toronto, Canada, will draw the world into conversation about HIV/AIDS.

Editor's note: As of September 2005, this blog is no longer active. Please communicate with AfricaFiles at the address listed below for further information.

Sources

AF-AIDS eforum on December 10 2004.