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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.
 
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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HIV Education and Communication - South Pacific

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The South Pacific Commission worked to establish a four-year Education and Communication project relating to HIV/AIDS for rural youth in the South Pacific in 1994. By maintaining a high priority on developing educational activities for young people, with a focus on peer group education, organisers hoped to spur behaviour change.
Communication Strategies
An STD/AIDS education office was established in Fiji with the technical facilities and staff for printing, video editing, film processing, and audio production. The South Pacific Commission has a documentation centre, an information exchange, and provides surveillance and help for local HIV/AIDS education initiatives.
Development Issues

Youth, HIV/AIDS, STDs.

Key Points
The peer group education methods had not been established in this region, so this project also served as a pilot for three Pacific countries. The European Union became involved at the request of the Commission, and identified the most important priority as developing educational activities. The shift was changed from a mass media programme to a peer group based scheme. The islands are thought to be susceptible to an AIDS epidemic due to a young population, changing family structures, mobile workers, tourism growth, and sailors and student who travel extensively in conjunction with a weak health care system.
Partners

European Union, South Pacific Commission.

Sources

Rex Winsbury, Action: The EC's response to HIV/AIDS in developing countries, 2nd ed. (Brussels: edit, 1994) 24.