Health
Health action with informed and engaged societies
Health
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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Build a Village

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"Build a Village" is an interactive website designed to support the whole family in better understanding the struggles of poverty and the ways in which people in the developing world are trying to improve their lives. The website features various stories, games, and other activities that provide a way for children of all ages to learn about the plights facing people around the world, and to learn what the Church World Service (CWS) is doing to assist them. The website is part of the larger CWS "Build a Better World" educational curriculum, which seeks to introduce children to development issues and the work of CWS by providing teachers and schools with the resources needed to address development issues in a simple and interactive manner.
Communication Strategies
"Build a Village" is an interactive Flash or HTML accessible website that uses simple colour illustrations and narration to educate children about the difficulties facing people in the developing world. It focuses on several different issues including: health, refugees, access to clean water, basic education, and agricultural food production.

Specifically, each section provides young audiences with an overview of the importance of the issue and then links to a page with more in-depth fact sheets for older children and adults. The site also provides an opportunity for visitors to support CWS's work by purchasing a "Tool of Hope" gift. It features several stories for different age groups, quizzes, colouring pages, and educational games. The website anables visitors to send e-cards and make donations to the CWS initiatives. There are also links to several other CWS projects and initiatives.
Development Issues
Health, Education, Water Access, Agriculture, Refugees.
Key Points
CWS was founded in 1946, as the relief, development, and refugee assistance ministry of 36 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican denominations in the United States. CWS works in partnership with indigenous organisations in more than 80 countries, and aims to: support sustainable self-help development, meet emergency needs, and help address the root causes of poverty and powerlessness.
Partners

A multi-denominational collection of churches and congregations.

Sources

The "Build a Village" Flash website and the
Church World Service website.