Child rights 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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International Inspiration

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International Inspiration is the international legacy programme of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is a partnership between the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the British Council, and United Kingdom (UK) Sport that uses sport to help children get into education, gain confidence, and stay safe. Its focus is on enriching the lives of children and young people in 21 countries around the world through high-quality and inclusive physical education, sport, and play.

Communication Strategies

International Inspiration encourages learning traditional games, supported by materials available in PDF format: an introductory manual, resources cards, and a map locating the traditional games geographically.

 

It also encourages leadership training of young people, both male and female, through resources on leadership skills and management of sports events in their schools and communities, available as a training manual in PDF format.

 

For example, in Jordan, using interest in the 2012 Olympics as impetus for furthering the cause of youth sports and physical education (PE) training as academic subjects, International Inspiration, partnering with UNICEF, works with local partners and schools to embed greater learning opportunities in PE and sport in school curricula, as well as plans more designated outdoor playing areas for students. International Inspiration is also focusing on providing all young people, particularly girls and children with disabilities, with access to high-quality and inclusive PE through the training of teachers and young coaches on the importance of inclusion.

 

UK and international athletes, teaming with the UNICEF Ambassadors programme, are acting as International Inspiration Ambassadors, helping to inspire children and young people’s lives around the world and promote and encourage sports as a route to physical training, leadership, and community participation.

Development Issues

Gender, Youth, Rights

Key Points

According to International Inspiration's website, 200,000 disabled children now have the chance to take part in regular sports activities alongside their non-disabled school friends.

Partners

UNICEF, the British Council, United Kingdom (UK) Sport

Sources