Social norms 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.
 
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.
Time to read
1 minute
Read so far

Streetwize Publications

0 comments
Streetwize publications address issues of concern to young people and other target audiences by using stories from their lives and by providing clear, relevant, appealing and credible information on important topics such as health, the law, education, employment, housing and safety.

Since 1984, Streetwize has produced hundreds of resources for young people on a wide variety of subjects and formats, and more recently has expanded its services to include materials like magazines, brochures, posters and infocards.
Communication Strategies

Streetwize has distributed more than three million comics and resources both in Australia and overseas.

Some examples include:

  • Show, Not Tell - A series of six comics about HIV/AIDS for the Vietnam Youth Foundation in Hanoi.
  • A series of resources about Hepatitis C, produced for the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.
  • Reconciliation - A comic, poster and kit looking at the issues of Reconciliation from young people's perspective and how they can get involved in the process. Produced with funding from the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, more than 100,000 copies of these resources were distributed across Australia, particularly to schools.
  • Would You Like Arts With That? - A 30-second cinema animation encouraging young people to participate in the Arts, to be screened in cinemas around Australia during 2000/ 01. Funded through the Audience Development Division of the Australia Council for the Arts, the animation is the first time Streetwize has been involved in broadcasting its resources.
  • technogirl - a cyber-comic, funded by the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science and Tourism. technogirl aimed to encourage young women to consider science and technology as study and career options and is featured on the ABC's science site The Lab.
  • An infocard and poster about violent crime, aimed at women from culturally diverse backgrounds, produced for the NSW Attorney-General's Department.
  • It's Not Right - A resource for indigenous women on the subject of family violence, funded by the Office for the Status of Women and Casino Community Benefits Fund.
  • Enough Is Enough, a comic and kit on the same subject for young indigenous men, and distributed nationally.
Development Issues

Health, HIV/AIDS, Technology, Rights.

Key Points

Independent evaluations of the Streetwize resources have found that they are more likely to be read and understood than other print media. Streetwize has won several awards for its materials, including an International Literacy Year Award for its service to young people.

Sources

Letter and inserts from Rani Haywood, Marketing Coordinator, Streetwize Communications, Novermber 1 2001.