Social Norms
Social norms action with informed and engaged societies
Social Norms
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 lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Indigenous Youth to Youth

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Carried out by the Victoria (Canada)-based Pacific Peoples' Partnership (PPP) from 2001 to 2002, the Indigenous Youth to Youth project was an effort to increase awareness about critical environmental and sustainable development issues facing indigenous communities in the South Pacific and Canada, and to engage indigenous youth from different cultures in sharing strategies and experiences. A cultural exchange trip, and subsequent workshops held in indigenous communities across Canada, were designed to foster youth networking, intercultural awareness, and activism.
Communication Strategies

This project brought 3 Pacific island youth (from Papua New Guinea, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Vanuatu) and 2 First Nations youth (from Alberta and Kahnawake, Quebec) to Victoria for 5 days of brainstorming and creativity, during which they developed a day-long interactive workshop. Through the workshops - held in 5 Canadian indigenous communities over the course of the following months - participants learned about sustainability issues internationally and within the history of their own community, developed local action plans, and voiced their vision for the future.

Following strategy sessions, the team explored ways to share the findings and perspectives gleaned from the workshops both with other youth in their own cultures, and with global leaders in positions to make structural changes. They took their sustainable development ideas to the World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002 (WWDS) in South Africa, created a "Declaration on the Environment", and generated ideas for lobbying national and international organisations, media, governments, and individuals prior to, and following, the WWDS.

The team then formed an indigenous youth network across Canada and the Pacific, committed to strategy sharing and action around these issues through a list serve, newsletter and video, the formation of community youth chapters, and plans for future international exchange. In addition, articles written by the indigenous youth who participated in this programme were published in a special issue of Tok Blong Pasifik magasine, entitled "Youth Tok!" (click here for information about how to order this magasine).

Development Issues

Environment, Youth, Cultural Exchange.

Key Points

PPP is an international development organisation working since 1975 to develop national educational and policy advocacy programmes that enhance Canadians' capacity to support the aspirations of peoples of the South Pacific for peace, security, justice, and environmental sustainability.

Editor's note: Indigenous Youth to Youth is no longer offered, due to lack of funding.

Partners

Funded by the Anglican Church of Canada, the United Church of Canada, and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Sources