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 lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
Time to read
1 minute
Read so far

Nous sommes le futur du Maroc [We Are the Future of Morocco]

0 comments

"You have a story, poem, song, essay, interview to share with your peers in Morocco and the whole world?"

Dedicated to children's rights, peace, cultural exchange, education, and youth empowerment, this project uses social media, radio and other technologies, and creative artwork - made by young people for young people - from all regions of Morocco. It is designed to build a cultural bridge to partner organisations in Germany.

Communication Strategies

As described on the project's blog, the orientation here is using various media and interpersonal interactions to connect children and youth who live in Morocco to those living in Germany. Young people take part in various workshops, art shows, radio programmes, Skype conversations between the two countries, and so on - and then contribute their experiences to this blog, where an invitation to participation instructs them to, for instance, share their thoughts about issues such as democracy, peace, gender equity, and so on as audio or video content, using a camera, MP3 recorder, mobile phone, or equipment available in their local school's media lab. Organisers encourage them to "[s]hare some additional information about you and your issue. Send in self-made photos and drawings to illustrate your story. Send it to Radijojo World Children’s Media Network, either via our Facebook page or as mail to central@radijojo.org. There are certain "Do's and Don'ts", which illustrate some of the strategies of the initiative, such as "Please speak clear and in your personal style, don’t pretend being a politician or a superstar. Just be yourself. Feel free to speak in any language you like: English, Arab, French, Berber, German....Please send us the script of your message, so that we can publish it together with your audio or video. No hate speech against other cultures, religions, gender etc. No glorification of war, violence, drugs consumption etc. No violation of rights of others....Don't bore your friends - cheer them up! Even if your topic is serious: Try to be entertaining if you see a chance to do so."

Development Issues

Children, Youth, Rights, Democracy and Governance

Key Points

This project has earned a World Summit Youth Award and was recognised at a United Nations Alliance of Civilizations competition, where the photo "Sharing the Power of Media" became the first prize winner in the category "Freedom of Media Matters".

Partners

"Nous sommes le futur du Maroc" is a project within the network of the Anna Lindh Foundation, the international framework of the member states of the European Union and the Mediterranean region (EUROMED region). Specifically, it is organised by Radijojo World Children's Media Network in cooperation with YACD (Youth Association for Culture and Development) Morocco. It is supported by the Institute for Foreign Affairs (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, ifa) with funds by the German Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sources

Emails from Thomas Röhlinger to The Communication Initiative on May 18 2014 and May 21 2014; and "Nous sommes le futur du Maroc" blog, May 19 2014.