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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Sharak Atfal (Children's City)

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This Internews Afghanistan children's radio programme is designed to present the geography, history and current affairs of Afghanistan in an engaging manner, from a child's perspective. Distributed by Internews' Tanin Distribution Network, Shahrak Atfal (Children's City) features children aged 7-13 and is broadcast on 36 stations across Afghanistan.
Communication Strategies

Co-produced by 3 girls and 3 boys, Sharak Atfal is a magazine-style broadcast that draws on the participation of children to deliver educational yet entertaining programming. It is premised on the idea that children have a voice and can aptly share factual information (as well as analysis/commentary) via the radio medium - both with their peers and with community members of all ages.

Set in an ideal imagined city which features an interactive radio, an invisible parrot and a flying carpet, Sharak Atfal centres on children's adventures to address issues of post-conflict psychology from a child's perspective. Since its 64th edition, the 30-minute bilingual programme has switched between Dari and Pashto in each episode, thus promoting bilingualism in a diverse country.

Development Issues

Children.

Key Points

Sharak Atfal is one of Internews Afghanistan's most popular radio programmes; in one town the local television station is airing the audio feed of it on TV. The programme was honoured with second place in the UNICEF/One World contest for best children's radio programming, "Children's Lives, Children's Voices."

Partners

Funding provided by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the European Commission (EC).