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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Women Build Africa - Canada and Africa

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This art exhibition was presented at museums in various Canadian cities in 2000 and 2001 and will appear in various African cities in 2002. Its purpose is to raise awareness among Canadian and African audiences about the status of women in Africa and their contribution to the development of the continent. It highlights women's ability to find solutions to the problems hindering their economic, political, and social empowerment. It also seeks to contribute to African women's awareness of their own value and potential.

The content of the exhibition is divided into three parts. The first, The Thousand Faces of Women, shows the way women are perceived with respect to their body and through their knowledge. It provides a perspective on the role women play with regard to the values and practices of their society and the way in which women preserve and pass on their knowledge. The second, Nurturers and Innovators, highlights the importance of women's economic role. The third, Building the Future, focuses on women's desire to take charge of their lives through renewed political and social commitments.
Communication Strategies

The exhibition consists of colour photographs, in addition to a 30-minute-long soundtrack of women singing about tradition, customs, marriage and motherhood; audiovisual documents; comic strips; ritual objects and handicrafts; and everyday objects that reflect women's lives. Men and women from various backgrounds were invited to contribute to the publication of the book Women Build Africa (edited by L. Ferera and published in Quebec in 2000).


The exhibition, texts, and audiovisual documents were presented in French and English.

Development Issues

Women, Rights.

Key Points

The contemporary works of art that are integrated into the exhibit narrative show how female artists view their themselves and their societies. They focus on empowering themes (like solidarity of women across continents), as well as on oppression and constraints that have hindered women. Education is also highlighted as part of the strategy to promote women's rights and economic development. The exhibition advocates for mutually empowering gender relations and increased efforts to create a legislative environment that provides women with assets such as land and credit.

Partners

Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Bénin, the Musée de la Femme Henriette Bathily, the Musée Historique de Gorée in Senegal, the Canadian International Development Agency, Canadian Heritage, Development and Peace, the Canadian Federation of Municipalities, the Ministère des Relations internationales du Québec, the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec and UPA Développement International.

Sources

African Colours site.