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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Media Centre de Dakar - Senegal

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Since 1997, Forut Sénégal¹s Media Center has trained over 50 young women and men, aged 16-30, in all aspects of current audio-visual production. Based on Forut¹s founding principles of promoting peace, temperance, and human rights, activities of the Media Center are geared toward five main objectives:
… Advancing sustainable drug abuse prevention activities via participatory audio-visual strategies;
… Promoting the ideals of democracy, freedom, tolerance, and peace.
… Strengthening the foundation of information and fostering communication on social issues in Africa, with special emphasis on those related to alcohol abuse and drug addiction;
… Contributing to the greater development of human resources by developing audio-visual communication skills among youth;
… Enhancing communication and contact between youth groups within Sénégal and around the world.
Communication Strategies

Beyond comprehensive technical training, coursework includes units on film theory, script writing, graphic design, research, and approaches to participatory communication. To date (August 2001), twenty student films have been completed which deal with a wide range of community issues: child labor, genital mutilation, drug abuse, alcoholism, environmental abuses, etc. An annual film festival hosted by the Media Center, Le Festival du Quartier, is now in its third cycle. A web site http://www.forut.sn has been conceived, designed, and mounted by the Media Center students.
Development Issues

Technology, Cultural and Political Development, Rights.
Key Points

Due to the real lack of training centers or academic programmes in Sénégal and many other Sub-Saharan nations which address audio-visual communications, young professionals are hard-pressed to acquire career skills in these domains, despite the general level of interest and enthusiasm surrounding these approaches. The Center is equipped with a full range of state-of-the-art digital video production and post-production equipment. Additionally, students benefit from high-speed internet access as well as web authoring equipment which helps to liberate them from the role of passive media consumers.
Sources

Letter from Sonia Marcus to The Communication Initiative August 8 2001.