The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
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 cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Asia Pacific Youth Network (APYN)

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APYN is a regional youth network open to all individuals desiring social change that aims to connect like-minded people, 16-30 years of age, who are interested in campaigning on issues that matter to them and to open doors to finding out more and to creating opportunities to act. APYN, which includes over 6,000 individuals as of June 2012, was formed by young people from Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and others throughout the world. The network began communicating online through Facebook in June 2008, following a consultation meeting in May 2008 hosted by Amnesty International.

Communication Strategies

APYN promotes the idea that individuals working collectively can create change. Its model is based on individual participants. APYN embraces the principles of community organising, youth participation (including active participation), respecting diversity, and engagement through activism. Social networking is APYN's key communication tool. APYN's online spaces include: Facebook, Twitter, Orkut, Ammado, Friendster, Myspace, Stumble Upon, Delicious, Digg, Reddit, Google Buzz, Google Bookmarks, and Messenger. For instance, APYN uses their website to: invite volunteers, influence and engage people about human rights issues, translate human rights issues into local languages, and welcome and help new activists become familiar with the online community.

 

In terms of the strategy for garnering participation in the online setting, APYN focuses on providing clear instruction and easy methods in order to attract more members and at the same time create awareness about their mission. For example, as part of the campaign "Take Action for MDGs [Millennium Development Goals]", APYN extended the following online calls for participation:

  • "WITH 5 minutes: SHARE your ideas on MDGs - in less than five quick minutes, you can lodge in your answers to five simple but important questions on MDGs and Human Rights.
  • WITH 1 click: DONATE your Facebook Status - tell your friends that Human Rights need to be included fully in the MDGs by donating your Facebook status. There were 87 individuals who donated their Facebook status to call Government leaders, not to ignore Human Rights in efforts to end poverty.
  • WITH 3 hours: ORGANISE your own Meet on MDGs – in a very easy, fun and convenient way, you can ask your friends about their views on MDGs on September 17-19 [2011] and be one of the more than 100 other facilitators from Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Nepal, Thailand, New Zealand and many others who already signed up to facilitate the VIEWS of the YOUTH on MDGs.
  • WITH 1 MINUTE: ADD an 'APYN for Human Rights and MDGs' Twibbon – did you know that you can add a twibbon to your Facebook profile picture and let everyone know that MDGs and Human Rights are important to you? In two easy, simple steps (which you can do in a minute or less!), have your Profile picture laced with a Twibbon [used to promote a cause on Twitter by overlaying an image on one's profile picture to show allegiance to a cause] and show support in advancing the cause!"

As part of that project, over 1,000 young people gathered for "Meet on MDGs", an opportunity for youth across the Asia Pacific region to express their thoughts on MDGs and its relationship with human rights, facilitated by a youth team of approximately 140 volunteer-facilitators affiliated with APYN. They presented 5 simple questions on human rights and the MDGs. Approximately 50 registered their thoughts through an individual online response form; another 30 showed their support by lacing their Facebook profile picture with the logo: APYN for Human Rights and MDGs.

Development Issues

Rights, Youth

Sources

People Sector Infocomm Resource Centre (PSIRC), June 21 2012.