African development 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 cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Anti-Retroviral Theatre (ART) – South Africa

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Anti-Retroviral Theatre (ART) is a project that is being used as a tool in the struggle against HIV/AIDS on contemporary South African society. The project works to towards creating new ways of addressing critical personal and social issues through the use "of provocative and imaginative theatre and its related life skills."
Communication Strategies
The project is aimed at serving individuals and communities they represent in an attempt to probe and question critical personal and social issues surrounding HIV/Aids. It follows a process of questioning that leads participants to a sense of compassion and understanding of individuals and their roles in society.

It trains individuals and their communities to take charge of their lives through engendering a culture of proactive action in relation to problem solving and crisis management. It teaches people how to create their own opportunities, developing critical life skills through the medium of the theatre and theatre training. The process attempts to teach people life skills such as critical thinking, personal empowerment, creative problem solving, trust, understanding, acceptance and compassion.

The organisers believe failure to address social problems and the inability to address them contribute to the escalating incidents of violation, abuse, rape and HIV/aids infection. "It is our intent to use the tool of theatre to address these issues and provide individuals the skill to use these tools and put them to work within their individual communities."

The project provides employment opportunities for individuals working in the fields of theatre, education and HIV/Aids awareness and management.
Development Issues
HIV/AIDS
Key Points
"This is a project that strives toward giving individuals the ability, capacity and skills to provide meaningful HIV/Aids education.Providing education with regards to treatment and prevention, transmission, awareness, care and support."
Partners

The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative, Artists Against Abuse, Artists Doing Aids, The Johannesburg Development Agency, The Dance Factory, The Market Theatre Laboratory, The African Bank Market Theatre,

Sources

Forgottenangle website on January 30, 2004