Media
Media development action with informed and engaged societies
Media
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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TV Programme about Refugees - The Gambia

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Gambia Radio and TV Services created a programme about human rights issues affecting refugees in The Gambia. The programme explored why The Gambia has become a magnet for displaced persons, and how, with few natural resources, the country copes. Specific goals of the programme included:
  • Highlighting the issues of human rights for refugees;
  • promoting the country's open-door policy toward asylum-seekers; and
  • stressing to Gambian viewers the valuable contribution of the refugee community to national development.
Main Communication Strategies
The 30-minute television programme was shot over four weeks, and included interviews with refugees and support staff in urban and rural areas. The programme revealed that, unlike in most countries, refugees in The Gambia are not confined to camps. The majority live in the community, and are actively encouraged to seek employment in all professions. The programme identified the relief infrastructure, self-sustaining initiatives, and empathy of Gambian citizens as crucial to the compassionate treatment of these refugees.
Development Issues
Rights.
Key Points
Overflow from areas suffering major conflicts has caused Gambia's unofficial refugee population to balloon to 25,000. Most of these refugees are from Sierra Leone and the Casamance.
Partners

Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA), the Human Rights Fund of UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Sources

Commonwealth Broadcaster, the magazine of the CBA, November-January 2001.