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.
Time to read
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Published 24 years ago
Last updated 4 years ago
Read so far

Impact Data - Generation 1997 Theatre Project

0 comments
Knowledge Shifts
Participation in the process enabled both generations to explore & break down prejudices between them. "During the project & performances, feedback from the school & the wider community indicated support for the aim of improving intergenerational relationships". The children learned that they needed to exercise self-discipline & respect around the elderly theatre members & "the head teacher reported improved attendance amongst persistent truants & an increase in confidence & language skills". Informal discussions after the play indicated that audiences recognised the situation & characters portrayed & identified with the narrative.
Practices
Solid friendships were developed during the theatre project including an acceptance of one another. "The participants sought each others' company outside of the project structure & teachers praised the level of commitment from students with problems such as truancy, learning difficulties & communication". Between the years of 1997 & 1999, there was a decrease in the harassment of older people, noted by youth, community workers & pensioners. "The community has recently raised funds for a new phase of intergenerational drama work".
Attitudes
Initial attitudes toward the elderly by the youth group showed disrespect in their loud & raucous behaviour. Also, their poetry (1000 poems in all) reflected feelings of distaste toward the elderly: "References to smell, rage & wrinkles & a preoccupation with unfashionable clothes worn by 'old grippers in slippers' were themes that reoccurred". The 'River of Life' pictoral diagram that the elderly used to display their attitudes toward the younger generation showed both positive & negative qualites. Mutual trust developed throughout the project & the group body sculptures ('still pictures') used to reflect attitudes were "very different to the attitude expressed in the earlier poems". Members of the Small World Theatre group noticed a "softening of attitudes & a building of positive relationships between the generations".
Access
Over a period of 9 months, a group of 20 secondary school students between the ages of 12 & 16 took part in the play with 10 pensioners from the Healthy, Wealthy & Wise (HWW) group, who's ages ranged between 67 & 85 years. There were 7 performances in July in schools & community halls in Ely, Cardiff during festival week. Approximately 2000 people saw the show & extracts & comments were broadcat on HTV & S4C. A single performance in September for policy makers was held in an arts centre outside Ely.