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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Womyn Supporting Womyn Centre - The Philippines

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Initiated in the Philippines in 1994, the Womyn Supporting Womyn Centre (WSWC) is a national organisation of self-identified lesbians committed to promote and enhance lesbian empowerment by:
  • initiating creative efforts for lesbian rights advocacy and positive lesbian visibility
  • supporting lesbian organisations
  • generating and providing timely, appropriate, and responsive support and direct services.
WSWC currently has 14 active core members who come from different fields and sectors: NGO community, women's movement, academia, visual and performing arts, and business. The skills contributed by members include training, research, writing, public speaking to grassroots organisations, legislative advocacy, photography, painting and cooking.
Communication Strategies
In an effort to create a society that is liberating and respectful of the rights and needs of women who love other women, WSWC conducts the following activities and projects:
  • Organises conferences with other groups, including First National Lesbian Rights Conference (1996), Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender Parallel Forum for the 5th ICAAP (1997), National Lesbian and Gay Leaders Conference (1997), 4th Asian Lesbian Network Conference (1998)
  • Conducts the annual celebration of National Lesbian Day, December 8
  • Sponsors monthly discussions open to the lesbian community
  • Provides trainings, discussions, and education sessions on topics related to sexuality and gender, like gender-sensitivity, reproductive health, homophobia, and violence against women
  • Offers fora and symposia (for instance in schools, women's groups, NGOs, offices, and the mass media) on topics such as families, relationships, coming out, discrimination, health, feminism, lesbophobia and lesbian politics
  • Provides a small library for easy access of lesbian resources
  • Publishes Switchboard on a seasonal basis; circulates it locally and internationally. The magazine features news of lesbian activities, gatherings, and updates on issues
  • Conducts cultural work. Artist members of WSWC have formed a cultural arm called Lesbianarama. The artists use their art, craft, and work as a medium for lesbian advocacy. Initial projects included the construction of visual art exhibits for Pride Month activities in 2000 and 2001, and the production of a set of postcards of lesbian artwork to raise funds
  • Collaborates with advocacy groups locally and internationally.
Development Issues
Women, Rights, Gender.
Key Points
WSWC was started as a committee under the Women's Education, Development, Productivity and Research Organization (Wedpro), which ran a Lesbian Hotline and published the Switchboard, a lesbian newsletter. It also began documentation of lesbian experiences and steadily strengthened its capacity for training on lesbian issues. In September 1997, WSWC became an independent organisation that now works to build and strengthen a lesbian movement that is fully integrated with the women's movement. The group was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a legal entity in June, 1999.
Sources

Letter sent from WSWC to The Communication Initiative on August 19, 2002.