CICI seeks to build the confidence of, and to support creativity within, inner-city youth by providing them with an outlet to express their reflections on day-to-day life in the city. The centre strives to provide an open space for artists, development practitioners and youth to interact freely and safely, and to discuss issues concerning inner-city youth, such as drug abuse and crime. The informal setting of CICI is geared toward allowing youth to feel a sense of belonging, and aims to encourage youth to express their feelings about their life in the city and thus, release the tensions they might be experiencing. The organisers believe that encouraging such release, particularly in a creative capacity, is a valuable strategy for preventing youth from getting involved in drug abuse, gangs and crime.

The theatre group at CICI, Mo Faya, also seeks to emphasise the role of arts in building positive visions of learning and a greater understanding of social harms and their impacts on inner-city youth in Johannesburg. Mo Faya seeks to use comedy and creativity as a communication strategy to build awareness amongst youth about issues such as rape and HIV/AIDS. In an effort to involve the larger inner-city community, Mo Faya performs in the centre of Joubert Park, drawing in audiences and using drama and music to disseminate messages. Through humour and costumes, the performances are designed to attract spectators, particularly youth, so that the drama team can promote awareness about social harms in the inner city such as sexual abuse and unprotected sex.

The visual arts programme at CICI offers training in portraiture, signwriting, textile printing and mural work. The hope is that young artists can share their visions of social change in this environment through workshops and training sessions that aim to foster expression of feelings and observations. The organisers aim to create a space where artistic skills can be recognised, to the end of empowering youth by providing them with a venue to realise their potential and work with creative individuals.

CICI also uses interpersonal communication to engage inner-city youth in community-based initiatives to help disadvantaged peers. In 2004, CICI hosted a pilot project called the Missing Children's Posters Workshop. This workshop invites youth to design posters for missing children in South Africa. Run by Glenda Venn from Itsago and funded by Hewlett Packard, the pilot is testing the formats for posters developed by young participants for effectiveness in creating awareness in communities. Organisers believe that these creative posters will help to attract more attention on the street about missing children, since generic posters are often overlooked by passers-by.

Youth, HIV/AIDS, Health, Conflict.