The My Change Voucher: Giving Responsibly to Restore Dignity and Transform Lives
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In this episode of Community Matters on Radio Cape Pulpit, host Jean Morris explores the thought-provoking question: "What happens when our kindness unintentionally causes harm?" She is joined by Carmen Dickinson, manager of the My Change Voucher program, and Dylan Zordan, a graduate of the U-turn program and now administrator at My Change.
The discussion highlights why giving cash to people living on the streets can fuel addiction and create dependency. Instead, the My Change Voucher offers a responsible alternative. A single voucher (purchased for R50 for a pack of four) can be redeemed for a meal, a warm shower, clean clothing, or a safe place to sleep at U-turn or MES service centers. But it goes much deeper—it provides access to social workers, counselors, and a structured two-year program that addresses trauma, addiction, and skills development, ultimately leading to restoration, employment, and independent living.
Dylan shares his powerful personal testimony: from 12 years of drug addiction and homelessness, receiving a My Change voucher led him to a service center, then to rehabilitation, baptism, job training, and eventually becoming the administrator of the very program that helped him. He is now clean for three years, lives independently, has a driver's license, and holds a qualification as a full-stack web developer. The episode also introduces the new digital My Change voucher—a first in South Africa—which gives homeless individuals a unique identity and card, and was endorsed by the Mayor of Cape Town. Listeners are encouraged to purchase vouchers online, at retail partners, or via SnapScan, and to become part of the solution by giving responsibly.
The discussion highlights why giving cash to people living on the streets can fuel addiction and create dependency. Instead, the My Change Voucher offers a responsible alternative. A single voucher (purchased for R50 for a pack of four) can be redeemed for a meal, a warm shower, clean clothing, or a safe place to sleep at U-turn or MES service centers. But it goes much deeper—it provides access to social workers, counselors, and a structured two-year program that addresses trauma, addiction, and skills development, ultimately leading to restoration, employment, and independent living.
Dylan shares his powerful personal testimony: from 12 years of drug addiction and homelessness, receiving a My Change voucher led him to a service center, then to rehabilitation, baptism, job training, and eventually becoming the administrator of the very program that helped him. He is now clean for three years, lives independently, has a driver's license, and holds a qualification as a full-stack web developer. The episode also introduces the new digital My Change voucher—a first in South Africa—which gives homeless individuals a unique identity and card, and was endorsed by the Mayor of Cape Town. Listeners are encouraged to purchase vouchers online, at retail partners, or via SnapScan, and to become part of the solution by giving responsibly.
