A powerful video has just been released by the City of Cape Town with a simple message about supporting shelters rather than beggars.
In a nutshell, the video proves that loose change will keep anyone on the streets for longer than they intended to stay.
It’s the context of the video that makes it so powerful. In it, a busted vending machine spits out coins at passersby and natural human curiosity keeps them huddled around the machine, much like random handouts keep beggars on the streets longer.
The video was created for the city’s Give Responsibly campaign, which is basically a great initiative from the City of Cape Town to effectively curb begging by funnelling donations to the appropriate organisations that can make a real difference.
Visit Give Responsibly to find out how you can make a difference.
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Matthew Chappy Chapman
Ashleigh Meyers
please start a campaign to STOP littering in our BEAUTIFUL city CAPE TOWN !
Huh? Strange…….
Brilliant! Now that is something I will support!
I found this quite confusing. I understand the ultimate message, but was the machine throwing money out and people were trying to put it back? Maybe I’m slow…
Excellent !
People begging are desperate individuals asking for assistance. Try to give some respect !! There is not always room in the shelters
Aimee Lynn Mostert check this ad! Melaine mom is in it!
Quote simply, the coins even kept ordinary people on the street. Get the message?
We have all begged but some of us only beg to differ…
By supporting the shelters rather than the individuals, God willing and without corruption on the part of the shelters, the shelters can grow and accommodate more people. So best to support the shelters, rather than one individual.
Interesting, I completely get the supporting shelter and coupon policy and rationale behind it. But the reality is that shelters are often full, and people as human beings do have a right not to want to go into them for various reason. So, yes essentially I back the campaign, the reality is that when a poor old man asks me for money when I am driving home from work at 7pm and I know he isn’t going to get into a shelter or even be able to walk to one, then I give money.
Not really brilliant at all…
No you’re not confused, the team who came up with this concept is.
Have bought books of tickets for the shelters and when I’ve given them to a small group of homeless I support they say they can’t get in,always full.This is in the Green Point area.
spot on
Jennifer Crocker, as long as you give, he’ll be waiting for more. Give a man a fish, and he’ll be coming back for more. Teach him to fish, and he can catch his own. Some of these beggars have been standing at the traffic lights for months. We are not doing society any favours. Sometimes, one has to be cruel in order to be kind..!
Ben Lombard I basically do agree with that cliche, what I think I am trying to say is that while the ultimate aim is to get people going to shelters and off the streets there simply are not enough resources for this. Of course I am in favour of supporting programmes that help get people off the streets, but …. as I said as I stop in my snug car with the knowledge that I am going home and a man old enough to be my grandfather is standing next to me in the rain do I just say no, but I have donated to a shelter? I can’t do it, I just can’t. The reality is that he isn’t going to find a shelter or go to one. So, I will keep on giving when my heart tells me to (and really I don’t care if he goes off and buys a half-jack to ease the pain of being, old, cold and on the street) and I will support other structures. Incidentally I hope the advert clever though it is didn’t cost too much to make?
And Ben I also wonder whether we are called to do society favours or to reach out to those in need even if in an imperfect way when we can?
Am I the only one that does not make head or tail of this … powerful .. I doubt it. City Council has been taken for a ride if you ask me. Who got the contract for this one .. ??
maybe you should check to see if its in fact full?
This ad is a good depiction of ‘lateral thinking’, but it certainly does not count for homeless people. The people in the ad are not starving and desperate. I’m not sure it hits the mark.
Brilliant
Doesn’t Vodacom take 50% of the donation on sms?
I agree with Teresa Anne Moore and Pierre Jordaan….I don’t get it …wonder how much money was waisted. .could have build another shelter properly. ..hahaha
Shelters cost money and soup kitchens charge for food. However I support the initiative
It’s his reliance on your money that prevented him from getting to a shelter on time or even looking for one for that matter. Time to have a mind shift, essentially you are perpetuating his dismal situation
excellent i just wish all the airlines would do the decent thing and show this video as well
Clever ad – yes, we all return to that place where we hope to be given money (even our jobs) – support shelters so that many more can be built in many areas around the city to give those who need them a judgement – free place to rest, if temporarily.