Become a Guardian Guide

My name is Charles!

For a long time, alcohol was part of everything I did.

At first, it felt manageable — something that helped me cope. Somewhere along the way, it became something I depended on. I started missing work. I forgot to fetch my children from school. Conversations with my wife and friends faded from memory.

Eventually, I lost my job, my home, and the relationships that mattered most — including my relationship with my children.

By the time I walked through the doors of the Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre (CTDCC), I had very little left. I felt ashamed, exhausted, and hopeless. But I knew I couldn’t keep going the way I was.

Recovery didn’t happen overnight.

It started with showing up — to counselling, to group support, and to difficult conversations I’d avoided for years. At CTDCC, I wasn’t judged or rushed. I was met with patience, structure, and people who stayed when things felt hard.

They didn’t just help me stop drinking — they guided me through recovery. They became steady Guardian Guides when my life...