It was a joy to be part of the VACorps program. My time in Cape Town was extraordinarily special, in large part due to the opportunities provided by VAC and the endless support of the VAC staff. My internship experience at a human rights NGO was transformative. I was able to immerse myself within a community and way of life, unlike anything to which I had ever been exposed. I made personal connections with the people in my internship, and I was welcomed into my internship organization with open arms. I learned and grew as a person during my time in my internship, and I was challenged to do and think about things that had never even crossed my mind. I regard my time in my internship as a true blessing. Beyond this, I was excited every week to partake in the Friday activities provided by VAC, each of which brought to my attention a new place within an aspect of Cape Town. The activities were well-planned, thrilling, and a great way to spend time with other people within the program. Additionally, as a woman navigating a new city on my own, it was comforting to know that the VAC staff would always be there, should I need anything. Because of the support provided by VAC, I was able to find a sense of independence in a new city and create a community for myself on my own, while knowing that I had people always looking out for me. VAC ensured that we would be safe during our time in Cape Town, that we would have a meaningful internship experience, and that we would be able to enjoy all the beauty and adventure that Cape Town has to offer.

My experience with VACorps in Cape Town has been nothing short of amazing. From the outset, the VACorps team did an excellent job of welcoming me and helping me feel comfortable in this new environment.

I also really enjoyed my time at a local TV station and am extremely happy that ended up working out. I am really glad I worked an in-person job and was part of a social and friendly team, and was granted a lot of freedom and trust at my job. I will surely miss interacting with my coworkers. I really enjoyed the VACorps group and the activities provided a nice structure and a way to socialize with others. I stayed for 2 and a half months and would say that it's a fairly good amount of time. There is certainly a lot I feel I didn't get to do, and my advice to others would be to make a sort of bucket list of Cape Town things to do.

I chose VACorps because I wanted to travel somewhere far and very different and live like a local. Once I arrived in Cape Town I felt truly welcome. During the 2 months I lived here I found community through conversations with Uber drivers, business owners, restaurant employees, and other locals. Learning about Cape Town and South Africa through the perspective of everyday people and not a tour guide was a special and unique experience.

My internship at a radio station was another completely unique experience. Even without prior radio experience or having taken a single college course, I was trusted to represent the station in interviews with politicians, artists, and important businesspeople. That trust gave me the confidence to be creative and stick to my gut. I presented on a radio show every weekday and wrote and ran my own show on Saturdays. I filmed and edited videos for their social media, scheduled interviews, wrote scripts, and played my guitar live on air.

I learned so much through all of these tasks, but my relationships with my colleagues at the station were the most meaningful. The casual work environment gave me plenty of time to get to know the staff. I learned about the very different upbringings that all of them had. However, I ended up being surprised at how much we had in common often fostered through a mutual love of music. Ultimately, I am happy to call many of them my close friends. Leaving Cape Town and the radio station has been hard because I've loved it so much. I know I will return someday.

The last 2.5 months in Cape Town have been some of the best of my life. I’ve done lots of exploring— penguins, gardens, hiking, and plenty of beaches. Plus I have made such special friends. The people I’ve met through VACorps are some that I know I will keep in touch with for the rest of my life, and Cape Town has been such an amazing place to explore. There’s nowhere like it. I really settled into a routine of interning, working out at the gym, and then seeing more of Cape Town after, which made it easy to enjoy my internship while also being adventurous. I never want to leave Cape Town and am so sad that I only have 2 weeks left here, but I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience so far. VACorps did a phenomenal job of organizing activities, always being helpful if any issue arose, and cultivating a true sense of community unique to other programs I’ve heard of in the area.

Originally, I was nervous about coming to Cape Town. I had never been so far from home but it’s been the best decision I've ever made!

Cape Town itself is beautiful. In the last two months, it’s become my favorite place I’ve traveled to since it has everything: beautiful beaches, mountains, the ocean, amazing food, friendly people and there is always something to do. Though living so far from my home in Chicago, I’ve truly made a new home here.

I’ve been in Cape Town for two months and I wish I could stay longer. If I could do it again, I would most likely choose to stay for three months. The VACorp staff has been very helpful in making our time in Cape Town the best it can be. They’ve created the perfect combination of independence while also having support from the staff whenever needed night or day. The activities hosted by the program are always really fun and we are always doing new things. The turnout rates for the activities are high which speaks highly to the program community.

VACorps was an amazing program. I am so grateful for this experience. It provided me with a new perspective of South Africa, dissolving all assumptions I previously had. The danger and poverty here are real, however, it’s nothing to be afraid of or something that discourages people from coming here. This is a beautiful place full of so many fun things and adventures. I really appreciated all of the Friday activities they took us on. During this experience, I’ve learned and become more confident in being 100% myself. I’ve made so many great relationships here with these kids. I stayed for 2 months, and I think people would enjoy 3 months here easily. I would definitely recommend any gappers to take part of this program.

I chose to travel to South Africa to do an internship in Cape Town because of how amazing this city is. You can find everything here, beaches, city life, and mountains. There is always something to do, see, and partake in. I loved that through VaCorps I had an organized group and community when I arrived, but I still was able to be independent and live freely. My time here has been absolutely amazing and I have learned so much about myself and the world in these past two months. Cannot recommend coming here with VACorps more!!

I chose Cape Town as my place to intern during my gap year because I wanted something different from my mundane 9-5 life back home. I wanted to experience people and places unlike what I have seen and get a better perspective on the world I live in. In my time in Cape Town, I learned who I could really be, facing challenges and living independently. Whether taking a walk to clear my mind in the beautiful sea point to taking on seemingly indomitable mountains there was always something to reflect on with myself and my surroundings.

My goal before arriving in Cape Town was to gain independence and confidence in an uncomfortable environment and find a home away from home. I definitely achieved this.