Human Rights Internships in Cape Town

I chose Cape Town for my internship abroad because I wanted the opportunity to experience a part of Africa and immerse myself somewhere completely new. What I loved most was how much the city has to offer. There is music everywhere, incredible food, endless outdoor activities, and so much creativity. Whether exploring the city, heading into the mountains, or spending time at the beach, everything felt within reach. Even after ten weeks, I still felt like there was so much more I wanted to discover.

Living so far from home also taught me a lot about myself. Over time, I became much more comfortable with the unknown and learned to adapt to a different way of life, from local slang and culture to the everyday rhythms of Cape Town. I will especially miss the music, the creativity of the city, and all the people I met along the way.

The VAC team was incredibly friendly and welcoming throughout my stay. One of the things I am most grateful for is the community the program created. Many of the friendships and connections that shaped my time in Cape Town came through VAC, and the people I met and experiences we shared are something I will always remember.

I wanted to come to Cape Town because I was looking for a cultural experience that would challenge and broaden my perspective. As someone interested in international development, I wanted to learn within a different cultural context and better understand South Africa through its history and approach to development. One of the most impactful parts of my experience was learning about the concept of Ubuntu and seeing the importance of community, connection, and mutual support in everyday life.

My eight weeks in Cape Town felt short, but they gave me the opportunity to grow both culturally and professionally. Through my internship with a community-focused development organization, I gained valuable experience working within a different social and cultural setting. Most of all, I will miss the people I met, who were incredibly warm, curious, supportive, and welcoming. My time in South Africa also gave me greater clarity about my future and strengthened my desire to pursue opportunities abroad, including a Fulbright program.

I chose Cape Town because I wanted the opportunity to experience somewhere completely new and see for myself what made the city so special. During my time here, I learned so much about the culture, the people, and the natural beauty of South Africa. What stood out most was how warm and open people were, and I especially loved spending time with friends and meeting people from different countries. Those connections are what I will miss most.

During my internship with a community-based organization working with children, some of my favorite moments were simply playing with the kids, helping with activities, and leading lessons. Being around them brought back a sense of childhood joy while also helping me work toward a personal goal of becoming more confident communicating with others and speaking in front of groups. Building genuine connections with the children and experiencing the local community made the internship especially meaningful.

The VAC weekly activities were another highlight because they brought everyone together so naturally. Sometimes a friendship could start simply by playing soccer with someone whose name I didn’t even know yet. The VAC staff were always supportive and willing to listen, and I am incredibly grateful for the friendships, memories, and experiences I gained during my time in Cape Town.

This was my second summer interning abroad—after spending last summer in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and solo traveling across the United Kingdom—and I couldn’t be happier with my decision to choose Cape Town for my second international internship experience. Over the past two and a half months, I held a dual placement that allowed me to work at the intersection of public policy, research, and community-led justice. My work supported efforts to institutionalize South Africa’s National Strategic Plan (NSP) on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) and to ensure that national commitments translate into meaningful, localized outcomes.

A major part of my role involved contributing to monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks. I facilitated focus groups with adolescents, analyzed emergent themes, and documented service delivery gaps—hands-on work that deepened my understanding of how policy impacts communities on the ground. I also contributed to research on NSP implementation across all nine provinces, analyzed departmental performance plans and budgets, and produced policy briefs aimed at improving policy localization. Throughout my internship, I participated in stakeholder engagements, court support systems, and community-led initiatives, giving me a comprehensive view of how justice systems operate at both institutional and community levels. One of my proudest accomplishments was delivering a final presentation synthesizing my findings and offering recommendations for future alignment and impact.

Beyond the professional experience, what made this summer truly special were the people—the friends I made, the VAC staff, and the broader Cape Town community. When I first moved into 73 Arnold, I hoped my roommates and orientation group would become close friends—and that hope exceeded all expectations. Some of my favorite memories include backpacking in the Cederberg Mountains, booking an Airbnb in Stellenbosch, attending the Springboks’ opening game, enjoying First Thursdays, hopping on the Franschhoek Wine Tram, and hiking Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head. Each adventure was unforgettable, and the people I shared them with made them even more meaningful.

To Ila, Esmee, Jordan, Maarten, and Ava—thank you for being some of the most incredible people I’ve ever met. And to the VAC staff, thank you for your support, care, and warmth; you help turn Cape Town into a true home for so many of us. To anyone feeling nervous about coming to Cape Town, know that the friends you make here—along with the VAC staff and community—will become your support system. They will shape your experience in the best possible way. Savor every moment.

Interning at a human rights research NGO in Cape Town was an incredibly rewarding experience. I chose Cape Town because I wanted to gain real-world experience in human rights, and South Africa—given its rich constitutional framework and history of social justice—was the perfect place to do that.

During my internship, I engaged in meaningful research, particularly on children’s rights, a field I’m deeply passionate about. After completing some foundational tasks, I was invited to contribute to one of the NGO’s official publications. This was a significant milestone for me, as it aligned with my goal of engaging in policy-relevant writing. I’m grateful for the trust placed in me and approached this opportunity with the same care and commitment I brought to the rest of my work. Being surrounded by professionals dedicated to advocacy and policy reform was inspiring and gave me a deeper understanding of how law and development intersect to promote human dignity, equity, and justice.

Outside of work, Cape Town truly stole my heart. I’ll never forget seeing the African penguins at Simon’s Town, hiking to Cape Point with fellow interns, and going on a weekend safari that felt like stepping into a dream. These shared adventures created memories and friendships I’ll cherish for life.

The VACorps staff were phenomenal—always supportive, approachable, and genuinely committed to creating a meaningful experience for each intern. The weekly activities were not only fun but also helped us better understand South Africa’s history and culture.

I’m especially grateful for the community that VACorps fosters. Having that support system made a huge difference, both professionally and personally. Thank you, VACorps, for an unforgettable journey. I’m leaving Cape Town with new perspectives and a renewed passion for human rights work.

I chose Cape Town initially to experience a culture more removed from the Westernized American and European cultures I had experienced prior. I am so happy to say that I did! My experience in South Africa was so warm, welcoming, and playful! It taught me that the workplace has a place for compassion, friendship, and silliness. I connected with many wonderful people who extended their friendship and homes to me as a visitor. In addition to this life-changing social experience, I was also able to use my time away from work to explore the beautiful nature of Cape Town like the beaches and Table Mountain! I also thoroughly enjoyed the Garden Route and visiting Kruger, and was able to see all the wonderful animals! Working with Kelly and the women of MOSAIC was inspiring and eye-opening into the realities of gender-based violence and social work here, and helped me shape my ideas about my future career. I will miss the kindness and friendliness of everyone in Cape Town the most! I stayed for 8 weeks and found it was just enough time to get comfortable here and experience what I wanted to. I would tell people to research South Africa and educate themselves so they can make the most of their experience here. I am so incredibly grateful for the VACorps staff and their love and support; they were the perfect family away from home!

I fell in love with this beautiful city, its landscapes, and its people. I decided to come here as a political science student because the history of this country fascinated me. This internship at a sustainable development NGO helped me gain a better understanding of it and nuanced my knowledge. It was my end-of-master’s internship and my first professional experience in my field of activity. It helped me have a clearer vision of what I want to do, and I was involved in several projects regarding the Sustainable Development Goals. It was really interesting and worth it!

I am going to miss Cape Town so much; I met incredible people here. I started yoga in Obz and discovered so many places thanks to all the VAC activities. This program exceeded my expectations, and I am so grateful for this beautiful opportunity and cannot wait to come back to Cape Town!

Cape Town was my dream internship destination because of its natural beauty and unique history. As a Human Rights intern, being able to study injustice in a country that has significant economic and racial inequality has been conducive to my understanding of human rights on a global level. I interned for Dr. Kelly Stone, a human rights lawyer and consultant, and was able to assist her in projects concerning the reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals, women in policing, and the governance of AI. These projects spanned a wide variety of topics and addressed different skill sets to give me a sense of the day-to-day of human rights work in South Africa and abroad. My internship has been invaluable to my personal development, as well as to ascertaining what I will study in university.

Besides my internship, Cape Town’s diversity and beauty have allowed me to dive into a new culture and absorb a new way of life. What I have learned from exploring the city has given me just as much as my internship. Exploring Khayelitsha during orientation week, planning my own trip to Robben Island, and attending the weekly culture series led by VACorps has added to my understanding of South Africa’s past and present. Some of my other Cape Town favorites include Sonder Café, Clifton 4th beach, the Old Biscuit Mill market, the Oranjezicht City Farm Market, Groot Constantia, and Ferdinando’s Pizza. Cape Town is a beautiful city with so much culture to absorb, history to learn from, and fun to have!