Teaching & Education Internships in Cape Town, South Africa

I chose Cape Town because I wanted to experience a different culture while gaining hands-on experience in education. What I loved most was getting to experience everyday life rather than simply visiting as a tourist. Through my internship at a local primary school, I was able to build connections with students and teachers while learning about the community firsthand.

One of my main goals was to better understand education outside of the United States and see how a school responds to the needs of its community. I spent time observing younger learners, seeing how teachers supported different learning and behavioral needs, and having meaningful conversations with staff about their experiences and the challenges facing their students. Seeing the relationships teachers built with their students was one of the biggest highlights of my internship.

I stayed for about eight weeks, which gave me enough time to adjust and really experience the culture. The VAC staff and weekly activities made settling into a new country much easier and introduced me to parts of Cape Town I probably would not have discovered on my own. I am especially grateful for the people I met and the opportunity to experience education and community from a completely different perspective.

As a student majoring in education, I was very interested in learning about the South African education system, especially given the country’s history of apartheid. People in Cape Town are incredibly friendly, and I felt that I could connect with them deeply beyond the boundaries of gender or race. The opportunity VACorps provided to visit the township was truly eye-opening. Seeing the educational gaps firsthand helped me understand the real power and importance of education.

South Africa is also rich in natural beauty, which fascinated me every day. I enjoyed hiking, canoeing, and jogging with my roommates and VAC members—these experiences have become some of my favourite memories. As an Asian student, I was surprised to find that people often stared at me, simply because Asian visitors are still relatively rare here. However, I learned that their curiosity comes from genuine interest. If you keep an open mind, it becomes a wonderful opportunity for cultural exchange. I recommend embracing the experience of being a minority!

VACorps’ Friday activities are incredibly diverse and gave us the chance to explore all the essential places in Cape Town. I am truly grateful for the many places they took us and for all the beautiful memories created along the way.

My time in Cape Town has been the most unforgettable few weeks, and I am beyond grateful to have experienced it. I grew in confidence, learned from others, and immersed myself in a new culture. Whether it was stepping out of my comfort zone to meet new people, discovering my passion for teaching, or exploring everything Cape Town has to offer, this trip has truly changed my life.

I loved getting to know other interns from around the world and sharing so many new experiences together. Interning at the schools taught me more than I ever anticipated. I wanted international experience to help me pursue my dream of becoming a teacher, and working at Kiddies College and Observatory Junior School gave me exactly that.

I felt at home in the classroom—whether I was teaching at the board, walking around to help students at their desks, or making sure each child felt supported. One of my personal goals was to get to know each student individually and be someone they could rely on inside and outside the classroom. I enjoyed grading their work, helping them understand their mistakes, and showing them how to improve. Assisting with their concert dance at Observatory Junior School was another highlight.

I am most thankful for the people I met, the students I worked with, and the supervisors who guided me. Cape Town has so much to offer, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to experience it.

God’s Own Country is how I would best describe Cape Town! Blessed by the vast nature, incredible culture, beautiful people and friends, I had the most surreal experience of a lifetime in Cape Town- I would gladly do it all again starting from my first full day riding in the Red Bus City Tour to the Cango Caves at the end of the Safari Garden Route. I have to say I was a little worried staying here for a solid 2 months as I thought it was large chunk of time, but it genuinely flew by in the wink of an eye! Looking back, we did so much and had a true adventure because at the end of the day it was an immersive cultural and internship experience whereby I am leaving South Africa fulfilled and content with more than I came: a lovely bunch of friends, strong network connection, and gorgeous memories!

My experience in the VACorps program was a perfect balance of rigorous internship and freedom to explore a new city. I loved my internship dearly- teaching grade 5 Monday through Thursday- and the relationships I formed with both my learners and my teaching mentor will stick with me. Cape Town is an entirely unique city- coming from New England, it resembled nowhere I'd ever visited before, and I loved it almost instantly. It's hard to find a city that combines nature, adventure, history, and nightlife while maintaining such a sense of community. VACorps itself fosters a familial environment and getting altogether at the end of the week to explore the city was a highlight of every week. My time in Cape Town is leaving me with a unique cultural experience, a new perspective on the world outside of my hometown bubble, and many new friends that I look forward to keeping up with in the coming years.