Internships in Cape Town with VACorps

I came to South Africa because I wanted to understand its history and struggle, to understand how counsellors and psychologists apply western theories to people living in a country like South Africa and to explore this beautiful country. I tried to control my expectations, but even if you make a strong effort not to build expectations they magically appear. And I must say, both Cape Town and Hope House have gone above and beyond my expectations. Exploring Cape Town and its surroundings have been one of the most magical things I've ever done in my life, and it has given me a glimpse of how people live here, how they think and the historic context they live in. Regarding my internship placement at Hope House... it was such an amazing experience that I will cherish forever. I felt my supervisor's trust from day one, and that motivated me to give the best of me at anything I've done there. In two months I've counseled 9 clients (7-8 sessions each) and co-facilitated two different groups at Levana Primary and Lavender Hill High, and I couldn't be happier with how much I've learned from my clients and the learners, but specially from my coworkers at Hope House. The kindness and hard work of people working at HH inspired me every day. Specially my supervisor, Mandy. She is so talented at what she does, she is one of the most talented persons I've ever met. She treats everyone with love and she passes her wisdom onto everyone around her. You can tell she is one of the people in this world who really cares for people around her, and wants to support anyone in need anytime she has the opportunity to do so. I will forever be grateful to Hope House and VAC, for choosing such an amazing placement for me. Thank you!

Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been to. There is access to everything and always so much to do. I loved all the opportunities to be outdoors and find adventure. Through VACorps I have met so many wonderful people who have made exploring this country such a wonderful experience. From hikes and sunset beach picnics to shark cage diving and swimming with penguins, I was never bored and I have memories that will stay with me forever. VACorps was especially great because of all the wonderful staff and the cultural and friday activities. I learned and explored more than I ever could alone. Two and a half months is definitely not enough time in this beautiful city.

I chose Cape Town to explore what the medical profession would be like away from the United States. My experience was enlightening and exceptionally interesting, but more importantly, VAC internships set me up with a unique opportunity to meet amazing people through the program. I have made amazing friends and gone on adventures of a lifetime (especially the Mozambique trip), and I would do it again a thousand more times. I have seen myself change for the better in all aspects of my life, and I have this program to thank for that. I will miss the party block at 89/91 station road, and especially Rust cafe. My only advice is to actually prepare a budget for your time here.

I decided to choose Cape Town do intern at due to the amazing placement VAC was able to find for me. I loved interning at Inala mental health centre and was able to grow immensely both as a professional and as a person. I learned more about my skills in group work and individual work throughout my internship. I was tested in a practical way many of the things learned in school. It was a great opportunity to actually apply what i have been taught during my college career. I loved living at 91 station road. I met some amazing friends and was able to step out of my comfort zone and try so many new things. I loved the constant adventure that was always available in cape town. I loved the hiking, the views and the people i saw and met along my way. The weekly activities were a great way to become acclimated and meet new people who were also in VAC. I really enjoyed the activities offered and think that the staff did a good job picking things everyone would be interested in. My favourite activity was the vineyards and the outdoor movie.
My advise for people is to really budget out your trip before coming here, i ended up splurging more then i thought. Take every opportunity that comes your way and don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, you wont regret it!

I chose Cape Town as a place to intern abroad because of all the different opportunities it had to offer and I was able to go do more programs in South Africa after my time with VAC and I wanted to do an internship to get some real work experience before going to college. I really loved seeing the Second Chance Theater with my internship site. What I loved most about living here is being able to go hike a mountain and then explore a city or go swimming at the beach, I loved always having something to do. I stayed for 6 weeks and I would advise another intern to stay for about the same time or longer but not shorter. I would say that they really need to prepare themselves for a bit of culture shock. It was definitely a change having to consider safety all the time and not being able to walk at night. The VACorps staff was extremely helpful during my stay and always available to answer my questions. The weekly actives were great and I was able to experience so many things that I probably wouldn't have done. The aspects of the VACorps program that I am most grateful for is that the VAC staff were so nice and welcoming and any time I had to come into the VAC office I was greeted by smiling faces and hugs. I also loved that the prgram alwasy pushes you out of your comfort zone to try new things.

I chose Cape Town as a place to intern abroad because I have always been eager to go to Africa and I felt that Cape Town would be a perfect fit for me. I decided to do an internship because after graduating University and working for two years I wanted to travel more but also get some experience in my field of interest, so I thought interning abroad would be a good option. Observatory was a great neighbourhood to live in, with everything you need pretty much within walking distance. I was placed in a 6-week human rights internship program with Kelly Stone, an independent policy researcher and human rights lawyer. Kelly was an awesome supervisor and it was a pleasure to work with her. I would suggest my internship site to anyone interested in the field of human rights. The internship itself was super rewarding and gave me a lot of insight into things like South African law and policing in South Africa. My internship gave me the opportunity to work independently, as well as part of a team and I feel like it was a perfect balance for me.

A couple of things I loved the most about interning in Cape Town was the people that I met through VAC and the friendships I have made. I loved being able to explore Cape Town on my days off, whether it was alone or with a friend. The weather was also fairly warm during my stay here, which definitely didn't hurt. Also, the weekly activities were a great addition to the program as they were a great opportunity to go and meet other VAC interns and explore South Africa. I am grateful for the support and guidance I received here by the VAC staff and my internship supervisor. They were always responsive and willing to answer any questions I had. I would definitely advise people to come do an internship through VAC.

Coming to Cape Town was a big leap of faith for me as i went into doing this internship not knowing what i will face. I wanted to get far out of my comfort zone and choose a country where i would never imagine coming to. I surprised myself and adapted quite well in CT, learning, experiencing new things and falling in love with the people and culture. I loved interning at Groote Schurr hospital as it helped me to learn so much about the health issues that CT has been facing. I was able to be open-minded and experience what i have learned in theory during my years at university and actually gaining experience and insight on Research and the prevention and intervention of HIV. I went through an amazing journey for 3 months here, and i have faced challenges and done things i thought i could never do. I have grown so much from being part of this experience, becoming more independent and looking beyond what meets the eye. I loved living here, especially in Obz and i do not regret coming here at all. Out of all things, i will deeply miss the people here and their free and welcoming spirits. I have created so many beautiful relationships here and i will cherish all the memories. VACorps staff are the best! I joined a few activities and loved the garden route tour the most. I am super grateful for everyone here and the support has been the best.

I am so grateful that VACorps put me at NICRO to work on human rights law with Kelly Stone and Venessa Padayachee as my supervisors. I have learned so much in the past month and a half– not only about myself and my passions, but also about the South African society, its people, its history, its issues. Kelly, Venessa, and everyone I met through this internship were so open and welcoming, bringing me to all their meetings and showing me things that were hard but necessary to see. This is probably my favourite internship that I’ve done so far. My two supervisors are extraordinary, truly respectable people who are very passionate about their work, and I am honoured to have had the privilege to work with them.

Cape Town is a beautiful city, and VACorps provided me an opportunity to explore it while meeting likeminded young people. The program gave us a lot of freedom and choice, while the support and advice was always there when needed. The VACorps staff are very approachable and I loved getting to know them through the Friday trips we did. I especially enjoyed the wine tasting and the hiking trips!