Cape Town is the perfect place for a human rights internship, and working out in the cape flats was very eye-opening. I couldn’t have picked a better location for an internship and I’ll definitely be coming back as I’ve fallen in love with Africa. Working with at my internship site was extremely rewarding seeing the struggles of abuse these women go through and being able to work directly with them and have a real impact was amazing. I’m going to miss not being able to go to the markets every weekend or just take an Uber to a vineyard and do wine tastings all day long with my friends. I stayed for 6 weeks and this was the perfect amount of time, I got everything done I wanted to including shark cage diving, paragliding, all the markets, Stellenbosch wine tours, surfing, hiking, and the garden route. The weekly vac activities were so much fun and the vac staff is great - especially Kholi and Kuselwa! I’m definitely most grateful to vac for pairing me with my internship site as being able to work with Kelly’s domestic violence pilot program out in the cape flats and working directly with SAPS in Bishop Lavis has been groundbreaking and rewarding work.

Originally I chose Cape Town because I wanted to do something different from the rest of my friends who intern in their hometown back in the US. I enjoyed the fact that the VACorps Application process wasn't a lengthy, nerve racking , application. It was easy to do. I enjoyed all the information I was sent and provided with by the VACorps team prior to my arrival. It made me super excited to come to Cape Town! The day I arrived in South Africa I was warmly welcomed by a member of the VACorps staff at the arrival gate in the airport. I was a bit scared honestly because SA is an unfamiliar place and I came with no friends or family, however the Orientation week that VACorps provides helped calm my nerves - I enjoyed the township tour on the Red Bus tour during orientation week. I also really enjoyed the support and love we all got from the VACorps staff members. It really helped me to feel better and less lonely/homesick.

I was terrified to start my internship as I had no idea what to expect! However I made so many friends and built many relationships that I know will last a long time. The people at my internship site were so welcoming. I'm gonna miss their jokes and the atmosphere so much. As time went by I didn't want to leave, so much so that I even extended my stay for a few extra days!

Cape Town is the perfect place to work as a young professional! I deeply enjoyed getting to know the people and culture of the city; it's forever dynamic and exciting. I've learned to step out of my comfort zone and I greatly appreciate the kindness and generosity of the locals. I interned as a reporter at GroundUp News and they wasted no time in giving me a taste of journalism in South Africa. I will miss the support of the GroundUp newsroom as well as the expertise and guidance from my co-workers. I really had to push myself to learn quickly about current affairs in order to write and report. I worked on stories mainly by myself and I had to be very self-reliant. My tips to future interns would be to feel comfortable doing a lot of things independently.

Coming to Cape Town was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. On top of being placed at the perfect internship site, I was also able to completely immerse myself in an entirely different culture than the one I was used to. Even though I spent a mere two months here, I became a completely different person. I am now more open-minded, more adventurous, more grateful, more educated, more passionate, and frankly I have become a better version of myself. In terms of my internship at the Refugee Legal and Advocacy Center, my supervisor helped me hone my skills as I assisted in his court cases and even partially wrote a submission to the South African Law Reform Commission. During my down time, I packed my schedule with every activity imaginable. I took a weekend trip to Garden Route and got to walk with some elephants. I visited the wine tram in Stellenbosch and found my love for red wine. I went to every market in Cape Town every single weekend, my favorite being the Oranjezicht City Farm market. I tried my hand at hiking (I am not as good as I would like to be). I ate my way through Cape Town and became a regular at Rust, Panchos and Mr. Lin’s. But I think my absolute favorite part about Cape Town were the people and relationships that were created during this internship. Without them, Cape Town would not be my absolute favorite place on this planet.

I had a friend from home that took a gap year in Cape Town and met a couple of students who interned through VAC and thought this would be an amazing opportunity to gain hours for PT school while experiencing a new culture and traveling abroad. I am an intern at the Sport Science Institute of South Africa on the team of biokienticists and I have had an amazing experience. I was not only learning from extremely knowledgeable people, but I learned what field of physical therapy I want to pursue, which is neurological disorders. This internship allowed me to be exposed to patients I have not seen before and be there for their big milestones. My favorite part of the internship was being able to walk in everyday and see the milestones of all the patients written on the wall and physically seeing the progress after working so hard in sessions. SSISA was also an amazing place to learn alongside UCT students and interns and gain even more knowledge.

I stayed in Cape Town for 5 weeks and loved the other interns I've met here and all the experiences VAC provided. Cape Town is truly an amazing place is so beautiful. I've loved the hikes after work, watching the sunset, or spontaneous trips to the beach. All these views could be reached in an Uber ride. I still feel like I didn't see all that I wanted to and I definitely recommend staying longer than 5 weeks to give yourself time to get adjusted and make the most of your experience at your internship and South Africa. I also recommend taking advantage of the Friday Activities! I was able to see a lot of Cape Town through these and made great friends because of it!

Initially, I was not sure what to expect from Cape Town and I was slightly intimidated to work in Khayelitsha. Looking back on my summer experience however, I am extremely thankful for the opportunity VAC provided me with. During my time in Site B CHC, I was able to learn a lot about the South African health care system, typical work environments along with medical experiences not offered in the United States. Outside of my internship, I tried my best to indulge myself in the South African culture by exploring Cape Town and everything it has to offer. After choosing a 7-week long internship I thought I would be ready to head home but after reflecting on my experience and all of the new friends I made, I would strongly recommend staying for as long as possible.

Before arriving in Cape Town, I planned out in my head step by step what to do when going through security and how to find my gate in the airports. I tend to plan out my days to the seconds. This image played through my head for weeks. Once arriving in Cape Town and being dropped off by Carmen (my advisor) at my home for the next seven weeks, I sat on my bed and had no idea what to do next. I remember having a feeling of being alone and lost, thinking I should have put more thought in my actual time in Cape Town asides from my arrival. Thankfully the next day was orientation and there, I met my best friends. I do not use that term lightly either. These girls quickly became my safe haven, they were genuine, adventurous, and loved me so well during my time in Cape Town. I learned the importance of having a community, especially when being pushed outside of my comfort zone. On the other hand, I received a better understanding of what it was like to spend alone time, as crazy as that sounds. I am a social bird and never take the time for myself. Cape Town challenged me in this way. It was the best opportunity for me to grow. I would also like to mention my internship as it brought me a lot of joy during my trip. I got the chance to intern under an Occupational Therapist at the Open Circle in Maitland. This is a home for adults with disabilities. I was able to learn how to assess and treat a resident, create purposeful activities, and hold individual OT sessions. My work was another area in which I personally grew because every day I was challenged to ask questions, be real, and be involved. I never thought a workplace could be so enjoyable and one of the hardest goodbyes. Coming from the girl that asked if Cape Town had coffee before arriving, you can say I was culture shocked at the beauty and development of this city. I absolutely fell in love with Cape Town. I will never forget the love, kindness, and courage Cape Town brought to my life. Join the VAC family, you will not regret it!

Completing an internship in SA through VAC has become a season in my life that I will never forget! The diversity and energy in this city are incredible-we never came up short on things to do and there are countless opportunities to plug yourself into and get you out of your comfort zone. From my three months here in SA, my experience has been one of contrasts-from fine dining in the city, to pasta kitchen meals with folks surviving on the streets, to South African braai's in the townships! There are countless opportunities for learning and growth and I have most definitely been changed because of it.

VAC was able to connect me with an organization that matched exactly what I had desired to learn/be a part of as well as elements that I didn't know I needed/wanted! This opportunity was one that is incredibly unique and offers fresh perspectives that are so applicable to bring back home with me.
The VAC staff are full of life and love for their city and their cultures and made SA a safe and welcoming place to call home for three months!