Spending the summer in Cape Town with VAC was the best decision I’ve ever made. I can say that without hesitation. I was able to shadow psychiatrists for over 300 hours—an opportunity that simply doesn’t exist where I’m from. Building relationships with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers taught me how to apply the concepts I’ve studied throughout my life. I learned that providing care is as much an art as it is a science, and I gained so much wisdom from the Sisters, physicians, and managers I worked with. A special thank you to Sister Hendricks, who deserves recognition for not only making me feel like family, but for doing the work of an entire mental health department. I heard countless stories and rediscovered my love for piecing them together—thank you, Sister.

I realized that the majority of patient treatment depends on the relationship you build with them—not just the medication. It may seem obvious, but if a patient doesn’t trust you or feel comfortable enough to open up, they won’t share the information that leads to healing. Without trust, even the most effective treatment on paper won’t work in practice.

I also came to appreciate how exceptional South Africa’s medical training is. Practitioners there encounter nearly every type of illness imaginable, offering a level of exposure rarely seen in the U.S. That experience, so early in my career, was incredibly valuable.

Beyond the hospital, I met people from all walks of life and learned about the social realities of Cape Town—gang violence, racism, and politics in the townships that often prevent access to care. I witnessed intense trauma cases, from stab and gunshot wounds to emergency births, and I even had the privilege of helping three beautiful children enter the world.

As if that weren’t enough of a life-changing experience, Cape Town itself is the most beautiful and diverse place I’ve ever been. The people, food, music, art, city life, hiking trails, countryside, and beaches—it’s everything I love in one place. My highlights outside of my internship include bungee jumping, Broke Klubhouse, hugging elephants on the Garden Route, meeting monkeys at World of Birds, Chapman’s Peak, getting a tattoo and piercing in Obs, trying every restaurant and vintage store I could find, braving the winds on Table Mountain, exploring farmer’s markets, and watching the sunset from a cruise. There’s so much to do—you’ll feel you’ve seen it all, but you’ve only just begun.

My advice? Be open, but stay cautious. Cape Town is breathtaking, but it also requires awareness. Stay for 1.5–2 months if you can—you’ll experience so much more. Don’t waste time at the mall; there’s too much to see. Write everything down—you’ll want to look back and relive it. Build meaningful connections at your internship site and cherish them; they’re what make the experience unforgettable.

Lastly, I’d be remiss not to mention the wonderful people and fellow interns I met. Everyone was so funny, open, and ready for adventure. I was lucky to live at 73 Arnold—thank you all for the memories and for making every moment outside the internship unforgettable. A special thank you to the VAC staff, especially Loyiso, Kholi, and Kus—you made Cape Town feel like home, even thousands of miles away. I miss all of you already.

My experience with VAC was wonderful—the perfect balance between planned activities and the freedom to explore Cape Town independently. From the very beginning, the VAC team provided thoughtful support and organized a variety of engaging experiences. During my time in Cape Town, I truly feel that I grew personally and became more independent.

As a social work intern, I had the opportunity to renovate the therapy space for the children at my internship site, transforming it into a more colorful and welcoming environment for their sessions with social workers. I also conducted grief counseling sessions for the staff, which was an especially meaningful part of my placement.

One of the most memorable aspects of my experience was meeting the other interns, the VAC staff, and my co-workers. The picnic at Kirstenbosch Gardens stands out as a highlight among many wonderful memories. What I’ll miss most are the helpful and friendly people of South Africa.

I stayed for three months and recommend that future interns review immigration laws early on, in case they decide to extend their stay. Overall, my experience was remarkable, and I’m deeply grateful for the time, support, and guidance I received.

Interning in Cape Town was a fantastic way to experience living overseas and embrace a different environment. One of my favourite things about living in Cape Town was having so many exciting things to do at your doorstep. From hikes on Table Mountain, to exploring different markets and restaurants around town, there was always something new and interesting to do. The VAC weekly activities also made certain activities more accessible and created a fun group environment to share many of these experiences with and this was truly appreciated. I spent 2 months interning at a public health research organisation in Cape Town. The organisation was extremely welcoming and got me involved with a variety of aspects of their organisation. This enabled me to gain valuable knowledge and skills that I can now apply to other internship and work opportunities in the future. Finally, the VAC staff were super friendly and always willing to help out with any issues that arose to make our stay in Cape Town as stress-free as possible. I would definitely recommend interning in Cape Town to anyone whose up for a fun adventure in a unique city.

The reason I chose to do an internship abroad is because I had an inner feeling that was the next thing for me to do that would help me to grow professionally, emotionally and spiritually. I also had a feeling to choose Cape Town for my internship. My dad has been many times to South Africa and he told me “You’ll probably want to move there”. I saw VAC online and once reading the website, I knew straight away this was what I wanted to do.

What I loved most about interning in Cape Town specifically, was being able to experience the people and the culture. From the amazing diversity of languages and history, to the majestic nature and scenery all around you, it’s one of the best places i’ve visited and am already envisioning myself living in Cape Town. What I learnt about myself being in Cape Town is that I am even more adaptable than I previously believed. I am someone who people tend to get on well with very easily and being in Cape Town has only amplified and illuminated that trait even more. I also learnt a lot about myself professionally. I know my purpose is to help people, so this experience has only fuelled my passion more and motivates me to push myself further out of my comfort zone so I can learn as much as possible and develop my confidence.

The best part about my internship site was being able to work with such amazing and inspirational women. I have never felt so loved and accepted. Everything that my host organization stands for is meaningful to me and their fundamental values such as compassion, love, faith, transformation, are all in line with my core values. If I’ve even managed to help one woman whilst i’ve been at the project that would be enough, but I know that the site helps so many more. This internship is something I will now always hold close to my heart. I want to continue to volunteer and help in anyway possible from overseas. I was only here for six weeks. Yes, key word “only”. Definitely stay for longer if you can, I wish I had done the 3 month program now and believe me you will wish the same at the end of six weeks!

Lastly, I am most grateful for the VAC staff. They are all super friendly and lovely individuals. From first line contact, Oliver, who went through the application process with me at the very beginning, to Loyiso who continued the application with me and picked me up from the airport, to Kholi and Kus who are the life and soul of the group activities, always brining positive energy with them wherever we go!

Thank you so much for this experience!!!
P.S. See you again when I move to Cape Town!

I chose the Cape Town study abroad program hoping for even the slightest bit personal and professional development, but I left with my heart completely full and forever changed. My placement, housing, and university experience equally impacted how well I integrated into the community, my new home-away-from-home. I'm grateful for my internship placement because it gave me clarity on my future career. As a public health student, I'm really passionate about making healthcare accessible and equitable. My fieldwork assignments allowed me to harness that passion, and turn it into impact. I connected with community centers who support at-risk populations and visited clinics in townships to manage our research project partnerships. I also really enjoyed the administrative side of my research clinic, helping out with filing, completing transcriptions, and other small tasks that supported my staff in the areas they needed me the most. Through my experiences of learning and collaborating with a team who encouraged and supported my professional development meant the world to me.

I loved my housing placement because we all came from different backgrounds, lives, and experiences. We became a family! We cooked together, enjoyed the pool, and explored Observatory hand-in-hand. I felt comfortable to be myself, and in the unique unfamiliar environment of interning abroad they were a sense of comfort I didn't expect to love so intensely. Being able to bond, especially during Friday activities, was amazing! I am really thankful for the VAC staff making each opportunity to embrace our intern community memorable.

During my process of finalizing and applying for an internship, Cape Town was always at the top of my list. Many of my friends and family had traveled and studied abroad, but South Africa stood out to me. I knew very little about the country’s intricate history—only the big headlines that tend to define it in conversation. I saw this as an opportunity not only to pursue my passion for travel and exploration but also to immerse myself in a completely new world.

This experience gave me the chance to reflect and learn more about myself—what drives me, what excites me. Almost immediately, Cape Town and the people I met brought out the best in me, breaking through the shy shell I so often find myself in. Though I had a strong hunch, my love for traveling and learning about new places and people was solidified. Even after three months away from home, my experiences here have only made me more eager to stay—and even more determined to keep exploring this massive, endless world.

That may be what I loved most about my time in Cape Town. Then again, I could just as easily say it was the friendships I made. Both through VACorps and my internship, the people I met shaped my experience in ways I’ll never forget. They made the transition to living in a completely new place feel effortless.

My internship at the Two Oceans Aquarium was truly a dream come true—one of many that unfolded during my time here. I was welcomed immediately and always made to feel like part of the team. I was given opportunities beyond my expectations and experienced so many unforgettable firsts, all of which will stay with me as I continue down the path of working with animals. This experience has prepared me immensely for my upcoming job search in the animal field as I look beyond university and graduation.

Overall, my time in Cape Town has been truly incredible, though even that feels like an understatement. I would encourage anyone to visit—and even more so, to do it as part of VACorps. They embraced us from the start, filling our time with new, unforgettable experiences that we would have regretted missing.

Throughout my stay, I’ve struggled to find the perfect sentence or phrase to sum up how I feel about this place and the people I’ve met. But the truth is, there’s just too much to fit into a single line. This experience has changed me in ways I may not even fully realize yet, and I hope that anyone who returns home from Cape Town can say the same—whether in big ways or small, for better or worse. Just that it happened.

My experience in Cape Town through the VAC program has truly been a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. I had the chance to immerse myself in a new culture and make incredible friends—both through the program and with locals. The work-life balance was perfect for me. The internship expectations were high, but the reward of showing up every day, giving it my all, and seeing the impact of my work made it more than worth it.

My internship gave me opportunities I would never have had at my level back home. I gained so much hands-on experience while still having plenty of time to explore, travel, and soak in the culture of a new country. I loved becoming a local in Observatory—having workers know my usual order was such a cool feeling. Plus, I got to experience Cape Town’s incredible outdoors through program discounts on local attractions and its close proximity to the beach, mountains, and dunes. Hiking Table Mountain and Lion’s Head at sunrise is something I’ll be bragging about for the rest of my life!

Beyond the adventure, I also got to experience the city’s vibrant nightlife—there was always something happening, from trivia nights and karaoke to jazz and jam sessions in different parts of Cape Town. The people here are some of the warmest and most welcoming I’ve ever met. I felt at home everywhere I went, especially within the VACorps community.

I would recommend this program to anyone who will listen, and I’m beyond grateful for the experience and the lifelong memories I’ve made.

I chose Cape Town because it offered a unique cultural experience unlike anything I had encountered before. I was drawn to the city after reading about its breathtaking scenery, welcoming people, and exciting activities. The opportunity to experience South Africa while also working at a school for children with special needs was something I couldn’t pass up.

I chose to work at the school because its mission resonated deeply with me. Their dedication to serving underserved students and providing physiotherapy to those in need aligned perfectly with my own values. Everything about this experience was incredible—from working with students to trying new foods and activities. The people were warm, friendly, and eager to learn about me, which made adjusting to a new place even more special.

In total, I spent 75 days in Cape Town and 50 days at the school. If I had one piece of advice for future participants, it would be to give yourself enough time on both ends of your trip. Having a cushion allows you to adjust to the change, plan big activities, and fully soak in the experience. Some internships can be quite demanding, so having that extra flexibility helps ensure you don’t miss out on the things you truly want to do.

One of the highlights of my time here was the organized weekly adventures. Traveling with a large group not only made me feel safe but also allowed me to explore incredible places while having so much fun. I’m especially grateful to the staff for making Cape Town feel like a home away from home.