Internships in Cape Town with VACorps

I had a wonderful time during my summer in Cape Town! I learned a great deal at my human rights internship, and I really enjoyed taking initiative and managing my own time. I did a lot of research on artificial intelligence, and I learned how to research more effectively and became less afraid to really dig into big, overwhelming topics like AI.

While I can’t even count the amount of life-changing memories I made on this trip, some of my favorite memories include going on the garden route tour (from being able to hug elephants to bungee jumping!), bonding with the other VA Corp interns, swimming in the beautiful ocean, joining the reading club on Saturdays, and eating the amazing foods in Cape Town. I will miss how friendly and easy-going the culture is in South Africa, among many things. I thought the weekly activities were all really nice, and Kholi and Kus were such lovely people and so fun to hang out with. I am so deeply grateful for this experience.

I chose Cape Town because I've always wanted to see Africa. I loved the city, the people, and all the experiences South Africa had to offer. I learned a lot from my internship and more about the culture on the continent through VACorp's multicultural programs and immersive activities. The most memorable experiences were the garden route, shark cage diving, and the fantastic restaurants around the area. I will miss living with a large group of people and the extensive list of activities readily available to enjoy. I stayed in CPT for 2 months with a group of 10. I am very grateful for my experience and will defiantly be back in the future.

I chose to come to Cape Town because my university was offering a global internship program in South Africa that partnered with VACorps. In the summer between my junior and senior year of college, I wanted to participate in a human rights law internship and also wanted to get experience living abroad. I did not know much about South Africa before arriving in Cape Town, but I soon learned just how beautiful and rich in culture the country is. Though it was nerve-racking to travel alone to a foreign country halfway across the world, the VACorps staff made me feel at home right away. Everyone at VACorps is extremely friendly and approachable. I felt comfortable coming to them with any questions and problems I encountered throughout my stay. Everyone has been eager to help us have the best possible experience. Though I love my moms, I will miss Kholi and Kus's motherly energy when I get back to the US!

My 2-month long human rights law internship was incredible. I got to dive into human rights research and law from a new perspective. It was very interesting to explore South African political dynamics and compare them to what I know about the dynamics in America. My supervisor introduced me to new ways to conduct research and critically analyze academic sources. I will always be grateful for my experience at my internship site and will carry the skills with me into my professional career. Two months was a perfect amount of time for me. I was able to explore multiple different projects in my internship and form connections with people I would otherwise have never met.

The weekly activities were an incredible way to learn more about South African culture and to meet other interns in the VACorps program. In these activities, I learned traditional dances, the South African national anthem, and the history of different cultures in the country. VAC also helped connect me with different activities and experiences across South Africa. My favorite weekend here was when my house of interns went on The Garden Route Tour. We got to go on a safari, walk with elephants, and jump off the world's highest bungee bridge. It was a truly unforgettable experience. I got to do so many things in Cape Town that I never thought I would get to do in my life.

My experience in Cape Town was unforgettable. The staff at VACorps was so supportive and responsive to anything I needed. What made it even more special was hearing stories of the staff members' daily lives and their personal experiences. I felt that the cultural series and weekly excursions elevated my time here in Cape Town and made for a more authentic experience. Even on the days when I felt alone or homesick, I knew I was never alone because I had a community at VAC to support me. My internship helped me to grow as a future dance/movement therapist and enabled me to work with teenagers, which is a group I had not previously worked with. I will miss those beautiful young women dearly.

My time in Cape Town was incredible. It is a beautiful city with endless activities and a vibrant culture. I thoroughly enjoyed my internship and felt like it gave me great experience in the field I plan to work in. The VACorps staff really took my wishes and education into consideration when they matched me with my internship.

Aside from the internship, the VAC staff and participants made me feel welcome immediately. They were so friendly and made my time in Cape Town fun and easy. The staff coordinated weekly group activities and provided wonderful recommendations for other things to do and see in the area. I would recommend this program to anyone looking to make friends, gain valuable experience, and explore a new culture.

I have had an amazing time in Cape Town and feel incredibly lucky to have had this experience. I would recommend VACorps to anyone looking to travel, meet new people and gain a pre-professional experience abroad. I learned so much through my internship, had a very immersive experience, gained skills that will help me in my future career, and would not have been connected to my site had it not been for VACorps. They were very responsive to the type of internship placement I was looking for and communicative throughout the process of getting placed. Through the Friday activities, culture night, and living among primarily other interns, I was able to easily connect with other friendly, adventurous, and like-minded people from all over the world and have made connections with people who I will stay in touch with long after I leave Cape Town. All VACorps staff members were incredibly welcoming, friendly, and always willing to give recommendations and connect us with companies to do various sightseeing and weekend activities which allowed me to get the most out of my time here. I was able to see and do so many things, connect with amazing people, learn about a new culture, and truly have the adventure that I was hoping for.

As a global health major, I wanted to come to Cape Town because of the diversity, and the developing field of medicine in South Africa as a whole.  I was able to learn a ton from my internship, as I was able to participate in lab work, which is something completely new to me. This involved conducting various diagnostic tests on participants as well as learning about research in general. My goal of being immersed in a foreign health setting was achieved!

While here in Cape Town I especially enjoyed the amazing hospitality of the South African people. The individuals that I met both at work, or out on the town were really what made this place so special to me. Perhaps the best example of this was on my last day of work, while my coworkers and I enjoyed a celebratory cake, they all gave me hugs and were singing my name as they told me how I will be missed. I was here for about two months and will miss the South African people more than anything. It is such a happy and joyful culture compared to what we have back home. People here rarely seem to stress and are always looking to have a good time. I think that two months was the perfect amount of time for me, and if others were coming I would advise them the same.

The VACorps staff are truly wonderful. So helpful in all situations, as well as knowledgeable and caring. Never mind the fact that they are all so much fun to hang out with on the Friday activities! They were some of my favorite people that I met here in SA and I could never speak highly enough of them. They are the best part of VACorps, and took us out on wonderful adventures and taught us all about the culture we came to be a part of.

VACorps was an experience that I wouldn't trade for anything. I was assigned to work at a government health clinic, and not only did Vacorps support me through the logistics of my time there, but they also helped me with the emotional and community side of it. I grew professionally, personally, and emotionally. This internship helped me to see the larger picture of the world and to understand medicine on a deeper level. Cape Town is full of amazing people, and this element of the experience made my time here so wonderful. Three months in this City is not enough and I am confident I will be back soon!