Internships in Cape Town with VACorps

VACorps was the best program I have ever participated in. It is extremely organized and structured so you never feel like you are lost or without support. The staff is more than friendly and willing to respond to you as quickly as they can. They care about you and want to make sure you are having the best experience possible. I loved my internship working at a mental health clinic as it helped me narrow my career interests. Overall it was a very well done program and I would highly recommend it to a friend or family member.

VACorps has allowed me to find and build relationships with fellow interns and locals that I will keep with me forever. Coming to South Africa, I did not know what to expect, but every single expectation was exceeded thanks to the support of my new community here in Cape Town. This program has allowed me to step outside my comfort zone in every aspect. Learning and being a part of a new culture is something that is absolutely irreplaceable. I will forever be grateful for my time in South Africa and all of the lifelong friends I made along the way.

My two months in Cape Town were some of the best days of my life. I came wanting to experience a people and a place vastly different from my everyday life in the US and that is exactly what I got. I learned so much about myself, the world, and what I might want to do with my life. I learned to be more independent and confident in who I am and that traveling the world is one of the coolest things you could ever do.

I did my internship at the Neuro and Rehab department of a large Sports Science Center.  I believe I became more confident in myself in a professional workplace. I enjoyed learning about patients' injuries and what rehab was necessary for each patient. It was also very interesting to see the difference between the field of biokinetics (which doesn't exist in the US) and physical therapy. I haven't been sure what I want to do with my life but after this internship, I have a little more certainty that I'd like to go into a similar field to this.

The people in Cape Town are all so kind and the types of people that the VACorps program attracts are all so amazing. I have made some lifelong friends here and had some truly life-changing experiences. The hiking (and all other outdoor activities) was by far my favorite part as well as simply getting to know a culture so different than mine through being in a truly South African workplace every day and exploring the beautiful city. I would not recommend coming for any less than 5 weeks if you choose this program! It's truly an incredible place and you have to be here long enough to fully enjoy every aspect of it. The VACorps staff are very organized and kind and want what's best for their interns.

I decided to come to Cape Town because I wanted to challenge myself to acclimate to a new environment where I didn't know what to expect. I also wanted to learn more about myself through traveling and had never been this far by myself before.

I did my internship at an urban farm NGO, and I became a lot more confident in my ability to communicate, and I learned a lot about the origins of farming and sustainable practices. I think that I became a lot more comfortable asking questions, and having a good support system within my internship made me feel comfortable throughout the time I spent there.

Highlights of my time in the VACorps program include getting to live with other interns, making amazing friends, and spending time at my internship site. I loved how independent I could be throughout this whole experience and that I could make it my own. With each week, I was able to grow more confident and felt truly Capetonian! I also really enjoyed the garden route trip and getting to do fun activities like sky diving and bungee jumping. I think that coming to the program with set expectations isn't necessarily the best route to go because you will be pleasantly surprised if you keep an open mind throughout the entire experience in the VACorps program.

One of the things I love the most about Cape Town is the people. Everywhere I went (VAC staff, work, hike, restaurant, store, uber), everyone was always extremely welcoming and willing to have a conversation. Furthermore, there seems to be a culture of sharing and learning, which I greatly appreciate. People were always willing to listen to my thoughts, and they always had stories, opinions, or advice to give. This helps create a feeling of security, which led me to want to explore — I now understand how meaningful a single conversation can be.

I did my internship at a public clinic, and I was able to gain an understanding of the healthcare system of South Africa, what a public clinic looked like, where the resources were allocated, the thoughts of the people who work there, and the types of people who come in. I was able to experience or hear about aspects of communities I had never previously experienced or identified with, and my doing so was not viewed negatively, but as a positive thing. from New York, I was not used to this honesty and vulnerability between strangers; however, I will take this way of interacting home with me.

I will not forget all the amazing people I met and how their openness allowed me to create some of my best and most informative memories.

I am so thankful for my experience with VACorps. I chose Cape Town because I wanted to have an international intern experience with a company that cared about its interns. I had a desire to explore a city that I had never been to and work with people I had never met but knew I would flourish with. I really enjoyed everything I learned at my internship in the realm of data cleaning following research projects. I’ve been on the front end of research projects before not the back end so it gave me a lot of insight into all aspects of research in the public health world. I loved that I felt outside of my comfort zone but in the best way possible, I was so comfortable exploring Cape Town and learning while I was here. I will miss everything about Cape Town, the people, the other interns, the views, the mountains, the ocean, the food, and more. My time here in Cape Town has made me feel like Cape Town is my home and I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I was only here for 8 weeks and I wish I could extend my stay to a lifetime. VAC and Cape Town have given me lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories, and an incredible learning experience. If you are hesitant in any way about coming to Cape Town, just do it, come and see the beauty Cape Town and South Africa has to offer. It’s a city that felt like home instantly and I know it will for you too.

The VACorps staff, Kholi, and Kuselwa are the most wonderful, kind, and supportive individuals.  I am so grateful to them for facilitating this experience, and for all the support and love they gave while I was in Cape Town.  I could write a whole book about Cape Town, and my experiences in the VACorps program, but I could write a whole series about the beautiful people I met while I was here.  To all the kiddos and mothers at my internship site who I've loved and met, thank you. To Ms. Joslynn, my internship supervisor for being the definition of courageous, thank you. VACorps provides such a great opportunity to enjoy Cape Town and your internship, but the people that you meet give you a journey of love that if you indulge fully, you will never find anywhere else.

The past three months in Cape Town have been nothing short of excellent. I went in with an open mind, as the internship was a little out of my field of work. I learned a great deal through my time as an intern, the first being coding. I was very new to coding but through some self-taught and help from the company, I was able to be a lot more confident in my skills. Also, I was able to work closely with the owner of the company, which allowed me to see how an Entrepreneur mindset works day to day. The culture and natural beauty of Cape Town and surrounding areas are absolutely astonishing. This city is one of the greatest scenes for outdoor activities as you have the ocean and the mountains all around you, which makes for great surfing as well.