Program Reviews

During my gap year with VACorps in Cape Town, I've explored the unknown and stepped outside of my comfort zone. I've accomplished things that have scared me and have checked off some items on my bucket list. Cape Town's beauty is indescribable and the proximity to the mountains, beaches, and city and melting pot of cultures is like no other. While interning at a local radio station in Cape Town, I got to co-host a show with segments on health and wellness, human rights, gender, labour, and arts & culture.  I got to meet so many locals through interviews and opportunities here and as a result, I have a better understanding of South African culture. I've gained more insights into what career path I'd like to pursue, become more confident trying new things, and fostered familial relationships with my co-workers.  Most importantly, I've learned how to create a healthy work-life balance.

Interning in Cape Town was such a great experience! The city is incredible and there’s so much to do. I spent a lot of my free time outdoors exploring the beautiful mountains, beaches, and forests that make Cape Town so unique. I interned at a bicycle shop and had a great time learning how to build and repair bicycles while also learning valuable business lessons. The workplace environment was so much fun and made the early morning commutes worth it. Living and working in a city thousands of miles away from home came with challenges, but those experiences taught me a lot which will help me in college and beyond. I stayed in Cape Town for around 9 weeks and I think that was the perfect length. I will really miss my time here and I hope to visit again! soon!

I spent 2 months interning in Cape Town to complete a fieldwork placement for my Occupational Therapy degree. I chose Cape Town as it fit the requirements of my university for an international placement, but also because of the amazing weather and how many things there are to do here in the evening/weekends! I was placed at a residential facility for adults with intellectual disabilities, which was definitely out of my comfort zone, but it has done so much for my confidence to challenge myself, and I have loved the experience! My supervisor and everyone at my internship site were so welcoming, and I had the opportunity to help out with birthdays and Valentine's Day celebrations, as well as shopping trips with the residents, and the daily running of the therapy program. I am really sad to be going home - I will miss how friendly everyone in Cape Town is, as well as being able to go to the beach or hiking within a 10-minute drive! The VAC team was great at supporting me to find my internship, especially as my university had strict requirements and timeframes, and it was great to know there was always someone to help if I had any issues or questions in Cape Town. Thank you so much VACorps for such an amazing experience!!

The internship, the country, the people, the food, the landscape, and the wine, I enjoyed it all! From the moment that I stepped out of the plane, I felt the warm and amazing culture that is transpired by the people all over Cape Town and especially the community of people at VACorps. Not only did I enjoy my internship, facilitated by VACorps, but because of the weekly Friday activities, the weekend trip on the Garden Route, and the amazing community, I also got to experience all the gems of this incredible city. Beautiful memories, amazing experiences, and life-long friendships are what I take back home with me!

I chose to come to Cape Town on a whim, which turned out to be one of the best whims I've ever had. I had the most amazing experience during my time in Cape Town. VACorps organized for me to intern with the incredible Justice Desk, which was an opportunity I simply wouldn't have been able to do without the support and organization of the VAC team. VACorps works hard to ensure that every week you have to opportunity to explore and engage with Cape Town's culture and experiences. One of the best parts about my choice to intern through the VACorp was meeting and getting to know the other interns, like-minded individuals from across the world who I connected with in Cape Town and who have become lifelong friends. I highly recommend this internship program for an ideal mix of work and play, individual exploration, and personal growth.

I cannot begin to say how grateful I am for my time in Cape Town and VACorps. I chose to do this program because I graduated college and felt unsure of my career path and wanted to explore the world and expand my perspective. I can say without a doubt that this experience not only expanded my perspective but expanded me. Completing an internship abroad taught me so much about myself professionally. Being able to learn from another country's work culture and environment was immensely beneficial to my professional growth. I went into the internship wanting to understand myself more professionally. This internship really helped me figure out my strengths and weaknesses because I was able to have clients. Being given the agency to have clients and do my own work gave me the experience of having a true work assignment and starting and completing it. In addition, being able to live with people from across the globe is an experience I will forever treasure. I am so glad that I chose VAcorps because they helped me find an internship that was exactly in line with my professional aspirations and it connected me with friends across the globe that I will have for life!

My time in Cape Town has been nothing but wonderful. I have never traveled abroad before and for this to be my first experience was amazing. VACorps made the process so much better by being so welcoming and informative about my stay here. They eased us into our journey by taking us to some important stops throughout Cape Town, advising us about safety, and connecting us with other people that would help make our stay more comfortable. All of the staff was very helpful and available whenever we needed them. They placed me with a wonderful internship and if others did not have a good fit with theirs, they made sure to connect them with a better place for them to intern during their stay. The Friday activities were always filled with fun. There was something for everyone, whether that was hiking, wine tasting, surfing, or eating great food. They helped me better bond with the other people in the program and through that, I have made some lifelong friends. The culture series was also very informative and were a mix of fun and educational activities for us to better connect with the culture here in South Africa. I am very sad for my journey in Cape Town to end but it has motivated me to travel more around the world and of course, come back and visit again in the future. I was very nervous coming into the trip because I did not know what to expect and had never been so far away from home, but having the VACorps staff to support me and getting to know all of the other interns helped me find a family away from home.

I chose to come to Cape Town because it is the city with everything. A large exciting city, with oceans, mountains, and fascinating people, Cape Town provides a plethora of opportunities for ambitious people. Diverse and educational, South Africa has a rich history that is easily explorable. I specifically loved how much I was able to do here, I worked in an underserved clinic and witnessed a mix of cultures united under one roof, I spent weeks on a farm in the heart of the city and learned more than ill ever need to know about plants and gardening. I will miss the sheer beauty no matter where I looked during my commutes to work each day. Three months was not nearly enough time, yet I still was able to experience so many incredible things, like scenic hikes, crazy surf days, world heritage sites, and so much more. The culture here is unmatched and so unique. Like any city, Cape Town has its flaws, petty crime, load shedding, etc. It is crucial to be aware of these things before arrival, along with this, VACorps staff will do their best to prepare you for living in such a bustling place with so many types of people. I am beyond grateful for the people I met while living here, whether that be my lovely roommates or hard-working co-workers.

I came to Cape Town to join the VACorps program in order to experience the culture of South Africa and to see what working in another country would be like. I did my apprenticeship at a local TV station and was very happy with the warm welcome I received, and the work that I got to do. My goal was to give journalism a good shot and see if it was something for me. I feel like I have achieved that goal, and I have learned so much. I really enjoyed the freedom I had on my stories and loved going out to meet people. I have traveled all over the city with the news team and had so many unique experiences. Cape Town is a unique and beautiful city, and I really enjoyed exploring it with the amazing people I met at VACorps. I learned to test my limits and to adapt to many different situations. I will never forget my time here! Thank you VACorps!

It was a joy to be part of the VACorps program. My time in Cape Town was extraordinarily special, in large part due to the opportunities provided by VAC and the endless support of the VAC staff. My internship experience at a human rights NGO was transformative. I was able to immerse myself within a community and way of life, unlike anything to which I had ever been exposed. I made personal connections with the people in my internship, and I was welcomed into my internship organization with open arms. I learned and grew as a person during my time in my internship, and I was challenged to do and think about things that had never even crossed my mind. I regard my time in my internship as a true blessing. Beyond this, I was excited every week to partake in the Friday activities provided by VAC, each of which brought to my attention a new place within an aspect of Cape Town. The activities were well-planned, thrilling, and a great way to spend time with other people within the program. Additionally, as a woman navigating a new city on my own, it was comforting to know that the VAC staff would always be there, should I need anything. Because of the support provided by VAC, I was able to find a sense of independence in a new city and create a community for myself on my own, while knowing that I had people always looking out for me. VAC ensured that we would be safe during our time in Cape Town, that we would have a meaningful internship experience, and that we would be able to enjoy all the beauty and adventure that Cape Town has to offer.