Program Reviews

I chose Cape Town after browsing online for internship abroad programs. In my sophomore year of college, I decided, after networking with alumni from Ohio University, that going abroad was the right decision for me. I found VACorps along with CIS Abroad and a few other renowned programs. I knew VAC was right for me once I started the application process and began talking with the welcoming staff. Once I arrived I knew I made the right decision. It immediately felt like a second home and everyone I met, from staff, fellow employees, and locals were extremely nice.

I worked for 7 weeks at a financial advisory and investment firm. I was able to receive instruction and the ability to work on projects in real estate and finance equally. I spent roughly 100 hours for each, by choice, to ensure that I would feel comfortable in a professional business setting by the time I left. My favorite project was a financial model that I am currently wrapping up now before I leave.

I have learned so much about myself and the experience has come with a lot of growth, especially as this is my first time traveling alone – and abroad. Now that my 8-week trip is coming to a close, I can begin to reflect on everything I will miss. Most of all, the people are going to be the hardest to leave and it’s bittersweet meeting so many new friends but only being able to see them for such a short time. For anyone that plans on coming to Cape Town through VAC, I recommend communicating with everyone in your program from day one. It is the most important step to take and it can’t be anything but beneficial for you and your site, so don’t be afraid to reach out frequently and make sure you’re all on the same page. The weekly activities are amazing and they really allow you to make the most of your experience without having to schedule events yourself. From playing the drums to seeing museums, you will get exposed to culture in every form! Don’t be afraid to try out Xhosa or Afrikaans, it will strengthen your connection with people and show them that you respect and are interested in their culture! I am most grateful for the Friday experiences and I believe they took my experience one step further and made everything more memorable

Four months ago, I could never have imagined myself being here. Becoming a member of VACorps and journeying to Cape Town wasn’t originally part of my life plan, yet it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. There is something about Cape Town that captures the heart and soul of a person and makes you never want to leave. The work I have been able to do at my internship site has been nothing short of amazing and every day I have felt as if I am making a small impact on the lives of others for the better. Nothing has affirmed that more than the countless Uber rides where drivers have told me stories about how the organization that I have been fortunate enough to work for has changed their lives for the better.

Beyond the work, the number of adventures I have been able to go on, through VACorps and outside of it has been endless and all wonderful. I will come away from this journey having made countless memories that will last well beyond the moment when I embark on my journey home. Yet, the most rewarding part of this experience has without question been the people that I have gotten to experience Cape Town with. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I stepped off the plane, but right away I stepped into my house and was greeted with many welcoming faces. The VACorps staff has been wonderful and has constantly supported me throughout my time here, especially when things weren’t always going according to plan. I would without question recommend this experience to anyone that asked me about it because it truly has changed my life. Thank you for everything – Cape Town will always have a part of my heart.

I came to Cape Town because I knew it was a place where I could always be learning about different cultures, political views, public health practices, and from the experiences of others. I loved the independence that VAC offered especially for a gap year student like me who is still navigating her newfound adulthood. Every day I was pushed outside of my comfort zone, whether hiking table mountain or learning about sexual health issues at my internship. I met some of the most amazing people in Cape Town and in the VACorps program and I know I will continue to keep in contact. I also think Observatory is one of the best places to stay in Cape Town and I am so fortunate to have been able to experience all it has to offer. I definitely recommend staying for at least 8 weeks and hopefully longer if you can- I have been here for 11 weeks and still feel like I didn’t get to do everything. The weekly activities and trips such as Garden Route and Kruger also made my time here and I highly recommend doing them. I’m gonna miss Cape Town so much but I can’t wait to come back!

Coming into this program I wasn’t really sure what I was getting myself into. I knew that I was coming into an incredible city to gain work experience and expand my resume and that I would have an incredible experience no matter what. What I did not expect were all the friendships and relationships that would come along with being a part of this program. It may be cliche, but the people that I have met through this program are some of the coolest people who have quickly become some of my greatest friends. I expected to come away from this program feeling fulfilled from the work that I put into the community, which is most certainly true, but I did not expect to come away with so many incredible friendships with so many different people from all over the world. I know that this trip has taught me many valuable lessons about culture, about peoples’ differences, and many other things but the things that will stay with me are the memories made with the people I have met on this trip.

My experience in Cape Town over the last 3 months has been amazing. Everyone I have met through VACorps has very welcoming and nice. After one week of orientation I started my internship with a startup brewing company. My first week was very busy as there was a drink show that weekend that I had to help prepare for and run the event. After the first week my internship was pretty relaxed which was great because I had plenty of time to hike all over Cape Town and finally learn how to surf. Overall this program couldn't have been any better and I will definitely be returning to Cape Town soon.

I have really enjoyed my Cape Town experience with VACorps, and it has truly been unforgettable. I have made so many memories and I have made friends for a lifetime. I especially enjoyed the Friday activities, this gave us the opportunity to explore different areas of Cape Town as well as spend time with everyone on the program. I will highly recommend VACorps to anyone looking to travel and work during their Gap Year as Cape Town is an incredible city, and the VACorps staff are wonderful, and really care about your experience.

The time spent during my 2-month long stay in South Africa will forever be an unforgettable one. Cape Town became my destination of choice after I saw what the beautiful city has to offer. I’m passionate about travel and new experiences and thought this would be a great opportunity for both travel and work. My internship was a requirement to complete my studies and I am glad to say that I have achieved all that I had set out to when I first arrived.

Professionally, I have grown and gained a lot of valuable experience at my internship site. I learned a lot from the animation department and got to engage in a lot of tasks which I enjoyed.

Throughout my stay, Cape Town had been a sight to see every day. There is always something new around the corner and got to experience a lot of things for the first time through many of the VACorps activities. I will never forget the endless beaches and wineries and penguins! And so much more. Also, during my time here, I made a lot of friends and met so many people from diverse cultures which were exciting and interesting to see and learn about. The whole experience has been a lovely one and I’m glad to have been part of the program

This was truly an eye-opening experience for me. Although college gave me the opportunity to be independent, this program really gave me the opportunity to experience what life would be like beyond the bounds of a university. There was a level of freedom here that I couldn’t obtain anywhere else and after falling in love with the city and its culture, I was starstruck. There’s just no end to the activities to do here and I can safely say that I was never bored for a second. I also gained valuable insight into what I want my future to hold for me and although I don’t have a clear-cut map of it yet, this program gave me a direction, which in the end gives me faith that I will get where I need to go. I wouldn’t trade in this experience for the world

VACorps was an incredible experience that made me fall in love with the city of Cape Town and its people. I did an internship at a local Cape Town radio station, and I was given the chance to do so many things. From reporting to producing to hosting my own show. Everyone there was very supportive and kind. I took initiative and did things with my time at the station, and as a result, was given the opportunity to grow as a reporter. It is hard to imagine my time here without the people of VACorps and the memories of the Friday activities. My experience was defined by a beautiful city and even more beautiful people and that is largely thanks to the openness and welcoming spirit of the VACorps community.

I chose Cape Town to be my home for three months during my gap year due to the wide range of activities and culture that it provides (and the sunny weather was a nice bonus). I was able to meet people who I have grown to absolutely adore in my short time here, learning how to live on our own and carry out our day-to-day lives in a new environment. Cape Town had everything that I could’ve asked for in these past few months: great swimming, great people, great social scene, a great job, great weather, great everything. Since coming here, I’ve found myself learning how to love myself more and just overall becoming a happier person. I feel as though I discovered a new admiration for the people around me and realized how much I genuinely adore teaching kids. The life that I’ve lived here is the way I dream of living my life for a long time and I think that knowing that I have found a life that can make me so deeply happy has really changed me as a person. I’ll never forget skydiving with Allison and Scott in that rickety plane that we saw absolutely no safety concerns with, or when myself and Amanda for two months were fully convinced our neighbors had a pet lion (it was a dog). I’m going to miss waking up to Lila singing as she cooked chicken noodle soup for dinner, and I’m going to miss the blinds in my room that do nothing to keep the sunlight out so I ended up waking up at 8 am even if I don’t have anything until 12. I’m going to miss the place I’ve called home for the last three months, but I think I’m going to miss my friends the most because they were the ones who got me up when all I wanted to do was lay down. They were the ones who took care of me when I was sick and the ones who made me laugh so hard I think I almost had a heart attack. I came into this program anxious and blind as to how the next three months would go, and now I want more than anything to stay and never leave. So… my best advice to those who are readying themselves to come to cape town, let yourself be blind. let yourself be stunned by what this beautiful and joyous place has to offer. Do everything you can because no matter how long three months may initially seem, it will never be long enough in the end.