Program Reviews

I wanted to develop myself in 2021, and VACorps paired me with companies where I got mentors that have really guided me, believed in me, and encouraged me through it all. Into the bargain, the beauty of this stunning city made this a wonderful experience as I have been able to explore and meet beautiful people in Cape Town. It feels like a dream to wake up in the morning to the view of the mountain and a beach 10mins away. The food is amazing as well. Some of my favorite experiences at my internship were being involved in the quiz night at my site and my supervisor offered to pay my Toastmasters membership. It made me feel like my efforts were seen, and I felt appreciated.

I would recommend this program to anyone who shares the same interests in personal development and also anyone who wants to travel and gain some life experience in an incredibly beautiful country with a rich culture and friendly people. I will miss everything about VACorps, Cape Town, and all the amazing people I have met along the way.

I thoroughly enjoyed every second of my time in South Africa even though Covid-19 limited what we could do. I did my internship at a local clinic in one of Cape Town's Townships, and achieved everything I set out to do. I gained a better understanding of how other countries structured their healthcare system, and got first hand experience of the type of care provided. Importantly, I felt that I was able to help the staff whenever I was capable of doing so.

I loved the variety Cape Town has to offer, whether it be food options, hikes, or other activities. I will miss exploring Cape Town with other interns. I believe that VACorps provides the best possible living situation for anyone traveling to another country alone. They went out of their way to ensure a great experience, and the friends I made while here are friends I will have for my life.

During my gap year I have had to navigate many COVID related restrictions with gap programs and travel. I was looking for an experience that would be in person and as normal as possible. It was suggested to me to look into travelling to Cape Town as it was less impacted by COVID. After speaking with VACorps and asking many queastion I decided to take my chances and travel half way round the world. I never regretted my decision and had an amazing time! I was able to explore Cape Town with other interns and work as a teacher in a local school, both incredibly rewarding experiences. I grew immensely as a person during my time here and I think this is a trip that I will remember for the rest of my life. Being able to experience Cape Town both in a professional and social manner allowed me to understand South Africa differently than a regular tourist would. During my time here I was not only able to explore Cape Town but also Pretoria and Kruger National Park for a six day safari!

A typical week as an intern would be working at your site during work days of course and then meeting up with other interns for dinner and social events in the evening. Every weekend we go on a VACorps trip in and around the city and will then organise our own trip on Saturday or Sunday. VACorps is definitely a social program and all of the interns enjoy spending time with one another and explore Cape Town and experience South Africa as a group. As a whole I thoroughly enjoyed my Cape Town experience and highly recommend it to any future interns who are looking for an adventure.

I wanted to develop myself in 2021, and VACorps paired me with companies where I got mentors that have really guided me, believed in me and encouraged me through it all. Into the bargain, the beauty of this stunning city made this a wonderful experience as I have been able to to explore and meet amazing people in Cape Town. It feels like a dream to wake up in the morning to the view of the mountain and a beach 10mins away. The food is amazing as well. Some of my favorite experiences at my internship were being involved in the quiz night at my site and my supervisor offering to pay my toast masters membership. It made me feel like my efforts were seen, and I felt appreciated.

I would recommend this program to anyone who shares the same interests of personal development and also anyone who wants to travel and gain some life experience in an incredibly beautiful country with a rich culture and friendly people. I will miss everything about VACorps, Cape Town, and all the amazing people I have met along the way.

My time in Cape Town could not have gone better. Though the pandemic limited some of what we were able to do, it did not negatively impact my experience mostly because of the people that surrounded me. Before arriving, I was worried about whether I'd get along with everyone as it is a very diverse group of people, but later I learned there was absolutely nothing to worry about. I found my people here which also allowed me to grow as a person. With this being my first trip alone, I knew there would be challenges, but the VACorps staff and participants were there for me every step of the way. I've only been here for 6 weeks but it has already become my second home and wish I was able to stay longer! The internship placement at a clinic was great as well since I'm studying medicine which gave me the experience I couldn't have gotten in the US as an undergraduate student.

When I first started traveling to South Africa alone, I was terrified I wouldn’t fit in or have fun. However, as soon as I arrived at the airport I immediately felt welcomed. The VACorps staff were super supportive, and I felt like I always had someone I could talk to or ask questions. While my internship at Retreat Clinic was great, what I loved the most were my fellow interns. Everyone was so open-minded and fun, there was always someone to explore Cape Town with. I only stayed for 5 weeks, and wish I stayed for much longer. I would recommend staying for at least 2 months to get the most out of your experience here. This was by far the best experience of my life, and I can’t wait to come back.

In the middle of COVID, I was looking for the opportunity to get off of Zoom and travel abroad during an off-term from University. Luckily, I learned about VACorps through a friend and inquired about the program. I had abroad planned through my university for the past winter, but they were canceled due to the pandemic. So, the opportunity to travel to an amazing place like Cape Town was an opportunity I had to pursue. The process was extremely easy and helpful, and I began working at the educational non-profit in the Crossroads Township. Throughout my time at my internship site, I learned both about the history of townships and South Africa, and the relationship between education/after-school programs and crime/gangsterism. As for my specific work, I worked with my friend and fellow intern Mateo, helping to grow the online presence of the organization through media and video. I filmed and edited Portraits of Crossroads, an interview series showcasing the most prominent members of the Crossroads community. During my time in Cape Town, the VACorps staff ensured a smooth transition into the city and constant support through my stay.

Going into college one of my main goals was to study abroad. Once my term in Buenos Aires got canceled, I feared that wouldn't come to fruition. I chose Cape Town somewhat on a whim; I knew it was a beautiful city and to be honest, I just wanted to go somewhere. I believe I could not have made a better decision. Everything worked out great, from my internship and getting to know my supervisor, to playing soccer with a local club, to surfing in Jeffries Bay. I truly had an amazing experience here and made many memories I will never forget. My time seems to have flown by and I feel like I could stay other several months without blinking an eye. I am so grateful to VAC for giving me this opportunity and I could not recommend it enough for those looking to have some sort of international experience.

My VACorps and Cape Town experience was nothing short of incredible. Just a few months ago, I had no idea what to do with the end of my gap year and was searching for an experience that would throw me out of my comfort zone while still providing the support of a strong community, staff, and culture. For my internship, I worked at a local, small-scale urban farm-based in Gugulethu. I spent half my time working on the farm, planting vegetables, and cleaning up the plots for harvesting. The other half of my time was spent on a community Newsletter for the farm. With my internship, I was given full creative license to write, design, layout, and print a newsletter for the farm to be distributed at local markets. It was a wonderful experience and I felt like I got an amazing split of in-person labor and business development. One of the best parts of this program is the independence VACorps gives. You will be meeting new people, making your own decisions, and living in South Africa with the ability to do whatever your heart desires. I really appreciated the way in which the program provided a safety net for me and everyone in the group; I felt like I could call anyone if I needed help with anything but didn’t feel any pressure or restriction with what I was doing on a day to day basis. This allowed me to explore Cape Town and all its resources to the fullest. I had the best food, jumped off a bridge, jumped out of a plane, hiked Table Mountain, paddle-boarded the Waterfront, embarked on safaris on the Garden Route, and hit the beach in my spare time, making for an experience that I truly believe cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world. Even better, I did it all with my friends that I had just met, all hungry for an adventure and ready to take on Cape Town. It made for a particularly unique bonding experience and I will be in touch with them for a long time. I learned so much in my seven weeks here and my one regret is not staying longer. This program is truly one-of-a-kind and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to challenge themselves while making friends and memories you will not forget!

My time in Cape Town with VAC was absolutely amazing because of the stunning location, supportive staff, and the incredible friendships I made with fellow program participants and coworkers at my internship. I am taking a gap year, and so as someone who hasn’t yet started college, I have not yet spent much time living independently. Spending my first time ever “on my own” in Cape Town was perfect because there was always something to do. Observatory has amazing restaurants and bars for nights after work, but more importantly, Cape Town has bucket-list level adventures every weekend only a short drive away. Surfing at Muizenberg, wine tastings in Stellenbosch and Franschoek, skydiving, bungee jumping (a few hours away…), and countless others were some of the highlights of my weekends. Then being able to do all of these amazing things with friends who are just as eager to explore this new place as you are is a special experience. While I was living “on my own,” the VAC team is always there to answer any question or help with anything at all, and the office is just a few blocks away in case of an emergency.

What really makes the VACorps program stand out, though, is that your time there isn’t spent just running around as a tourist, most days you are working. My internship was with an Urban Farm in Guguletu, where I was helping harvest, plant, weed, and improve the infrastructure on the farm, while also helping my fellow interns manage social media, and digitize records for the farm. Most of my days were spent on-site at the farm, where I really experienced life in a way that is very different than anything I have seen at home. I was working closely and becoming friends with people born and raised in the townships of Cape Town; I got to hear about their lives and share stories of my life back in the US. I formed connections with people I would never have met, or even really thought about unless I had come to Cape Town. For this, I consider myself extremely lucky to have found such an amazing internship.

Cape Town has something for everyone, and doing it all with VACorps is a must because they help make Cape Town yours. By finding you an internship that suits your interests, then offering tons of activities and suggestions of places to go, you’ll never find a better way to spend 3 months.