Program Reviews

I was looking for a new start in life, so after considering a lot of countries and a lot of options, I felt the best place would be Cape Town. I was 100% right. VACorps gave me the opportunity to work in a fantastic Hi-tech startup with amazing, smart people and brilliant mentors. I learned about new technologies and gained outstanding skills and knowledge. After 2 months of working there, my host site offered me an official job at their Cape town office, which I accepted!

Cape Town is a city with a lot to offer. With endless outdoor options like hiking, going to the beach, wine tasting, paragliding, trail running, etc. The city also has an outstanding food scene and nightlife, which I thoroughly enjoyed exploring with my fellow program participants from all over the world. The VACorps Friday activities and weekend getaways were always interesting and fun.

I am so grateful for everything that VACorps and my internship company have offered me. Being here was such an exciting experience, and it was totally worth it. This experience exceeded all of my expectations. I feel like I have achieved all the goals I set for myself before coming to South Africa and more. I look forward to returning to Cape Town soon, and making the Mother City my home for the next few years!

I chose the VACorps program to both broaden my international experience and make new friends from all over the world with different backgrounds. I have had such a great time in this program and have experienced so much in Cape Town. The natural beauty of the city and the beautiful rich culture of its people is incredible. This is a place I will never forget. I stayed here for 2 and a half months, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. The weekly activities always are so much fun, and add to the sense of community here. Some advice I would give new arrivals is to try to go out and see as much as you can while you have the time. There is so much to both see and do.

I chose Cape Town because I wanted to experience the South African culture and learn more about what working in a different country would be like. I gained more independence and learned more about what I want my future career to look like. What I loved the most about living here was being completely submerged in the culture by living in Observatory. I will miss the people I have come to call family. I stayed for about 2 months and I wish I could have at least stayed one more month. The VACorps staff was more than helpful and kind. I can’t thank VACorps more than enough for the experience of a lifetime. This is a trip I will never forget.

I loved meeting new people the most. The connections I made here and the friends I made are lifetime connections I will never leave behind. My internship itself was amazing. I was able to witness the highs and lows of physical therapy and learn how to help people with minimal resources. I witnessed a wheelchair-bound woman learn to walk again after having her legs broken by a man because she refused him intercourse. What I loved most about living in Cape Town were the activities I was able to do all the time. There was quite literally never a dull moment. I stayed for 8 weeks and I would recommend that being the minimum for someone to come for. In preparation for coming, I would just try to have an open mind.

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.