VAC Internships Cape Town Reviews

I chose Cape Town for my internship because I have always wanted to come to Africa since I was a little kid. I saw an advertisement for VAC on an internship website and I decided to email for more information. I want to become a travel nurse so I wanted to see what nursing was like in other parts of the world. Cape Town is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I was at Maitland Cottage Pediatric Hospital and Heidelveld Community Clinic for my internship. I was able to observe many different things such as, PT/OT, wound care, surgeries, sutures, family planning, urgent care, HIV clinic and prenatal check ups. I was able to talk to many nurses and doctors about healthcare and it was interesting to hear their perspective on healthcare. My favorite part about interning here was Cape Town itself and I loved having Table Mountain and Devils Peak in my backyard and the beach was very close as well. Everyone that I met while I was here was so nice and welcoming and I will definitely miss that as well as the beauty of the city. I was here for 2 months and I personally wish that I would have been able to stay for 3 months. There is so much to do and see in Cape Town and it is very hard to pack it all into 2 months. The weekly VAC activities help you see a lot of the hikes and a lot of the outdoor activities. I am grateful for the people I met and the endless memories that I made in Cape Town.

After studying abroad my freshman year of college, I knew I wanted to travel more in the future. After a friend of mine came home from Cape Town and told me how much she loved it, I started to do more research on the city. My advisor at school recommended VACorps to me and that is how I made the decision to do an internship here. I have absolutely loved my last two months in Cape Town with VAC. I did my internship at a medical clinic in a township and I learned a lot about the public health problems in Cape Town and how different the healthcare system is from home. My two months in Cape Town flew by and I was never bored. There is always something new and exciting to do in this city. There are so many amazing restaurants, hikes, vineyards, and beaches in the area that we always had something to do after work. Hiking was one of my favorite things to do here and my favorite hike in Cape Town was definitely Lion's Head at sunrise. The highlights of my last two months were going on the Garden Route, shark cage diving in Hermanus and sky diving. Having the VACorps staff for support while I was in Cape Town was so helpful. Anytime I had a question about the city or needed help planning an activity they were willing to help and give their advice. Having the weekly VACorps activities every Friday was really fun and a great way to meet other interns. One of the things I will miss most about Cape Town are all of the amazing friends I have made here through VACorps. The decision to intern in Cape Town was one of the best decisions. I fell in love with this city and I can't believe my time here is over, but I know I will be back soon!

I chose to come to Cape Town because it's in a country that's always fascinated me, and I thought it would be the perfect place to do a human rights internship. I learned so much here, not just academically speaking, but I also learnt so much about the culture and about myself. Overall, I think the most important thing I've learnt is that I am so much more capable than I thought I was. I've gained so much confidence in my own abilities, and learned more about my own potential in life. I've been in Cape Town for 10 weeks, and I think the best advice I could give a future intern would be to come here with an open mind, and be prepared for experiences you never thought you would have. Say yes to things you wouldn't necessarily ordinarily say yes to, and don't be afraid to speak to new people. VAC are so great at looking after us interns, and the weekly VACtivities are a great way to see more of the country and get more out of your stay here. I can 100% recommend Cape Town and VACorps for an incredible experience you will never forget!

Interning in Cape Town has been one of the most interesting and eye-opening experiences I have had. Cape Town and South Africa, have always interested me, the way in which various cultures come together and live among each other, the environmental challenges that are almost unique to this part of the world and the beautiful landscape make Cape Town one of the most worthwhile internship destinations globally.

I stayed in CT for 12 weeks doing an environmental consulting internship. During this time I worked at a variety of locations from petrol stations to ammunition factories. All of these experiences were priceless in helping me understand what i wish to do after graduating and in understanding how my studies help to shape policy through the world. Alongside the internship, living in Cape Town, at first was a large culture shock, to see such a disparity of wealth in such close proximity to each other was something I had not experienced before. However looking past that, the people you meet and the conversations you have are very revealing to peoples motivations and ambitions. Whilst someone may live in a township and not have a lot to their name, they're simultaneously studying for an undergraduate degree. I suppose CT forces you to look past the material and to see what truly drives people. If CT if one of your first travel experiences, the one thing to remember is to have an open mind and to understand those around you the best you can.

VAC itself has been very useful for me as they are always on hand to give advice or even if you just need to talk about your day there will always be someone nearby. The weekly activities were an excellent way of meeting people upon first arrival and they gave me a chance to experience areas of CT I may not have done otherwise. The program is also very flexible and the staff very accommodating so they will do their absolute best to help you as much as they can and to make the transition to CT the smoothest it can be.

Personally, I think 10-12 weeks is plenty of time to fully experience CT, if you're coming for anything less I don't think you have the time to acclimatize to your surroundings and fully appreciate the city.

I chose to intern abroad in Cape Town because I was looking to experience living and working in a place completely unique from what I was used to. I had done internships at home, but I really wanted something new and to gain experience working internationally. Interning at the Cape Town Environmental Education Trust really showed me how passionate I was about connecting to nature and helping to conserve the environment. The people at my site truly demonstrated their knowledge and commitment to educating youth about improving the environment, which helped me develop more of an idea of what I would like to do career-wise. In regards to the VACorps family, I think that good people and good conversation really make an experience; my time here was absolutely amazing thanks to all of the people that I met. I was in Cape Town for 12 weeks and definitely recommend staying for as long as possible, because it starts to feel like home.

To say that my experience with VACorps was a positive experience would be a lie. I have traveled extensively in my lifetime, but never struggled more than when I came to South Africa to complete an internship through this company. Before I came, I was told there would be many different avenues by which I would be supported by the staff whether it came to safety, housing, travel accommodations, etc. However, upon arrival, this was not the case. I was told there would be a shuttle service that would transport me to and from my internship in a township each day (very far from where I lived, and quite a dangerous area to travel to alone if you are a foreigner), but upon arrival, I was told they had shut down the shuttle service and that I would have to uber each day to my site with other interns. Due to the timing of arrivals, I was alone many days and had to pay upwards of R300 a day ($27.50) to travel to my internship. Once there, the staff seemed to have no idea who I was or why I as there as if VACorps had never talked to them beforehand. Additionally, there were other interns from other organizations at that site which made shadowing and learning a competitive endeavor. Ultimately, there was never anything for me to do or learn and the doctors did not enjoy having so many interns there getting in the way of things.
If you intern through VACorps, you will find that you are spending a very large sum of money without knowing where that money actually goes. The actual support you receive from the staff is very limited and you are ultimately on your own most of the time. Paying for this program is paying for a community of other interns, which has been a positive of the experience, but that is about it. I sent an email to my coordinators letting them know of my frustrations and never once received a response to the email. I was left scrambling trying to find something to do here for the remainder of my time in Cape Town, and luckily found a private hospital to take me on as a shadow student, but some of my friends were not that lucky.
Coming to South Africa is worth it- I have done and seen the most incredible things during my two months here, but do NOT come here through VACorps. It is not worth the money, the support you receive from the staff once you get here is completely lackluster, and you will most likely have issues with your internship.

Words can hardly begin to describe just how much my eleven weeks in Cape Town meant to me. Cape Town has an energizing, yet relaxed vibe, which compelled me to seize each day I spent here, but also become more easy-going. During my internship with Western Province Rugby, I learned so much more than just Marketing skills. I got the chance to see different parts of Cape Town, meet world famous rugby players, and discovered how sports can
impact the community in more ways than one can know. Throughout the summer, the VACorps staff was amazing. I knew that they each wanted to not only help me with professional development, but also create a personal relationship with me. The best part about VAC truly is the people. The friends I made this summer are some of the
greatest people I have ever met. In just a few short weeks, I bonded more quickly with them than with any other group of friends I've made. From hiking to watching sunsets on Signal Hill to having movie and pizza nights, spending time with these amazing people proved that the friendships I made here are for a lifetime. I can't thank VAC enough for giving me the greatest summer of my life.

Before choosing to come to Cape Town I had my heart set on going abroad to London. I was told the best place to get my hands deep in dirty in my major (social work) would be an internship in Cape Town. My college roommate was also from Cape Town. So when I heard that the most rewarding path was the one that lead to Cape Town, South Africa, I was intrigued. It just felt like more than a coincidence. I realized that I would get the opportunity explore and experience the culture and country of my best friend in the very same way that she was getting to do in my country back in America. While also getting to do real social work! So I made the decision and said what the heck. Let's go to Cape Town. I was skeptical at first. My dream had always been London. It didn't take much time to forget all about my past desire to travel to London once I actually arrived in Cape Town. In a few short days I was immersed in a culture that was not my own. Cape Town is a brilliant hodge podge of languages and cultures. I've spent 8 weeks in Cape Town and I haven't regretted a single moment of it. My internship with Khulisa Social Solutions allowed me to work side by side with the social workers, police officers, lawyers, and magistrates of the Cape Town Community Court. I actually got to work in the jail cells of the court. Never in my life would I have gotten to do something like that back in America. My time in Cape Town has helped me realize my strengths, weaknesses, biases, and has especially opened my eyes to the things I take for granted back at home. I came here two months ago absolutely terrified of what a summer in Cape Town would have in store for me. I am so thankful that I had the VACorps staff standing behind me throughout my entire journey. If I needed anything I knew I had someone to call. I'll never forget how Carmen held my hand to help me get down the mountain after hiking to Elephant's Eye Cave. If that doesn't give you an idea of how much VACorps cares then I'm not sure what will. Maybe its mushy to say this, but the VACorps staff and the interns have such a strong relationship. We are truly one big family. I am going to miss the relationships I've made here. And I am definitely going to miss the stunning scenery that Cape Town proudly displays. (Definitely won't miss the public transportation system) Just know that I am not the same person I was eight weeks ago. Not everything I've experienced in Cape Town has been good and beautiful. Some of it was downright uncomfortable. But those are the moments that I will never forget. Those are the moments that made my short time in the Mother City the best summer of my life.

I stumbled upon the VACorps website while google searching for summer internships and instantly fell in love with the idea of coming to Cape Town for an occupational therapy internship, as it is tough to find OT internships without a complete degree. This opportunity combined my passions of traveling, experiencing new cultures, meeting new people, occupational therapy, and most importantly working with children with disabilities.

My time at my internship site has been nothing short of amazing. My mornings at Normpumelelo School were full of hugs and love from countless kiddos. After only a week of being there and shadowing, I was given my own children to see and have my own therapy sessions with the children. One of my biggest accomplishments has been working one on one with the children and getting to run my own sessions. I learned through observing a session with the OT working with a child with cerebral palsy. The child is in a wheelchair and was not getting enough one on one attention from therapists because of how many children there are to see and lack of time. I observed as the occupational therapists ran a session full of stretching the muscles that she normally did not use while sitting in a wheelchair all day. After that she ran various activities with the child to work on strengthening different areas of development including gross and fine motor skills as well as coordination. After observing, the next day I began my own sessions with the child. Although I was a bit overwhelmed about the responsibility of lifting and moving the child on my own, I knew I had the abilities and knowledge to run a great session. I felt extremely accomplished just after running one session by myself, going through all the different stretches I was taught and coming up with creative activities to help with various areas of development. Throughout the session, the look on the child's face made me realize that what I was doing was making a difference. No money or objects can replace the look of joy on a child's face that you helped create. After painting a butterfly at the end, I returned her to her classroom and she immediately asked "when will you get me again?", in this moment my heart was full. I couldn't wait to see her again. Throughout the next 2 weeks I continued to stretch and do therapy with her as much as possible. I loved every moment with her and strengthening a relationship with her. Seeing her smiling face has made every moment so worth it and amazing. Working with her and seeing her improve has been one of my biggest accomplisments. Another favorite time of mine was running group therapy sessions and using the older students to help with the kids. It is amazing to see how well they work with the little ones. Walking outside during break time was one of my favorite times, I was always attacked by kiddos giving hugs and just wanting some love and attention. Many of my afternoons consisted of playing basketball with the teenage boys, and one of the best moments was making a basket and gaining their respect. I have been so happy that my experience has been so hands on and I have learned so much that I will use in the future. Not only have I learned a lot occupational therapy skills, but I have learned so much about the culture. The way the school is run is so different than at home and it has been amazing to get to learn about the academics and teaching in Gugulethu. My first and last days at this school were full of emotion and tears from the love I felt while there. Nompumelelo Special School will always have a very special place in my heart and I am already thinking about when I will be able to return.

My 12 weeks in Cape Town flew by and I wish I could go back and do it all over again. I have dreaded sitting in the office and completing my final reflection, I never thought the time would come. I have never felt as alive as I have in South Africa. My time in South Africa has absolutely been the best months of my life. Every moment has been better than I could have ever imagined. I absolutely love Cape Town and everything that goes along with it. Throughout these two months I have been able to do more that I ever thought including surfing, scuba diving, hiking, beaching, and exploring various markets and eaten some of the best food ever. Cape Town has so much to offer, and I love that I have never been bored and always have a new area to explore. The beauty of Cape Town in incomparable to any other place I have ever been. One moment you can be in the mountains hiking with insane views of Cape Town below, the next moment you can be on the beach in Camps Bay enjoying the sunset with the mountains behind you. If you are an adrenaline junkie, Cape Town is for you. Anything from paragliding, skydiving, scuba diving, or jumping off the highest bungee jump in the world, all in South Africa. More important than any activity is the friendships and memories that I have created while in Cape Town. People here are so open to meeting new people and are easy to connect with. The diverse group of people I have bonded with in Cape Town will always be close to my heart.

The VACorps staff has been absolutely incredible every second of my time here. My program advisor, Carmen, made this experience incredible. The staff was always there to assist me in any way that I needed and always excited to help. The activities every Friday were an amazing way to bond with the other interns and staff members. Some of my favorites were the Braai at Mama Sulis, Cape Point and surfing in Muizenberg. The bond I have formed with the staff is indescribable and I look forward to coming back to visit them as soon as possible. I could not be happier with the VACorps program as a whole, my internship experience and the staff members.

By the end of my time here, I can honestly say I feel like a "Capetonian" . I will miss the beauty, culture and people the most. I have made some of the best memories and relationships in Cape Town that I know will last forever. Thank you for the time of my life Cape Town and VACorps, I promise I will be back soon. Until next time South Africa, I love you.

Coming to Cape Town was definitely the best decision I have ever made! I would not change my experience here one bit. After being here for 2 1/2 months, I really started to feel more like a local living here. I loved being able to do an internship here in the field of study I want to work in but also get to enjoy all the activities Cape Town has to offer. Some of my favorite activities to do include going to Signal Hill to watch the sunset, going to Old Biscuit Mill on Saturday mornings, renting bikes to ride at Seapoint, and going to Mzansi which is a local restaurant in Langa, a township here. VAC was super helpful throughout the whole process, as I had many questions before arriving. I loved all the weekly activities they planned for the interns, especially the braai in Khayelitsha! All the staff here made me feel super welcome and I loved getting to know so many of them! Another part of my time here that I enjoyed was going on the Mozambique trip. This was one of the highlights of my time here and the friendships made there will last a lifetime. I highly recommend taking advantage of this trip as it is planned out by the staff so you don't have to worry about the details of the trip. Overall my time in Cape Town has been the best 10 weeks of my life and I would do it all again in a heartbeat!