Program Reviews

I would recommend interning with VACorps to anyone who wants hands-on experience or wants to find their direction in life. On my first day as an intern I was given clients and accounts to work on, but I wasn't allowed to make coffee. It's backward from the typical internships I had in the US and it was a welcome change. I have a much better direction for my career and the experience to match. I've worked with a variety of clients and have made very helpful connections in my industry.

I know a lot of the people in the program were happy about having the on-ground support and the staff was so incredibly friendly. The VACorps activities showed me sides of Cape Town I wouldn't have bothered going to, but I'm very happy I did. I highly recommend VACorps to anyone looking to explore new cultures and gain work experience at the same time.

Coming to Cape Town with VACorps was a huge leap of faith for me, having never been anywhere near South Africa before, but I would not trade my experience here for anything. The support I got from the VACorps staff, as well as the experience I gained at my internship site, exceeded every expectation I had and will be a memory I hold on to for the rest of my life. Through my time in Cape Town, I was able to take advantage of so much of what this beautiful country has to offer, especially through the activities that the VACorps facilitates for the interns. One of my favorite memories here was a VAC activity when our culture series was dancing and we had some young girls from a different township come to teach us to dance from Xhosa culture. This experience was one I never would have gotten if it weren't for the VAC and for that I am so thankful. I would truly recommend this experience to anyone considering it and would come back in the blink of an eye if I could.

If you have never been to Cape Town you should start packing right now. On one side the beauty of a city hugged by the ocean and the mountains, with stunning views and outdoor activities for any taste. A paradise for adrenaline junkies: paragliding over the coast, bungee jumping from one of the tallest bridges in the world, diving with sharks, or diving from the sky. If you are a more contemplative person who likes nature, you will find yourself admiring an ocean sunrise from the top of Table mountain or immersing yourself in the African wildlife, vis-a-vis springboks, lions, whales, and penguins.

On the other side a multicultural country with a convoluted history. You will directly experience the complex social fabric of the country and have the opportunity to have an impact on the local communities, embracing the spirit of ubuntu. You will live in Obz, a vibrant and liberal neighborhood, where you can hop from a pool bar and thrift shops to restaurants and coffee shops, where you will feel at home while meeting inspiring people. The people at the end are what make this experience priceless: your fellow interns will be your new friends, the VACorps staff your new family, and as you meet all these strong, interesting, and inspiring people, you will also meet your new self.

I loved living in Cape Town for the past 2 months; the people were so kind, the food was incredible, and you can't beat the views of Table Mountain, 12 apostles, and the beach. I chose CT because I have a friend who is South African and I've always wanted to come here myself. I learned so much about South Africa's culture and history, and I also learned about myself as I came here alone and met so many people from so many different backgrounds. I loved working with AU, I was able to be very hands-on and meet many locals, go into townships, and attend many events and activities. I really liked the family vibe at the office, and I had some really cool interns working with me. I even got to host my own mental health workshop with the youth that we work with! I will miss CT and AU so much, it's been the opportunity of a lifetime! The VACorps interns, staff, and activities were all lovely and truly made my time here. I am most grateful for the people I've met and had the opportunity to get to know while in Cape Town, and I will miss them dearly.

Knowing the beauty and strength of African people and culture, I knew I would greatly appreciate having an opportunity to intern on the continent. I also wanted to explore maternal and child public health work here in South Africa, and my internship site did not disappoint. Working at my internship site was one of the most educational and fulfilling experiences I’ve had. The community of staff members and pregnant moms showed me that unconditional love and support can change the health trajectory of communities.

One of the best parts of my stay was the VACorps community – the other program participants and the staff members. Kus and Kholi are amazing human beings that made my stay in Cape Town comfortable and an amazing experience.

I chose Cape Town because of its beautiful natural geography and its fascinating racial and social environment. I loved interning in CT because I was able to explore the city and enjoy personal growth, while also growing professionally and learning more about my future career goals. I learned that I truly do have the agency and ability to explore a new city/new country on my own and that I could have fun without always planning every activity out. Some highlights of my time in CT include bungee jumping, watching the sunset at Signal Hill, going to Cape of Good Hope, and going to Boulders Beach to see the penguins. I stayed in CT for 8 weeks, but to truly take advantage of the time here I would recommend someone to stay for 12 weeks. The weekly activities were so fun! I am so grateful for all the staff, who made the activities so enjoyable.

I had a wonderful time during my summer in Cape Town! I learned a great deal at my human rights internship, and I really enjoyed taking initiative and managing my own time. I did a lot of research on artificial intelligence, and I learned how to research more effectively and became less afraid to really dig into big, overwhelming topics like AI.

While I can’t even count the amount of life-changing memories I made on this trip, some of my favorite memories include going on the garden route tour (from being able to hug elephants to bungee jumping!), bonding with the other VA Corp interns, swimming in the beautiful ocean, joining the reading club on Saturdays, and eating the amazing foods in Cape Town. I will miss how friendly and easy-going the culture is in South Africa, among many things. I thought the weekly activities were all really nice, and Kholi and Kus were such lovely people and so fun to hang out with. I am so deeply grateful for this experience.

I chose Cape Town because I've always wanted to see Africa. I loved the city, the people, and all the experiences South Africa had to offer. I learned a lot from my internship and more about the culture on the continent through VACorp's multicultural programs and immersive activities. The most memorable experiences were the garden route, shark cage diving, and the fantastic restaurants around the area. I will miss living with a large group of people and the extensive list of activities readily available to enjoy. I stayed in CPT for 2 months with a group of 10. I am very grateful for my experience and will defiantly be back in the future.

I chose to come to Cape Town because my university was offering a global internship program in South Africa that partnered with VACorps. In the summer between my junior and senior year of college, I wanted to participate in a human rights law internship and also wanted to get experience living abroad. I did not know much about South Africa before arriving in Cape Town, but I soon learned just how beautiful and rich in culture the country is. Though it was nerve-racking to travel alone to a foreign country halfway across the world, the VACorps staff made me feel at home right away. Everyone at VACorps is extremely friendly and approachable. I felt comfortable coming to them with any questions and problems I encountered throughout my stay. Everyone has been eager to help us have the best possible experience. Though I love my moms, I will miss Kholi and Kus's motherly energy when I get back to the US!

My 2-month long human rights law internship was incredible. I got to dive into human rights research and law from a new perspective. It was very interesting to explore South African political dynamics and compare them to what I know about the dynamics in America. My supervisor introduced me to new ways to conduct research and critically analyze academic sources. I will always be grateful for my experience at my internship site and will carry the skills with me into my professional career. Two months was a perfect amount of time for me. I was able to explore multiple different projects in my internship and form connections with people I would otherwise have never met.

The weekly activities were an incredible way to learn more about South African culture and to meet other interns in the VACorps program. In these activities, I learned traditional dances, the South African national anthem, and the history of different cultures in the country. VAC also helped connect me with different activities and experiences across South Africa. My favorite weekend here was when my house of interns went on The Garden Route Tour. We got to go on a safari, walk with elephants, and jump off the world's highest bungee bridge. It was a truly unforgettable experience. I got to do so many things in Cape Town that I never thought I would get to do in my life.

My experience in Cape Town was unforgettable. The staff at VACorps was so supportive and responsive to anything I needed. What made it even more special was hearing stories of the staff members' daily lives and their personal experiences. I felt that the cultural series and weekly excursions elevated my time here in Cape Town and made for a more authentic experience. Even on the days when I felt alone or homesick, I knew I was never alone because I had a community at VAC to support me. My internship helped me to grow as a future dance/movement therapist and enabled me to work with teenagers, which is a group I had not previously worked with. I will miss those beautiful young women dearly.