Program Reviews

I chose to come to Cape Town on a whim, which turned out to be one of the best whims I've ever had. I had the most amazing experience during my time in Cape Town. VACorps organized for me to intern with the incredible Justice Desk, which was an opportunity I simply wouldn't have been able to do without the support and organization of the VAC team. VACorps works hard to ensure that every week you have to opportunity to explore and engage with Cape Town's culture and experiences. One of the best parts about my choice to intern through the VACorp was meeting and getting to know the other interns, like-minded individuals from across the world who I connected with in Cape Town and who have become lifelong friends. I highly recommend this internship program for an ideal mix of work and play, individual exploration, and personal growth.

I cannot begin to say how grateful I am for my time in Cape Town and VACorps. I chose to do this program because I graduated college and felt unsure of my career path and wanted to explore the world and expand my perspective. I can say without a doubt that this experience not only expanded my perspective but expanded me. Completing an internship abroad taught me so much about myself professionally. Being able to learn from another country's work culture and environment was immensely beneficial to my professional growth. I went into the internship wanting to understand myself more professionally. This internship really helped me figure out my strengths and weaknesses because I was able to have clients. Being given the agency to have clients and do my own work gave me the experience of having a true work assignment and starting and completing it. In addition, being able to live with people from across the globe is an experience I will forever treasure. I am so glad that I chose VAcorps because they helped me find an internship that was exactly in line with my professional aspirations and it connected me with friends across the globe that I will have for life!

My time in Cape Town has been nothing but wonderful. I have never traveled abroad before and for this to be my first experience was amazing. VACorps made the process so much better by being so welcoming and informative about my stay here. They eased us into our journey by taking us to some important stops throughout Cape Town, advising us about safety, and connecting us with other people that would help make our stay more comfortable. All of the staff was very helpful and available whenever we needed them. They placed me with a wonderful internship and if others did not have a good fit with theirs, they made sure to connect them with a better place for them to intern during their stay. The Friday activities were always filled with fun. There was something for everyone, whether that was hiking, wine tasting, surfing, or eating great food. They helped me better bond with the other people in the program and through that, I have made some lifelong friends. The culture series was also very informative and were a mix of fun and educational activities for us to better connect with the culture here in South Africa. I am very sad for my journey in Cape Town to end but it has motivated me to travel more around the world and of course, come back and visit again in the future. I was very nervous coming into the trip because I did not know what to expect and had never been so far away from home, but having the VACorps staff to support me and getting to know all of the other interns helped me find a family away from home.

I chose to come to Cape Town because it is the city with everything. A large exciting city, with oceans, mountains, and fascinating people, Cape Town provides a plethora of opportunities for ambitious people. Diverse and educational, South Africa has a rich history that is easily explorable. I specifically loved how much I was able to do here, I worked in an underserved clinic and witnessed a mix of cultures united under one roof, I spent weeks on a farm in the heart of the city and learned more than ill ever need to know about plants and gardening. I will miss the sheer beauty no matter where I looked during my commutes to work each day. Three months was not nearly enough time, yet I still was able to experience so many incredible things, like scenic hikes, crazy surf days, world heritage sites, and so much more. The culture here is unmatched and so unique. Like any city, Cape Town has its flaws, petty crime, load shedding, etc. It is crucial to be aware of these things before arrival, along with this, VACorps staff will do their best to prepare you for living in such a bustling place with so many types of people. I am beyond grateful for the people I met while living here, whether that be my lovely roommates or hard-working co-workers.

I came to Cape Town to join the VACorps program in order to experience the culture of South Africa and to see what working in another country would be like. I did my apprenticeship at a local TV station and was very happy with the warm welcome I received, and the work that I got to do. My goal was to give journalism a good shot and see if it was something for me. I feel like I have achieved that goal, and I have learned so much. I really enjoyed the freedom I had on my stories and loved going out to meet people. I have traveled all over the city with the news team and had so many unique experiences. Cape Town is a unique and beautiful city, and I really enjoyed exploring it with the amazing people I met at VACorps. I learned to test my limits and to adapt to many different situations. I will never forget my time here! Thank you VACorps!

It was a joy to be part of the VACorps program. My time in Cape Town was extraordinarily special, in large part due to the opportunities provided by VAC and the endless support of the VAC staff. My internship experience at a human rights NGO was transformative. I was able to immerse myself within a community and way of life, unlike anything to which I had ever been exposed. I made personal connections with the people in my internship, and I was welcomed into my internship organization with open arms. I learned and grew as a person during my time in my internship, and I was challenged to do and think about things that had never even crossed my mind. I regard my time in my internship as a true blessing. Beyond this, I was excited every week to partake in the Friday activities provided by VAC, each of which brought to my attention a new place within an aspect of Cape Town. The activities were well-planned, thrilling, and a great way to spend time with other people within the program. Additionally, as a woman navigating a new city on my own, it was comforting to know that the VAC staff would always be there, should I need anything. Because of the support provided by VAC, I was able to find a sense of independence in a new city and create a community for myself on my own, while knowing that I had people always looking out for me. VAC ensured that we would be safe during our time in Cape Town, that we would have a meaningful internship experience, and that we would be able to enjoy all the beauty and adventure that Cape Town has to offer.

Cape Town is such a wonderful, vibrant city and will welcome you with open arms. If you are looking for somewhere to do an internship that gives you that home away from home feeling, I can't recommend this city enough! The VACorps weekly cultural events were so informative, fun, and gave you the opportunity to experience local music, dance, food, drinks, and much more. Additionally, the weekly excursions offered by VACorps give you the opportunity to get outside the city to explore and try activities with all the other interns.

I have been able to meet so many new people from around the world through this community and was set up with an incredible internship site. My time at a public health research project was an invaluable learning experience! Furthermore, I was able to make such meaningful connections with the team members working at the office and the community health clinics; and I am very much looking forward to staying in touch with everyone at my host site. My placement site made me feel as though my time there was valued and very much appreciated. My internship in Cape Town is something that I will fondly remember forever!

The reason I chose Cape Town for my internship abroad is that I fell in love with the city when I first came here with my family when I was 13. Since then I knew that I wanted to experience life in Cape Town. Now it has been 6 months since I come here and I can say that it has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I met some amazing people within the program from all around the world and we explored the city together. I even bungee jumped which I would never previously have thought of doing before traveling here! It was one of the highlights of my time here, being able to overcome the fear was a very liberating experience.

I learned so much and had a lot of fun during my experience. I was able to know myself more and it is truly a great feeling to be able to call Cape Town my home. I believe I'll miss the everyday life at the Observatory the most. Also, Kholi and Kuselwa were like sisters to me here-- they were amazing, especially in organizing the weekly activities and teaching us their culture in South Africa. I would like to thank the VACorps team for simply being the best! I would definitely recommend the program to everyone.

My experience with VACorps in Cape Town has been nothing short of amazing. From the outset, the VACorps team did an excellent job of welcoming me and helping me feel comfortable in this new environment.

I also really enjoyed my time at a local TV station and am extremely happy that ended up working out. I am really glad I worked an in-person job and was part of a social and friendly team, and was granted a lot of freedom and trust at my job. I will surely miss interacting with my coworkers. I really enjoyed the VACorps group and the activities provided a nice structure and a way to socialize with others. I stayed for 2 and a half months and would say that it's a fairly good amount of time. There is certainly a lot I feel I didn't get to do, and my advice to others would be to make a sort of bucket list of Cape Town things to do.

I chose VACorps because I wanted to travel somewhere far and very different and live like a local. Once I arrived in Cape Town I felt truly welcome. During the 2 months I lived here I found community through conversations with Uber drivers, business owners, restaurant employees, and other locals. Learning about Cape Town and South Africa through the perspective of everyday people and not a tour guide was a special and unique experience.

My internship at a radio station was another completely unique experience. Even without prior radio experience or having taken a single college course, I was trusted to represent the station in interviews with politicians, artists, and important businesspeople. That trust gave me the confidence to be creative and stick to my gut. I presented on a radio show every weekday and wrote and ran my own show on Saturdays. I filmed and edited videos for their social media, scheduled interviews, wrote scripts, and played my guitar live on air.

I learned so much through all of these tasks, but my relationships with my colleagues at the station were the most meaningful. The casual work environment gave me plenty of time to get to know the staff. I learned about the very different upbringings that all of them had. However, I ended up being surprised at how much we had in common often fostered through a mutual love of music. Ultimately, I am happy to call many of them my close friends. Leaving Cape Town and the radio station has been hard because I've loved it so much. I know I will return someday.