Program Reviews

The last 2.5 months in Cape Town have been some of the best of my life. I’ve done lots of exploring— penguins, gardens, hiking, and plenty of beaches. Plus I have made such special friends. The people I’ve met through VACorps are some that I know I will keep in touch with for the rest of my life, and Cape Town has been such an amazing place to explore. There’s nowhere like it. I really settled into a routine of interning, working out at the gym, and then seeing more of Cape Town after, which made it easy to enjoy my internship while also being adventurous. I never want to leave Cape Town and am so sad that I only have 2 weeks left here, but I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience so far. VACorps did a phenomenal job of organizing activities, always being helpful if any issue arose, and cultivating a true sense of community unique to other programs I’ve heard of in the area.

Originally, I was nervous about coming to Cape Town. I had never been so far from home but it’s been the best decision I've ever made!

Cape Town itself is beautiful. In the last two months, it’s become my favorite place I’ve traveled to since it has everything: beautiful beaches, mountains, the ocean, amazing food, friendly people and there is always something to do. Though living so far from my home in Chicago, I’ve truly made a new home here.

I’ve been in Cape Town for two months and I wish I could stay longer. If I could do it again, I would most likely choose to stay for three months. The VACorp staff has been very helpful in making our time in Cape Town the best it can be. They’ve created the perfect combination of independence while also having support from the staff whenever needed night or day. The activities hosted by the program are always really fun and we are always doing new things. The turnout rates for the activities are high which speaks highly to the program community.

It was the first time I was away from my home in Turkey for so long (6 months) and my first time in South Africa, but all I can say is it was everything I had hoped for and more entirely!

The internship opportunity I received helped me clarify my future professional goals. The experience additionally resulted in many network opportunities and perhaps future colleagues as well!

For living in Cape Town, it was an experience I'll never forget! The climate, multi-cultural structure of the society; things you can do in your free time, especially the people, who are extremely friendly towards you from day one, etc.

About VACorps, they are like that second family you hope you get when going into a foreign environment. The were always by your side, always supportive and caring towards your journey at every step.

I’m forever grateful to all who have greeted us like family, and can’t wait come to come back for a visit in the near future!

VACorps was an amazing program. I am so grateful for this experience. It provided me with a new perspective of South Africa, dissolving all assumptions I previously had. The danger and poverty here are real, however, it’s nothing to be afraid of or something that discourages people from coming here. This is a beautiful place full of so many fun things and adventures. I really appreciated all of the Friday activities they took us on. During this experience, I’ve learned and become more confident in being 100% myself. I’ve made so many great relationships here with these kids. I stayed for 2 months, and I think people would enjoy 3 months here easily. I would definitely recommend any gappers to take part of this program.

I chose to travel to South Africa to do an internship in Cape Town because of how amazing this city is. You can find everything here, beaches, city life, and mountains. There is always something to do, see, and partake in. I loved that through VaCorps I had an organized group and community when I arrived, but I still was able to be independent and live freely. My time here has been absolutely amazing and I have learned so much about myself and the world in these past two months. Cannot recommend coming here with VACorps more!!

I chose Cape Town as my place to intern during my gap year because I wanted something different from my mundane 9-5 life back home. I wanted to experience people and places unlike what I have seen and get a better perspective on the world I live in. In my time in Cape Town, I learned who I could really be, facing challenges and living independently. Whether taking a walk to clear my mind in the beautiful sea point to taking on seemingly indomitable mountains there was always something to reflect on with myself and my surroundings.

My goal before arriving in Cape Town was to gain independence and confidence in an uncomfortable environment and find a home away from home. I definitely achieved this.

My experience with VAC has definitely been life-changing. Through my internship, I learned so much about the eco-tourism industry as well as how the workspace in another county operates. I love the work environment that Cape Town offers. VAC has been so helpful to my experience by always providing help when needed as well as endless activity suggestions. The weekly VACtivitys were very well planned and helped me to explore areas that would have been difficult otherwise. Through this experience, I have learned how to look after and care for myself. I have pushed myself to accomplish some incredible things here in cape town. Living in Cape Town has increased my desire for adventure, as well as shown me how to live a well-rounded life. Cape Town has been one massive playground and there is so much I want to explore. The biggest thing I will take away here is how to interact with others from very different backgrounds. I have gained a much bigger global perspective and hope to keep exploring. I will miss looking up wherever you are and being able to see Table Mountain and/or the ocean.

Living in New York City, coming to Cape Town originally felt intimidating and in a way kind of like I would be integrating and adjusting myself on my own. In reality, this is far from the truth. I think VAC’s best description is that they will make you feel at home, and this is just how I felt after just the first week. The staff is so comforting and so readily available for you for whatever problem, question, or planning you need. Our weekly activities bring the group together, along with the staff, and although you are working at your internship alone, we always have a community to go back to. I couldn’t have asked for more supporting staff and a group of students, and I was surprised how little I felt isolated and so far from home being with these people and taking part in these activities. Whether you’ve been to Capetown, or not, or have prepared for your trip, or not at all, the staff here will have you ready to go in no time. For this, I’m so grateful, and the smiles, help, and love from the staff in the VAC office brightened and comforted me every day.

I found that my time here with VA Corps was not only deeply touching in terms of the people I met, the places I got to experience on a weekly basis, and the sense of community here in Cape Town that warmed my heart and soul. Taking a step outside with everyone at VAC and finding myself in a new neighborhood, and new city, and new country felt like a newfound sense of freedom and connection with the world that is unmatched. I cannot only say that my time doing an internship here changed my life trajectory but gave me a new outlook and sense of appreciation for life.

In late 2019 when I started my search for an internship location, I had no idea or the slightest inclination that I would end up in Cape Town. As I searched online, I came across the VACorps website and read about VACorps and the testimonials from the previous interns and I knew I had finally found my internship destination – Cape Town and with VACorps.

I started the internship application process and everything was running smoothly until Covid struck and then I had to put my internship on hold as the world went into lockdown. What I really appreciated even when everything was on hold is the effort that VAcorps staff and especially Loyiso put in keeping me updated on the progress he was making to find an internship site that would suit my interests.

Even though it took 2 years before I could finally travel to Cape Town and do my internship, it was well worth the wait, and I was definitely not disappointed. My internship site at the adolescent mental health clinic has been extremely fulfilling, and even though at times it was heartbreaking to listen to the difficult mental health issues of the patients, that is what the internship was about, and I learned a great deal. The staff at the site was very friendly and it took less than a day to feel at home. Sometimes the activities at the clinic required just shadowing the professionals but this was also a perfect way of observing and learning and soaking in the “silent experience” gathered.

I came to Cape Town only focused on completing a two-month internship, but I must admit the weekly activities organized by VACorps led me to see and appreciate that there is a lot more to the experience than just interning in Cape Town. The city is just beautiful and my two months felt a little short to appreciate everything that the city has to offer. So all I can say is that my internship period was just a ‘Cape Town appetizer’ and I will definitely come back for more when I have more time. But in the meantime a BIG BRAVO to VACorps for not being just an internship agency but for going beyond to integrate the interns into South Africa. The weekly activities, especially the visit to GAPA (Grandmothers Against Poverty and Aids) have led to my being ´adopted’ by the grannies and now I leave Cape Town as a ´grandchild’ of GAPA and so this gives me a good reason to come back to Cape Town. I will be collaborating with GAPA to set up a similar project back home. So thanks to VACorps for without you I wouldn’t have met those inspirational, strong women.

For anyone considering interning with VACorps, you will NOT regret that decision. The personal and professional experience gained will definitely leave a mark on your heart that will be with you forever. And for anyone coming to intern, come with an open mind, ready to embrace all there is to enjoy from nature to food, to massive shopping malls, and most of all to the very friendly people of South Africa. So for now, it is not goodbye Cape Town but see you again in the near future.