Internships in Cape Town with VACorps

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 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!

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.

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!

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.