Description

At VACorps, we customize each individual internship placement to satisfy your academic, professional and intellectual needs. The following are examples of past internship opportunities created for participants with an interest in psychology/counseling:

Many South African children have been infected, orphaned, and made vulnerable by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. If you have a passion for helping people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and you are comfortable with sensitive issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, you should definitely consider a counseling internship in Cape Town. This internship experience is ideal if you are studying or considering a career in counseling, social work, or work related to HIV/AIDS. Your internship will afford you the flexibility to focus on your area of interest and to work with a certain demographic (for example, children with HIV/AIDS), or with people of all ages; children, adults, and the elderly. Some of your responsibilities may include:

- Providing counseling to at-risk and affected children. This entails communicating with families and local schools.
- Assisting South African counselors with the facilitation of empowerment workshops and support groups.
- Helping to provide enabling counseling and psycho-support services to at-risk children and families.
- Enabling families to access social welfare grants
- Assisting with the gathering of information and investigation of child abuse, intervention services, and the management of caseloads.
- Helping to run emergency homes and safety shelters.
- Visiting sick children.

Highlights

All counseling/psychology internships are facilitated through the Volunteer Adventure Corps professional internship program. A few highlights of our internship program are as follows:

- We are an internship program that only accepts the most serious and professionally focused applicants. Our participants work full time and are expected to make an impact at their internship sites. Central to our program philosophy is the concept of mutually beneficial experiential learning, through which the intern, partner organization, and the communities they serve, have the opportunity to learn, grow, and develop in dynamic and positive ways.

- Outside of your internship, you will be able to participate in our program's free weekly Friday Excursions. Excursions take place in the afternoon and are an optional, yet highly recommended, way to see a new part of the city every week while socializing with other interns in the program. The following are examples of previous Friday excursions: surfing lessons at Muizenberg Beach, hikes in Table Mountain National Park (Lion's Head, Boomslang Caves, Elephant's Eye, Constantia Nek, Cecilia Forest), wine tasting in Constantia, chocolate tasting in Franschhoek, picnics in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, champagne sunset cruises in Table Bay Harbor and the list goes on!

- All interns participate in a comprehensive 2-day arrival orientation.

- We offer regular community service volunteer opportunities.

- We offer free weekly Xhosa classes (one of South Africa's 11 official languages).

- We assist all our participant with the location of housing in Cape Town.

- We offer 24-hour support and assistance.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a background in psychology/psychology. Previous experience counseling experience is encouraged, though not required.

Intern Types

• Anthropology
• Counseling
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Sociology

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Visit our program website

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Resume
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

4-6 weeks

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network

Volunteer Adventure Corps's Mission Statement

Central to our program philosophy is the concept of mutually beneficial experiential learning, through which the intern, partner organization, and the communities they serve, have the opportunity to learn, grow, and develop in dynamic and positive ways. Ultimately, we want you to have an incredible experience in Africa while gaining the type of professional exposure that will be one of the first talking points in any job interview.

Year Founded

2006