Internships in Africa

I took a gap year because I didn’t want to rush into the next stage of school without being sure about what I wanted. I also didn’t want the year to become just more studying and applications. Spending part of it abroad gave me the chance to stay connected to medicine while doing something completely outside my normal routine. Some days were spent at the hospital, while others were spent exploring. I also liked being able to connect with other students who were figuring out their next steps too. Now, I feel less pressure to have everything figured out and much more certain about why I want to continue pursuing medicine.

I spent this past summer interning in Madrid with a biotech startup, and it ended up being one of the best decisions I made in college so far. Sage Corps placed me somewhere I could explore the commercial side of biotech, which is exactly the direction I want my future career to go, and I don't think I could have gotten that kind of exposure anywhere else, let alone abroad. The internship itself was awesome. I was trusted with meaningful projects, got exposure to how the leadership team operated day to day, and walked away with a much clearer sense of how a small company actually functions behind the scenes. What set Sage Corps apart for me was how much support came alongside the placement. I had one-on-ones and check-ins throughout the program, so I never felt like I'd just been dropped in a new country and left to figure it out alone. At the same time, Sage Corps still gave us a real taste of Spain: living in Malasaña with the rest of my cohort, a tour of the Bernabéu, a day trip to Toledo, and a cooking class where we learned to make traditional Spanish dishes. My favorite part was probably the Madrid city center tour, where our guide pointed out Moorish architectural influences on certain buildings and explained how far different cultures actually reached across the peninsula. If you're considering Sage Corps, my honest take is that you'll come away with a legitimate internship on your resume and a summer abroad you actually enjoyed living through. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

My internship became an experience that will always hold a special place in my heart. The team, working environment, and focus on creating positive change aligned closely with my own values. I especially appreciated the conversations with my colleagues, sometimes subtle, but always thought-provoking. Being surrounded by a dynamic and experienced team strengthened my confidence, shaped how I think about entrepreneurship, and left me even more motivated to put my skills to use. During my internship with a technology-focused startup, I was trusted with real responsibility and given the creative freedom to work on full-stack products for clients. One of my main projects involved building a digital dashboard for a nonprofit client using React, Next.js, and SQL. My goal was to strengthen my portfolio and demonstrate my technical abilities, but the experience gave me much more than that. It showed me how relatively simple technical solutions can create genuine value when they respond to real-world needs. The overall experience with VAC was seamless, and I could see how much work happened behind the scenes to make that possible. I am grateful for the support, trust, and opportunities I was given throughout my time in Cape Town. I leave with greater confidence in my abilities, a more refined perspective on entrepreneurship, and an even stronger desire to use my skills to create meaningful change.

I chose Cape Town for my internship abroad because I wanted the opportunity to experience a part of Africa and immerse myself somewhere completely new. What I loved most was how much the city has to offer. There is music everywhere, incredible food, endless outdoor activities, and so much creativity. Whether exploring the city, heading into the mountains, or spending time at the beach, everything felt within reach. Even after ten weeks, I still felt like there was so much more I wanted to discover. Living so far from home also taught me a lot about myself. Over time, I became much more comfortable with the unknown and learned to adapt to a different way of life, from local slang and culture to the everyday rhythms of Cape Town. I will especially miss the music, the creativity of the city, and all the people I met along the way. The VAC team was incredibly friendly and welcoming throughout my stay. One of the things I am most grateful for is the community the program created. Many of the friendships and connections that shaped my time in Cape Town came through VAC, and the people I met and experiences we shared are something I will always remember.

I have been with meditrip to Tanzania now twice and both of the times have been amazing! I had a good time talking to Pearl for the preparations and expectations. Pearl also was a great help with discussing a topic I could use to write my thesis. When I arrived the second time it really felt like coming home. I love the home feeling in the hostel. I also met the most amazing people in the hostel who are now some of my closes friends. In the hospital I had great guidance in Kaloleni Hospital. Overall I had the most amazing experience and I can't wait to go back!!

My experience in Cape Town has been one of the most rewarding and memorable parts of my university journey. Coming from Zambia and studying in the UK, interning in South Africa gave me the opportunity to experience a different professional and cultural environment while still being somewhere that felt familiar in certain ways. During my internship with a business advisory organization, I gained valuable exposure to areas such as business valuations, market research, sales processes, and international expansion. I especially enjoyed mapping out the company’s sales process, as it challenged me to understand how the business operates and communicate that clearly from an outsider’s perspective. Beyond the technical skills, I learned how to adapt to a new professional culture, communicate with people from different backgrounds, and become more comfortable outside of my usual environment. Living independently also helped me become more confident, adaptable, and responsible. Through VAC, I met people from around the world, formed new friendships, and experienced so much of Cape Town, from hiking and exploring the city to jet skiing, ATV riding, and abseiling. Looking back, the greatest value of my time in Cape Town was the combination of professional development and personal growth. The experience pushed me outside my comfort zone, broadened my perspective on international work, and gave me a clearer understanding of the kind of professional environment I want to build my career in. I’m leaving Cape Town with new skills, new connections, incredible memories, and a much broader perspective on both work and life.

This was my first experience volunteering and interning abroad. I am so grateful for this program giving me the opportunity to explore a new place while I learned even more about my field. They helped take care of everything from start to finish and even checked that I arrived home safely. Genuinely, this was an amazing experience and I can’t wait to visit Ghana again.

The program was good overall. The staff, especially Jackie, were really helpful and made the experience easy to settle into. I was able to get the clinical exposure I needed and also had time to explore, which was a nice balance.

Cape Town gave me the opportunity to explore both my professional goals and what I wanted from life outside of work. My Southern African background was a big part of what drew me here, and having fond memories of South Africa made me curious about what life here could look like long term. One of the things I appreciated most was finding a balance between my internship, social life, and personal interests. It taught me a lot about the routines and priorities that contribute to my own sense of fulfillment. During my internship with a financial technology company focused on improving financial inclusion, I had the opportunity to apply what I had learned in school to a real business environment. I worked with data to identify patterns and better understand some of the challenges limiting the organization’s impact. It was rewarding to see how analytical skills could be used to support a wider social purpose and gave me valuable insight into the kind of work I may want to pursue in the future.

Cape Town was never originally on my bucket list, but when I found an opportunity to gain clinical psychology experience here, I knew I had to take it. It gave me the chance to travel to a new continent, challenge some of the perceptions I had grown up hearing, and of course, live close to the beach. Finding hands-on psychology experience abroad can be difficult, so this felt like a unique opportunity. During my internship with a mental health and rehabilitation organization, I gained exposure to areas of psychology that I would not normally encounter back home. I observed different mental health professionals, learned about addiction and therapeutic approaches, and eventually had the opportunity to facilitate and co-facilitate group sessions covering topics such as psychological resilience, attachment, and personal wellbeing. I loved interacting with patients, learning from my colleagues, and seeing the different ways professionals approached their work. The experience gave me practical exposure and much more confidence working within a multidisciplinary environment. I stayed for almost three months, which gave me plenty of time to experience both the internship and Cape Town. I also learned something unexpected about myself how much I value having time alone to explore and recharge. Some of my favorite experiences came from venturing beyond the city and discovering the coastline and surrounding areas. My advice would be not to leave that exploring until the final few weeks! The VAC team was incredibly supportive, but above all, I am most grateful for the internship itself and everything it taught me.

I was looking for a program that would help me complete my elective requirement while also giving me real clinical experience. During the program, I spent time in surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, emergency care, and cardiology. I saw cases involving trauma, normal deliveries, post-op care, and a variety of other conditions that I would not normally be exposed to during my training back home. That made the experience much more valuable for me. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a clinical elective with a lot of variety and opportunities to learn.

I wanted to come to Cape Town because I was looking for a cultural experience that would challenge and broaden my perspective. As someone interested in international development, I wanted to learn within a different cultural context and better understand South Africa through its history and approach to development. One of the most impactful parts of my experience was learning about the concept of Ubuntu and seeing the importance of community, connection, and mutual support in everyday life. My eight weeks in Cape Town felt short, but they gave me the opportunity to grow both culturally and professionally. Through my internship with a community-focused development organization, I gained valuable experience working within a different social and cultural setting. Most of all, I will miss the people I met, who were incredibly warm, curious, supportive, and welcoming. My time in South Africa also gave me greater clarity about my future and strengthened my desire to pursue opportunities abroad, including a Fulbright program.

I chose Cape Town because I wanted the opportunity to experience somewhere completely new and see for myself what made the city so special. During my time here, I learned so much about the culture, the people, and the natural beauty of South Africa. What stood out most was how warm and open people were, and I especially loved spending time with friends and meeting people from different countries. Those connections are what I will miss most. During my internship with a community-based organization working with children, some of my favorite moments were simply playing with the kids, helping with activities, and leading lessons. Being around them brought back a sense of childhood joy while also helping me work toward a personal goal of becoming more confident communicating with others and speaking in front of groups. Building genuine connections with the children and experiencing the local community made the internship especially meaningful. The VAC weekly activities were another highlight because they brought everyone together so naturally. Sometimes a friendship could start simply by playing soccer with someone whose name I didn’t even know yet. The VAC staff were always supportive and willing to listen, and I am incredibly grateful for the friendships, memories, and experiences I gained during my time in Cape Town.

I chose Cape Town because I wanted an experience that felt different from the typical study abroad path. What I loved most was having the freedom to balance my internships with everything else Cape Town had to offer. My internship sites were flexible and supportive, which gave me the chance to gain meaningful experience while still making time for plenty of adventures. Along the way, I discovered how much I enjoy being spontaneous, exploring on my own, and meeting new people, something that became one of the best parts of my time here. Through my work with two youth-focused community organizations, I also reaffirmed how much I love teaching and working with young people. The VAC team made the experience even better, and the weekly activities were always a highlight and a great way to spend time with everyone. I came to Cape Town looking for something unique, and that is exactly what I found.

I came to Africa with a friend, and I'm so glad we got to share this experience together. From our time in the hospital to exploring and experiencing the culture, we learnt so much and made some amazing memories. The Go-Elective team was also very welcoming and made us feel comfortable throughout our stay.

My time in Kenya gave me the chance to experience healthcare in a way I had never seen before. I was able to spend time in different wards, learn from healthcare professionals, and witness moments that were both inspiring and difficult. Some of the cases I saw were heartbreaking, while others, like witnessing births, were incredibly moving. Seeing patients and families go through such different experiences gave me a much deeper appreciation for patient care and showed me how important compassion is in medicine. Outside the hospital, I really enjoyed learning more about Kenyan culture, meeting local people, and exploring Mombasa. Everyone I met was warm and welcoming, and the GoElective team made the whole experience feel organised, comfortable, and easy to enjoy. It was a trip that gave me so much to reflect on, both personally and professionally.

My internship as a market and financial analyst was an excellent opportunity for me to gain professional experience dealing with real business needs and personnel. The submersion taught me many technical skills and built my confidence, which I am sure have helped prepare me for my future positions.

Many thanks to Magessa George and the FIEN Foundation for their warm welcome to Morogoro, Tanzania! My main objective was to make a website for Green Apple Pre and Primary School, alongside my colleague Ryder. We visited the school a few times a week to work directly with teachers and administration to design a website that met their needs. We enjoyed playing football with the kids at school on Wednesday afternoons. I give my thanks to Mr. and Madam Kusaga for hosting us at the school. After Ryder and I completed our work, we were invited to an Iftar celebration hosted by the school. The Kusagas, teachers, and I spoke, giving thanks for the experience and work we put in together. I felt so much support from the FIEN Foundation as I navigated this journey. FIEN families hosted us for lunches and dinners. George introduced us to friends who guided us through shopping, public transportation, and other elements of life in Morogoro. I lovedworking at the FIEN office most days, chatting over chai with George, meeting his family, and enjoying delicious ugali. I find myself counting the days until I can return to see my friends in TZ again.

What an amazing internship experience! It was an unforgettable month that pushed me out of my comfort zone, gave me experiences I’d never have at home, and allowed me to learn about conservation while meeting some amazing people. I learned a great deal and the entire experience definitely exceeded my expectations! I really enjoyed game drives. It was a good way to explore the reserve, learn lots about the environment and wildlife, get to know other participants and no drive was ever the same. Seeing all the animals, sunrise and sunsets on drives and getting to know new people made the experience truly unforgettable.

The time spent doing my GIS internship at the Gondwana Game Reserve exceeded my expectations in both the knowledge I received and the amazing views I was fortunate enough to see. I learned a great deal, saw a lot of amazing animals and it was extremely rewarding to learn so much about GIS and wildlife.