Sustainable Development Internships in Africa

I chose to come to Cape Town because one of my friends who had been here adored it, and I can see why! Between the beautiful landscapes, rich culture, and everybody I met, it’s hard to leave it behind. The weekly opportunities put together by VAC let me connect with people outside of my internship, but still with the shared experience of learning abroad. I really appreciated the internship placement, weekly activities, Culture Series, and knowing that I could call VAC staff if I needed anything. My internship gave me many opportunities to lead in different areas. I got to lead supporting stations like food prep and the cleaning station, while also leading stations working directly with the birds, like the rehabilitation pens. The organization works to rehabilitate marine birds and educate the public about the birds around them and their own impact on the environment. My role was to help provide the necessary care to the birds so that they could eventually be released. For future interns, most of the skills you learn on the job come with practice. Everybody on the team is rooting for you, so don’t be hard on yourself if you can’t get the hang of something the first few times.

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 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.

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.

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.

The Marine Biology & Reef Conservation internship in Sodwana Bay (South Africa) was an amazing experience! I learned a great deal - had an awesome time and met some wonderful people! It was unforgettable to see the manta rays too!

I had such a wonderful experience working at a Whiskey Distillery in Dublin. The staff were all so genuinely nice and made me feel right at home. Rotating through the cafe, reception, and the back bar allowed me to understand all the different phases of a working distillery, and meeting the bosses was a great addition to the program. Dublin attracts so much tourism, I really enjoyed meeting so many different people from all over the world at my work. It felt like a true mix of diversity, which allowed me to learn so many unique things from everyone I encountered. I was also incredibly glad to use my Mandarin skills to help out. On my days off, I had the best time exploring Dublin, traveling around Ireland, and adventuring into other European countries. It was a beautiful journey both professionally and personally!

interned at the a private hospital in the operating room, where I observed the anesthesiologists and surgeons. This experience helped me gain a lot of insight in the healthcare system is like in a different country. I spent two months in Buenos Aires and it was wonderful with weekly events on the weekends coordinated by Brenda and Maru. Thanks to Connect-123 I was able to strengthen education and gain real life experience that will help me with my future profession.

Meeting the people in my flat really changed my experiences. They were so kind. I was lucky with my internship with having people supporting me and also wanting to get to know me. I highly recommend this to someone.

I loved my time in Cape Town. Two months was a great amount of time, although I think staying for two and a half to three months would have allowed me to experience even more than I did. I really appreciated how the VACorps program was structured, it provided plenty of support while still giving us the freedom to explore independently. The two-week orientation was a highlight, and I made friendships that I know will last well beyond my time here. From day one, the VACorps staff made me feel welcomed, comfortable, and supported. My internship with a community-based organization gave me the opportunity to learn by observing experienced professionals and seeing how their work made a difference. One of the biggest lessons I took away was that you don't need to have the biggest role to make a meaningful impact. That realization gave me a new appreciation for teamwork and the importance of every contribution, no matter how small it may seem.

Karen and Kristal at Intern Abroad HQ were wonderful at assisting me and my study abroad counselor throughout the whole process (esp. with the academic credits). Thank you to them! What I enjoyed most about the Public Health internship in Cape Town was being able to work closely and connect with such qualified, educated, and passionate professionals in my field. Being exposed to the work that they do gave me a clearer idea of what I want to do in my own professional career and gave me insight into what it takes to get there. Furthermore, I enjoyed being mentored by my internship supervisor and being able to take charge of my own internship project.

The thing that I enjoyed the most in the Reserve Management & Research internship was being able to see all of the wildlife that is unique to the area in Kruger National Park, while also being surrounded by nature and actually contributing to something as a visitor to the area; rather than just being a spectator on the sidelines. Personally, this internship gave me the unique opportunity to see animals (that I have only seen in a zoo) in the wild and in their natural habitat. The internship has also given me more confidence in different areas like communication and being social, while also making me more knowledgeable about how people are from different countries, alongside with making friends from all over the world. Professionally, this internship contributed to my development by providing me experience in an area that will be relevant along with completing a project associated in the field. This will help me stand out from others when it comes to job applications and it has given me the edge.

I chose Cape Town because of its beautiful landscapes and diverse culture. During my internship with a community-based organisation supporting older adults, I was welcomed into an inclusive and compassionate environment. Over time, I realised that I had been placing too much pressure on myself and began to recognise my own strengths and capabilities. Some of the most memorable moments were taking part in social activities with older community members and visiting different locations for advocacy training. I valued working with an organisation that prioritised dignity, care, and meaningful human connection. The experience helped me overcome self-doubt and strengthened my connection to the career I hope to pursue. Outside of my internship, I loved Cape Town’s beaches, oceans, and cultural diversity, and I will especially miss the wonderful friends I made. I stayed for two months, but I would recommend staying longer to make the most of the experience. My advice to future interns is to remain open-minded while discovering the city. The VACorps staff were consistently welcoming, encouraging, and supportive, and the activities provided a great way to connect with other interns.

My opportunity to intern was one of the best things I've been blessed enough to be a part of. It taught me so much about the world, the field of International Policy, culture, and working with people from other cultures. It contributed so much to how I developed as a person, how I travel, and how I live life, and the whole experience was incredibly eye-opening, both professionally and personally. I am incredibly glad that I decided to take part in this internship, it was one of the most amazing things I've gotten to be a part of.

I think Intern Abroad HQ was a great program because it provided and coordinated all that I needed. It was encouraging to not have to have every bit of my internship figured out and to know everything that was included would be reliable.

Connect-123 did an amazing job connecting me with an internship company that was similar to my interests. During my remote internship that was based out of Cape Town, I felt valued and that I played an important role in helping and shaping my clients and my company's future. My supervisor and his personal assistant were super kind, understanding, positive, and respectful towards me, and I felt very appreciated by them. Connect-123 did an amazing job of offering career-readiness tips and advice, including having three Zoom call sessions about developing different career-development skills that were very interactive and engaging. Carla, my program and internship coordinator, did an outstanding job communicating and helping me find an internship company that combined my values, interests, and career goals, as it was a very smooth process and transition. During my two-month internship, she would check in with me often, offer me advice, and be very supportive and encouraging to me. I highly recommend Connect-123 to anyone who is looking for an organization that will help set them up for career success.

Cape Town was always one of my dream places to be in and also had many qualified places in my department to get experience from. Whenever I run into VAC program by the internet site I saw that this is great opportunity and I wanted to try my chance. After I got my acceptation, VAC team was very helpful throughout the process. They explained the process very well and were by my side every step of the way. I loved everything about Cape Town but if I be specific about it I loved the culture, people, food, nature and city activities. Every moment was full of unforgettable memories. I learned a lot of things about myself during my internship and living in Cape Town own my own. I see I can achieve actually a lot more than I expected. I can handle with everything that I run into. Cape Town made me know about myself more and make me grown in every ways. My version before coming to Cape Town and after leaving is so different in a so many good ways and previous version of myself would be so proud for the things that last version of me did. Cape Town gave me peaceful and sincere life. Every people I run into add something to my life. I did a lot of activities that I was proud of myself doing it after as hikings, bungee jumping, surfing etc. I will miss everything about Cape Town it felt like home thanks to VAC team and my friends. But specifically I will miss watching sunset and chat with friends during this mesmerizing views. I stayed for 3 months and I would say 3 months was okay but 4 months would be better and I came on March it was so beautiful. I catch the end of the summer and until june it got a little chill but still we did almost all the outdoor activities that we can do. VAC Staff and weekly activities were amazing I had a lot of fun with them and with the activities and that was the thing I look forward to during week. VAC team were always by my side and never let me feel alone and help to me with everything. I loved the acitivities and cultural nights too because it made us meet with other people and become sincere and also I learned a lot about culture, food, history etc. It was unique and unforgettable experience for me. I suggest to everyone. It will be one of the best time of your life.

Cape Town was always one of my dream places to be in and also had many qualified places in my department to get experience from. Whenever I run into VAC program by the internet site I saw that this is great opportunity and I wanted to try my chance. After I got my acceptation, VAC team was very helpful throughout the process. They explained the process very well and were by my side every step of the way. I loved everything about Cape Town but if I be specific about it I loved the culture, people, food, nature and city activities. Every moment was full of unforgettable memories. I learned a lot of things about myself during my internship and living in Cape Town own my own. I see I can achieve actually a lot more than I expected. I can handle with everything that I run into. Cape Town made me know about myself more and make me grown in every ways. My version before coming to Cape Town and after leaving is so different in a so many good ways and previous version of myself would be so proud for the things that last version of me did. Cape Town gave me peaceful and sincere life. Every people I run into add something to my life. I did a lot of activities that I was proud of myself doing it after as hikings, bungee jumping, surfing etc. I will miss everything about Cape Town it felt like home thanks to VAC team and my friends. But specifically I will miss watching sunset and chat with friends during this mesmerizing views. I stayed for 3 months and I would say 3 months was okay but 4 months would be better and I came on March it was so beautiful. I catch the end of the summer and until june it got a little chill but still we did almost all the outdoor activities that we can do. VAC Staff and weekly activities were amazing I had a lot of fun with them and with the activities and that was the thing I look forward to during week. VAC team were always by my side and never let me feel alone and help to me with everything. I loved the acitivities and cultural nights too because it made us meet with other people and become sincere and also I learned a lot about culture, food, history etc. It was unique and unforgettable experience for me. I suggest to everyone. It will be one of the best time of your life.