Short Term Internships in South Africa

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.

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.

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!

Since completing the Psychology internship in Cape Town, I've been more empowered in several key ways. I've developed greater cultural competence within my field, along with a stronger understanding of how to draw on other professionals and networks to bring together resources that genuinely support a community or individual. I also feel more confident in the value of my informal counselling skills, and a renewed appreciation for the value of my psychology degree and what it equips me to offer. My experience co-facilitating the DBT session for clients with BPD has genuinely inspired me to consider this as a potential area of future specialisation, and I'd like to continue building my knowledge and skills in this space. I enjoyed staying in the big intern house with the other interns and exploring Cape Town together. The cultural insight from the local coordinator and internship was very insightful and has allowed me to personally and professionally appreciate and develop my cross-cultural competence.

The Marketing & Communications internship in Sydney gave me the real life experience which I can tie closely to my studies, and this has helped me understand different topics more easily. The internship also gave me the practical experience I needed to help boost my CV (resume) for my later career, and better prepare me for my future. I enjoyed meeting many people from different cultures a lot. My host family accommodation was amazing; I couldn’t have asked for better.

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.

I had the most incredible and life altering experience of my life with the Forensics - Wildlife & Conservation internship in South Africa. I have so many favorite moments I can’t even keep track. To someone that is undecided about whether or not to do this, I say DO IT. I have never met such an incredible group of people (both as friends and mentors). I feel like in two weeks I lived a lifetime and have never learned so much in such little time. Out of all the lessons I learned, I have to say the one that has been the most pronounced is that learning about a world so different from your own opens your eyes to the beauties and flaws in your own life. Thank you infinitely to Intern Abroad HQ for the most fulfilling experience of my life.

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.

Spending my summer in South Africa was one of the most rewarding decisions I have made in my academic journey. I grew in ways I never expected and left Cape Town feeling more ambitious, culturally aware, and excited about a future focused on helping others. VACorps placed me in an internship that closely reflected my goals, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity. Some of my favorite memories include learning about South Africa with a local university professor, going on safari in the Eastern Cape, and attempting to finish an entire Gatsby in one sitting. What I will miss most, however, are the people and the relationships I built during my stay. Cape Town is unlike anywhere else, and my biggest advice would be to appreciate every moment, the mountains, the people, and every experience in between. I already know I will want to return one day.

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.

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.

The Reserve Management & Research internship at the Kruger National Park made my future possible. My stay in South Africa exceeded my expectations as I learned so much while I was there, and I couldn't imagine a better experience for me. I stayed for 12 weeks, and each week brought new experiences, excitement, and people. I’ve learned so much about South Africa, reserve management, wildlife, poaching, ecology, and plant life. Before going to South Africa, I was unsure about which direction I wanted to go for my future. It is now crystal clear that I want to work in conservation in Africa.

I have had an amazing experience interning abroad in Barcelona. It was wonderful to see how passionate those at the non-profit I worked in were in regards to giving kids at the Casal a summer full of fun memories and connections. I got to learn so much from the kids I worked with and got to learn more about myself. Additionally, everyone from my host site to those in connect-123 were always really supportive throughout my time here, so not once did I feel afraid of being in another country so far from home for the first time!!

This experience gave me a greater understanding of how organisations can work across borders to support communities. One of the most meaningful parts of my internship was learning about healthcare initiatives supporting refugee communities and international partnerships providing medical care to people affected by conflict and displacement. Seeing how resources can be used to improve the lives of both citizens and non-citizens showed me the impact that advocacy, collaboration, and compassion can have. I left Valencia feeling more motivated to pursue a career where I can contribute to positive change.

My internship at the University of Cape Town in South Africa was an eye opener to both research and a new culture. At my internship I gained new skills including RNA Isolation, PBMC Isolation, ELISA, MDM Generation, Graphpad Prism and much more. I was also able to shadow an endocrinologist at the Groote Schuur hospital which introduced me to healthcare outside of the U.S. Shadowing in a public hospital opened my eyes to what being a doctor really is. It was chaotic, stressful, busy, but it also showed me that people of the same community suffer from common conditions that are uncommon in the U.S. Outside of the lab and clinic, and I was also able to attend and assist at a research foundation conference here in Cape Town. Though this conference was focused on sustainability, I was honored to attend and learn more about how research expands around the world, bringing together different continents and countries for one purpose. Overall, this internship experience allowed me to gain a better understanding of what research is, but also what healthcare is like in a different country. If anyone is thinking about coming to Cape Town, I recommend seeing the “not so pretty” side and learning about the history behind the mother city. It really opens your eyes to something you might not have known before.