What inspired you to work for VAC Internships Cape Town?
What attracted me to VACorps was the opportunity to work at the intersection of international education, engaging with people from diverse backgrounds and contributing to meaningful community connections.
I was also drawn to the operational side of the field, where you get to see how many moving parts come together to create successful experiences for both students and local host organizations. I tend to be more analytical and detail-oriented, so I really enjoy being involved in the behind-the-scenes work that makes everything function smoothly.
I also appreciate the variety in the role and the chance to understand the experience from both the student and host organization perspectives. I originally joined VACorps as an intern myself before moving into the operational team a few months later, and it was especially interesting to experience both sides and see how the processes align and support one another.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
I am originally from Congo-Brazzaville and moved to South Africa a decade ago. Looking back on my own experience, I would tell myself not to put so much pressure on having everything figured out before going somewhere new. You can research a country, its culture, language, and education system, but there will always be things you only truly understand once you experience them yourself.
I would also remind myself to stay curious rather than judgmental, to ask questions, and to be willing to sit with discomfort at times. That is often where the most meaningful learning happens. And above all other things, I would reassure myself that growth takes time, and it’s okay to discover the answers along the way.
Describe a typical day at work.
There really isn't a completely typical day, which is one of the things that makes the job interesting. I might spend part of the day communicating with students about their placements, orientation week to help interns adjust to the lifestyle in South Africa, contacting potential host organisations, reviewing internship opportunities, or coordinating introductions between students and supervisors.
I also work on and coordinate program activities, student support, reports, onboarding, and operational projects. Some days are very people-focused, while others involve more planning, organisation, and behind-the-scenes work.
Why do you do what you do?
I like knowing that the work I do can have a direct impact on someone’s experience abroad. Moving to another country and starting an internship is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming and come with a lot to navigate.
I enjoy helping create the structure and support that allows students to focus on learning, experiencing a new culture, and making the most of their time here.
At VACorps, we strive to provide a safe space, almost like a second home, where students feel supported throughout their journey in South Africa.
What is your favorite part of your job?
One of my favorite parts of the work is getting to meet people from all over the world and learning about their cultures, ways of life, and perspectives.
Although I haven’t had the chance to travel extensively yet, connecting with people from different countries often feels like a window into those places, almost as if I’m experiencing a small part of them through their stories.
What makes it especially amazing, though, is witnessing the growth and transformation in the students we support. During their time in South Africa, many go through a real process of self-discovery, gaining new perspectives on themselves and the world around them, and being able to see that development firsthand is incredibly rewarding.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
My background, including my Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, has helped me appreciate that people can approach the same situation from very different cultural and personal perspectives.
My studies strengthened my understanding of clear messaging, audience awareness, and effective interpersonal communication, which I now apply daily in my role. Working with international students has further reinforced the importance of patience, clarity, and not making assumptions.
I also use a lot of organizational and research skills in my role, particularly when assessing potential placements, understanding organizations, and finding ways to improve our processes.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges is balancing the needs of different people at the same time. A student may have certain expectations, while a host organization has its own requirements and the university may have additional criteria.
I try to overcome this by communicating clearly, keeping good records, setting expectations early, and breaking complicated situations into manageable steps. I've also learned that flexibility is essential because things do not always go exactly according to plan, and understanding that helps me adapt to different situations.
What are some current projects you are working on?
A lot of my current work involves supporting and improving how we match students with internship opportunities and how we guide them through the program.
This includes helping coordinate communication between students and host organizations, contributing to clearer information about placements, and assisting with onboarding and general program organization.
I also help maintain relationships with partner organizations and look for new opportunities that align well with student interests and learning goals.
Why should someone choose VAC Internships Cape Town over competitors?
I think what makes us different is the way we stay present with people throughout the experience. It’s not just about arranging a placement and stepping back; it’s about listening to what someone hopes to get out of it, matching them thoughtfully, and then being around to check in and support as things unfold. That ongoing involvement means students don’t feel like they’re navigating everything alone, and local partners feel like they have someone alongside them too. I’ve seen how much of a difference that presence makes.
For example, when a student feels uncertain in their first week, having someone to talk things through with can change the whole tone of their experience. Instead of feeling isolated, they feel guided and supported, which helps them settle in and focus on learning.
On the other side, local organizations often tell me how reassuring it is to know they’re not left to manage everything alone, that there’s someone helping to keep the relationship balanced and productive. And honestly, if I were ever to take on a study abroad initiative myself, I would want this kind of structure in place to help me navigate such a big change.
Having that mix of independence and support makes the difference between just getting through an experience and truly growing from it.
What is VAC Internships Cape Town's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
It’s about creating experiences where students can grow professionally while also being fully immersed in a new cultural environment. The focus is on bringing together international students and local organizations, businesses, and community initiatives in a way that allows both sides to benefit from the exchange.
In my role, I help shape those connections, thinking carefully about fit, supporting the matching process, and staying involved as those relationships develop throughout the program so that the experience feels meaningful and well-supported for everyone involved.
And what I enjoy most is seeing those connections turn into lasting relationships that continue long after the program ends
What makes VAC Internships Cape Town special?
I think the combination of professional experience, cultural immersion, and personal support makes VACorps special. Students aren't simply placed into a workplace and left to figure things out.
We are here in Cape Town, which allows us to understand the local context and respond when students or host organizations need support. There is also a lot of flexibility in the program, which allows placements to be tailored to individual interests and goals.
What hopes do you have for the future for VAC Internships Cape Town?
When I think about the future, my hope is that the organization continues to be a place where students feel both challenged and supported. I’d love to see us deepen our partnerships with local businesses and community initiatives so that the exchanges feel even more impactful on both sides.
I also hope we keep finding creative ways to make students feel at home while they’re navigating the big changes that come with living and working abroad.
For me, the dream is that every student leaves not only with professional growth but also with a sense of belonging and connection that stays with them long after the program ends.
Are there any developments with VAC Internships Cape Town that you would like to share with us?
One development I’d like to share is how we’ve been focusing on improving our systems. for instance, constantly looking for new ways to support students once they’re here, whether that’s through more structured check‑ins, cultural activities, or simply creating space for them to reflect on their experiences.
For me, the most exciting part is seeing how these small changes add up to a bigger impact, where students leave feeling not only more skilled but also more connected to the community they’ve been part of.
What makes VAC Internships Cape Town easy to market to potential participants?
Cape Town itself is a huge part of the appeal. Students can gain professional experience while living in a city with incredible natural beauty, history, culture, and diversity.
Beyond that, VAC offers flexibility in placements, meaning students aren't restricted to one standard internship experience. We can look at their interests, skills, academic background, and goals and work toward finding an opportunity that is genuinely relevant to them.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hope participants leave with more than just something to put on their CV. I want them to become more adaptable, independent, culturally aware, and confident in unfamiliar environments. Ideally, they return home with a better understanding of South Africa and its people, but also with a greater understanding of themselves, their strengths, assumptions, interests, and the kind of work they want to pursue.
My hope is that the experience gives them perspective they can carry into whatever comes next, whether that’s further studies, a career path, or simply how they choose to engage with the world around them. I want them to feel that they’ve grown not only professionally, but personally, that they’ve learned how to navigate challenges, connect across cultures, and reflect on what matters to them.
If they leave with a sense of confidence, curiosity, and gratitude, then I think the experience has truly done its job.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
I recently had this exact conversation with one of our interns. I asked her what her favorite part about traveling was, and she shared that being in South Africa exposed her to realities she had never encountered at home. It made her more grounded, more reflective about certain lived experiences, and more grateful for things she had once taken for granted.
That conversation reminded me how travel can challenge assumptions we don’t even realize we hold. When you live somewhere rather than just visiting as a tourist, you start to see that your way of doing things isn’t the only way. You notice small differences in daily life, and those differences can spark empathy, adaptability, curiosity, and independence.
For me, those lessons are hard to replicate in a classroom because they come from actually navigating unfamiliar situations and relationships. They come from moments of discomfort, from asking questions, and from learning to see the world through someone else’s eyes.
And that’s what makes these experiences so powerful, they shape not just what you know, but how you grow and interact with the world and its people.
How do you help support participants?
We support participants throughout the program rather than only at the beginning. This includes helping with internship placements, providing an orientation/onboarding week to help interns step into their new lifestyle, introductions to host organizations, onboarding, fun get-together program activities, orientation, and ongoing communication.
If a student has a concern about their placement or needs help navigating something, we are available to help communicate with the relevant people and find a practical way forward.
If you could participate on one of VAC Internships Cape Town's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
I would choose a program that allowed me to combine community engagement with something more practical or research-oriented. I would particularly enjoy working with a local community where I could contribute to improving systems or developing a project while also learning about the community and the issues it works with. I think that combination of hands-on work and cultural learning would be incredibly valuable.
What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?
Participants often ask me practical questions at first, things like what their day‑to‑day schedule will look like, how placements are chosen, or what kind of support they’ll have once they arrive. I usually respond by walking them through the process step by step, making sure they understand that we don’t just match them randomly but take time to learn about their interests and goals.
As they settle in, the questions shift. Sometimes they ask about how to navigate cultural differences, or how to make the most of their time outside of work. My response there is more personal; I encourage them to stay curious, to ask questions, and to see challenges as part of the learning.
What I’ve noticed is that underneath all the questions, what people really want to know is: Will I be supported? And my answer is always yes. I remind them that we’re present throughout the experience, not just at the beginning, so they don’t have to figure everything out alone.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
From my own experience, I’ve come to see how language creates unity, community, and belonging. I grew up speaking French and later learned English, but for a long time I never really gave myself credit for that.
Working here exposed me to so many different people and languages, and I found myself eager to learn even just a few words from each. Every time I tried to say something in someone’s native language, I noticed this spark in their eyes; it was like a moment of nostalgia or familiarity in an unfamiliar environment, and it fascinated me.
Learning another language, even just a handful of phrases, is one of the simplest ways to show respect for another culture. It changes the way you interact with people because it shows you’re willing to meet them halfway.
And beyond communication, language gives you a window into how people think, how they connect, and how they see the world. You don’t have to be fluent to benefit; the process itself teaches humility, curiosity, and openness.
For me, those small exchanges have been some of the most meaningful parts of this work. They remind me that connection often starts with something as simple as a word, and from there it can grow into understanding, empathy, and trust
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means going beyond simply seeing a place and actually engaging with it. It’s about slowing down enough to learn the history and culture, interacting respectfully with local people, and being conscious of the impact you have as a visitor.
For an international internship, I think it also means contributing something useful while recognizing that you are there primarily to learn. The best experiences are reciprocal: you gain knowledge and perspective while respecting and contributing to the community hosting you.
I’ve seen how valuable that reciprocity can be; students often arrive thinking mostly about what they’ll achieve professionally, but they leave talking about the relationships they built, the lessons they learned from everyday interactions, and the ways they grew personally.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
Do your preparation, but don't try to plan every single moment. Research where you're going, understand the cultural differences, ask questions, and make sure you have a support system.
At the same time, leave room for unexpected experiences. Some of the best parts of going abroad are the things you couldn't have planned.
Most importantly, go with an open mind and be willing to learn rather than expecting your new environment to work exactly like home.
What issues do you see in the world of international education that don't line up with your values and expectations for mutually beneficial & educational relationships between providers/programs and the communities in which they are located within?
I think international education becomes problematic when the experience is designed primarily around what the international participant wants to gain, without considering what the host community or organization gains in return.
There can also be a tendency to treat communities as something to ‘experience’ rather than places where people live and work. For me, the heart of these programs should be about reciprocity and respect. That means prioritizing genuine relationships, setting realistic expectations, and recognizing that meaningful contributions come from listening and learning first.
Too often, there’s an assumption that international participants are automatically there to ‘help,’ but real impact comes when they approach the experience with humility, acknowledging that local knowledge and expertise are just as valuable, if not more so, than what they bring.
I’ve seen how powerful it can be when participants shift their mindset from ‘What can I achieve here?’ to ‘What can I learn, and how can I contribute in a way that feels useful to the community?’ That shift creates space for deeper connections, mutual growth, and experiences that feel authentic rather than transactional.
Ultimately, I believe international education should be about building bridges, where students gain perspective and skills, and communities feel respected and enriched by the exchange. When both sides walk away with something meaningful, that’s when the experience truly works.
What does ethical global engagement mean to you?
Ethical global engagement means approaching another community with humility and respect. It means recognizing that you are not arriving with all the answers and that local people understand their own communities better than an outside participant does.
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
International education has enormous potential to change how people understand the world, but I think that potential is strongest when students are encouraged to listen, question their assumptions, and build relationships rather than simply consume an experience.
What qualities in program & host community relations are important to you? (And your organization?)
Trust, communication, respect, flexibility, and clear expectations are probably the most important qualities. A successful relationship requires both sides to understand what they are committing to and what they hope to gain. The strongest relationships are ones where everyone feels heard and respected.
