Internship in a World-Famous Cape Town Hospital

Hi, my name is Ritchie Bongers, a business student from Sittard, Netherlands. I came into contact through school with Nicky and Magister South Africa, and from the first online meeting until the end of my journey, it was an amazing experience. They helped me find the most incredible apartment and a dream internship at Groote Schuur Hospital’s Improvement Office alongside Garth Hankey, who is a world-class person—so smart and fun to work with. Besides the internship, Magister organized activities around Cape Town and even to Kruger. If you ever had questions or problems, Nicky was always there for you! One piece of advice: DO IT, best time of my life!

Due to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, I developed a bit of a connection with the country. I knew that if I ever had the opportunity to go to South Africa, I would seize that chance. For my studies, I had the opportunity from February to July 2022 to work on my mini-thesis in Cape Town. I still needed to find a suitable internship placement. For that, I enlisted the help of Magister. During a Skype conversation with Nicky, I discussed my interests with her. As a result, Nicky was able to arrange an internship for me at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. I worked in the Business Improvement team, focusing on process optimization within the hospital. In addition to helping me secure an internship, Magister also assisted with obtaining a visa and finding a fantastic accommodation. I regularly participated in various activities with other young people who came through Magister, such as hiking, kayaking, and also partying! Through these experiences, I also formed lasting friendships. I still meet up with my Dutch friends, whom I met in Cape Town, about once a month. Magister made this incredible experience possible for me, and for that, I am eternally grateful to Michael and Nicky from Magister!