Occupational Therapy Internships in South Africa

I chose to do my internship abroad in Cape Town to challenge myself and gain cultural exposure while building my personal and professional skills as a counselor. One of my main goals was to work with large groups, and I’m grateful for the opportunity I had to do so. I was able to improve in areas where I felt less confident, such as speaking up and taking on leadership roles, especially outside of my comfort zone. Initially, I felt reserved and nervous about expressing myself, but I appreciated how I was constantly encouraged to share my thoughts. I always felt free to ask questions or seek help from the entire staff. During my first month, I struggled with homesickness, but everyone was incredibly supportive. The staff communicated with me in ways that boosted my confidence and made me feel like a valued part of the team. They also helped me meet all my school requirements by signing off on paperwork and meeting with me monthly. I achieved another goal by observing professionals in various roles within my field, such as occupational therapists, psychologists, and nurses. The diverse experiences I gained exceeded my expectations, and I formed lifelong relationships along the way. I am beyond grateful for everything I learned and for the genuine support and love I received. Even after my internship ended, I’ve been visiting the site at least every other week because I love it so much! ? My journey here was more enriching than I could have ever imagined. The sense of belonging I felt was the best part of the trip—being so far from home yet comforted by warm, smiling faces in every interaction made it truly feel like I had a family here. I also enjoyed the weekly cultural series and the open conversations about various topics and issues. Originally, I planned to stay for three months, but I ended up extending my stay to six because I fell in love with the people of Cape Town. What I will miss most are the beautiful beaches, mountains, friendly faces, and delicious food.

VACorps provides their interns with amazing adventures and loving attitudes. The first week for orientation was my favorite time, building relationships with other interns and the staff was wonderful. I enjoyed all the experiences I attended that VAC curated and facilitated for us. Our amazing hosts, Kholi and Kus, always made the excursions more exciting and comfortable. There are so many opportunities to learn about South African culture and places to explore with VAC with their culture nights and weekly excursions. The internship VAC was able to connect me with was truly wonderful. I am so grateful to have experienced such a wonderful institution and to have been able to give back to the community with the services I provided. I am an Occupational Therapy student and I interned at an intermediate care practice for children with chronic illness and disabilities. I fell in love with the kids and the staff as they were the most welcoming and warm hearted people I have ever met. What I truly loved about the site is that they prided themselves on always greeting each other throughout the facility, no matter who you were. It allowed all of us who were new to greet others even if we didn’t know each other, provided comfort in knowing it was a safe space. After 2 months I felt as if I was a staff member of the institution, walking the halls, greeting everyone, hugging the kids, I felt at home. One nurse saw me as I was making my usual rounds and she said to me, “you look like you belong here, I hope you stay”. At that moment I realized this internship will come to an end and I was hit with a wave of grief. I have felt such intense emotions since I arrived in Cape Town, now that my time has ended I am filled with intense emotions once again. For this entire experience I am truly grateful and humbled and appreciate all the support I was provided from VAC and my internship site. I highly recommend VAC to anyone who is interested in exploring Cape Town and has an interest in giving back to communities. Thank you VAC for everything, you hold a special place in my heart. Until next time, cheers ?

I spent 2 months interning in Cape Town to complete a fieldwork placement for my Occupational Therapy degree. I chose Cape Town as it fit the requirements of my university for an international placement, but also because of the amazing weather and how many things there are to do here in the evening/weekends! I was placed at a residential facility for adults with intellectual disabilities, which was definitely out of my comfort zone, but it has done so much for my confidence to challenge myself, and I have loved the experience! My supervisor and everyone at my internship site were so welcoming, and I had the opportunity to help out with birthdays and Valentine's Day celebrations, as well as shopping trips with the residents, and the daily running of the therapy program. I am really sad to be going home - I will miss how friendly everyone in Cape Town is, as well as being able to go to the beach or hiking within a 10-minute drive! The VAC team was great at supporting me to find my internship, especially as my university had strict requirements and timeframes, and it was great to know there was always someone to help if I had any issues or questions in Cape Town. Thank you so much VACorps for such an amazing experience!!

Interning in Cape Town for 2 months was the best decision of my life and I wished that I could extend my stay longer! After graduating from university with a BA Hons in Social Work I wanted the opportunity to travel whilst gaining more experience within another field that aligned with my social work values and skill set. VACorps placed me at a site where I was able to intern as an Occupational Therapist Assistant Manager. During this time I was able to build upon my managerial, professional and personal development. This was achieved by working with a range of adults with learning disabilities and facilitating sessions, whilst maintaining a person-centered approach. Travelling to South Africa alone seemed so daunting at first but I quickly become settled and am grateful for the easy transition when arriving. I cannot thank the program enough for the amount of support and guidance they have provided throughout my whole stay, they have been so accommodating and welcoming. By providing weekly activities, gave opportunities for the other interns to bond and make lifelong friends but also get to know the team on a personable level. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in South Africa and challenged myself to try things outside of my comfort zone including hiking, bungee jumping from the largest bridge, zip-lining, walking with elephants, and hosting our first South African "braai"! I am so thankful for the memories made and those I was able to share them with. I would highly recommend VACorps to anyone who wants to work abroad with the support of a wonderful team behind them.

I came to South Africa because I wanted an opportunity to learn about occupational therapy in a context outside of the United States to see the similarities and differences of our scope of practice in another culture. I also wanted to learn how to provide care in a setting with different resources than I am used to so I can push myself, grow my skillset, and gain an outside perspective. Plus, South Africa seemed like such a beautiful, diverse country-what a perfect place to learn! I've been interning in the occupational therapy department a a children's hospital, primarily in the neurology and neurosurgery wards, providing treatment to children with traumatic brain injuries and other neurologic conditions.I've also seen patients in the outpatient (day) clinic ranging from children with severe burns to children with Autism or developmental delays. Working here has really taught me about healthcare in another context and helped me learn how to provide the best care possible while navigating differences in culture, language, or resources. Outside of work, I have absolutely loved Cape Town! I will never forget all of the beautiful views, wonderful people, and delicious food! I loved all there was to do! I explored so many markets, hikes, beaches, and I feel like I barely scratched the surface! It was always fun to have a weekly outing coordinated by VACorps as well. It was a fun way to see different areas with other interns. VACorps provided excellent support the entire time I was here, and I was amazed how quickly I felt at home. Two and a half months certainly flew by, and I know that I will be back for more soon!

Before arriving in Cape Town, I planned out in my head step by step what to do when going through security and how to find my gate in the airports. I tend to plan out my days to the seconds. This image played through my head for weeks. Once arriving in Cape Town and being dropped off by Carmen (my advisor) at my home for the next seven weeks, I sat on my bed and had no idea what to do next. I remember having a feeling of being alone and lost, thinking I should have put more thought in my actual time in Cape Town asides from my arrival. Thankfully the next day was orientation and there, I met my best friends. I do not use that term lightly either. These girls quickly became my safe haven, they were genuine, adventurous, and loved me so well during my time in Cape Town. I learned the importance of having a community, especially when being pushed outside of my comfort zone. On the other hand, I received a better understanding of what it was like to spend alone time, as crazy as that sounds. I am a social bird and never take the time for myself. Cape Town challenged me in this way. It was the best opportunity for me to grow. I would also like to mention my internship as it brought me a lot of joy during my trip. I got the chance to intern under an Occupational Therapist at the Open Circle in Maitland. This is a home for adults with disabilities. I was able to learn how to assess and treat a resident, create purposeful activities, and hold individual OT sessions. My work was another area in which I personally grew because every day I was challenged to ask questions, be real, and be involved. I never thought a workplace could be so enjoyable and one of the hardest goodbyes. Coming from the girl that asked if Cape Town had coffee before arriving, you can say I was culture shocked at the beauty and development of this city. I absolutely fell in love with Cape Town. I will never forget the love, kindness, and courage Cape Town brought to my life. Join the VAC family, you will not regret it!

I chose Cape Town because I always wanted to come to South Africa. I knew that Occupational therapy is quite developed in South Africa and my expectations became true. I learned a lot during my time in Cape town about my work and about myself. I really appreciated how VAC and my colleges at my internship site welcomed me. It was good to know, that VAC would always support me whenever needed and I am very grateful for that. Cape Town is a wonderful city to explore and I definitely never felt bored. I enjoyed the weekly activities and tried to join every time. I stayed for 3 months which was a good amount of time for me. I will miss my flatmates at '3 Bishop' because I became friends with all of them and we spent a lot of time together.

When I saw that VACorps offered psychology internships in Cape Town I didn’t hesitate to apply. South Africa and especially Cape Town have been on my travel-wishlist for a while and the opportunity to live and work here seemed like a great opportunity to me. The application process was easy and quick, a day after my application I had already had my first phone call and things were falling into place quickly. Cape Town is a very vibrant city and there’s always so a lot going on. I was never bored, and I always had plans about which adventure I wanted to go on next. I love how in Cape Town you find beautiful and calm places like the Kirstenbosch Gardens and nature reserves like Table Mountain, while just a quick ride away you can spend your time in a busy city. I stayed in Cape Town for 3 months and met so many nice people that I hope to stay in contact with. Many of us immediately bonded and we became like a big family going on hikes, adventures and to countless parties together. It took me some time to get adjusted to the South African lifestyle and even though I have been travelling quite a bit during the past years, I experienced more of a culture shock than I expected. South Africa isn’t comparable to any of the other countries I’ve been to, it sure is something special. It might take some time to get used to public transportation not being very reliable and spending up to an hour waiting at the train station for the train, or to get used to not being able to walk home alone at night and having to take an Uber anywhere – but after a bit of an adjustment period I think everyone would agree that Cape Town is a beautiful place to live. And it’s Africa after all, what better place to become a bit more relaxed about everyday things and not being stressed out all the time? I worked in a psychiatric hospital where I got to work and interact with various kinds of patients and staff, and I’ve learned a lot about psychotherapy and occupational therapy, things that I will happily take back home and use in my further career. My supervisor and the staff at my internship site were very helpful and always here for me whenever I needed something or wanted or needed to talk about something in particular. I really was a part of the team, as I was fully included in the daily work at the clinic. The VACorps staff is always there to help and they do such a great job in providing us with all the information we need and seek, and the trips and activities organized by VACorps have always been a highlight of my week. Driving to an unknown place on a bus filled with people you love has always sparked great feelings in me. The trips to Cederberg, the Garden Route and especially Mozambique have been absolutely stunning, and I will definitely not regret going on those amazing adventures. I think what I will miss the most is to see and do something new each weekend and the amazing people I have met during my time here in Cape Town. Anyone coming to Cape Town, come here with an open mind, be ready to face challenges, learn a lot about a foreign culture and prepare yourself to fall in love with a great city and its great people. You will not want to leave again! Coming to Cape Town and interning with VACorps has been absolutely great and I’m happy I chose to come here. An adventure of a lifetime!

I've always wanted to intern abroad as party of my college experience, so as soon as I came across the VAC website and saw that they offered Psychology internships I was interested. Cape Town with its rich history, diversity and beauty made it easy to convince me to actually go on this adventure. The whole process of applying and finding the right internship placement was very easy thanks to my amazing coordinator from VAC. I stayed for three months which was ideal and gave me enough time to fully immerse myself in the culture and my internship (I would have loved to stay longer though!). I worked at an adolescent psychiatric hospital and have gained a lot of experience, not only in psychology but also in psychiatry and occupational therapy, that I can use further in my career. The VAC staff was very supportive, professional and always open to help with any concerns or problems throughout my whole stay. The weekly activities were an awesome opportunity to connect to other people and make friends, while exploring not only Cape Town but also the surrounding areas. Especially the trips to Cederberg and Garden Route were stunning - definitely do it if you come here and have the chance to do it. The people here are some of the loveliest and nicest people you will ever meet. I highly recommend VAC if you want to do an internship in Cape Town and recommend staying as long as you can. I can't wait to return to Cape Town.

My time in South Africa has come to an end after 3 months, but it has been the most amazing experience of my life yet. I chose Cape Town because I thought coming here would be good to challenge myself and experience cultures different then what I commonly see in America. What I loved most were all the opportunities we had to explore the city and nature. The VAC activities brought you to such beautiful and fun places. There is so much to do here! Overall, I grew as an individual and have learned to be much more adaptable to different types of people and cultures, as well as more autonomous in my future profession as an occupational therapist. I will miss seeing Devils Peak every morning as I walk to Groote Schuur Hospital, but I won’t miss walking up the hill to get there ;)

I chose Cape Town as the place to intern abroad because I have always wanted to travel to Africa and this was the perfect opportunity to do so. I have loved living in Cape Town, specifically Observatory. There is so much to do here and my house was centrally located. Cape Town has stolen my heart; the people and the amazing views have given me so many opportunities to explore. I also truly enjoyed my internship. It was a wonderful place to work. My co-workers were so welcoming and taught me so much about caring for others. I could not imagine my time here without them. I was very nervous about working with the population at the home, but I as I worked there I got to know the residents and see their amazing abilities and how all of the staff there loved and improved the lives of the individuals. They always created a lively environment that made you feel welcome and at home. I would definitely recommend VACorps to other interns! If you are considering this program, I would recommend that you enjoy EVERY minute of your time at your internship because it goes by way too quickly. Also, you truly get out whatever you put into your internship, so put your heart into making a difference in these wonderful people's lives. The highlight of my internship was having the ability to learn from other Occupational Therapists, as well as work independently with my own patients. The program gives you the opportunity to work with many different individuals with varying disabilities, so you get to learn how to help them and how different activities help improve their functioning.

Woodside is a tight knit community that welcomes one and all. Both the staff and residents are kind and uplifting. As an OT, I was able to apply my knowledge and grow as a therapist. It was a wonderful place to spend my five week internship.