South African Human Rights Internships

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.

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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.

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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.

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Interning at a public interest legal organization in Cape Town gave me a new perspective on how human rights law can be used to champion real change. Simple things many of us take for granted, such as access to water or housing, are not guaranteed for millions of people. Through this experience, I saw how dedicated professionals use the law to advocate for communities and work toward meaningful, tangible change. Cape Town is a unique place, with vibrant cultures and always something new to learn. I stayed for 90 days and wished I could stay longer. The people are amazing and the nature is incredible, not to mention the deep history of South Africa and how it has shaped the world we live in today. I am very grateful for the VAC internship placement and the orientation resources that helped me begin this journey. It is truly an experience I will never forget. I especially enjoyed researching the public housing system and how it is funded. The research we conducted from education to climate change showed me how important strong research is in building cases for the future. It reinforced how research forms the foundation for meaningful and lasting change.

Interning at a human rights research NGO in Cape Town was an incredibly rewarding experience. I chose Cape Town because I wanted to gain real-world experience in human rights, and South Africa—given its rich constitutional framework and history of social justice—was the perfect place to do that. During my internship, I engaged in meaningful research, particularly on children’s rights, a field I’m deeply passionate about. After completing some foundational tasks, I was invited to contribute to one of the NGO’s official publications. This was a significant milestone for me, as it aligned with my goal of engaging in policy-relevant writing. I’m grateful for the trust placed in me and approached this opportunity with the same care and commitment I brought to the rest of my work. Being surrounded by professionals dedicated to advocacy and policy reform was inspiring and gave me a deeper understanding of how law and development intersect to promote human dignity, equity, and justice. Outside of work, Cape Town truly stole my heart. I’ll never forget seeing the African penguins at Simon’s Town, hiking to Cape Point with fellow interns, and going on a weekend safari that felt like stepping into a dream. These shared adventures created memories and friendships I’ll cherish for life. The VACorps staff were phenomenal—always supportive, approachable, and genuinely committed to creating a meaningful experience for each intern. The weekly activities were not only fun but also helped us better understand South Africa’s history and culture. I’m especially grateful for the community that VACorps fosters. Having that support system made a huge difference, both professionally and personally. Thank you, VACorps, for an unforgettable journey. I’m leaving Cape Town with new perspectives and a renewed passion for human rights work.

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Interning at a human rights research NGO in Cape Town was an incredibly rewarding experience. I chose Cape Town because I wanted to gain real-world experience in human rights, and South Africa—given its rich constitutional framework and history of social justice—was the perfect place to do that. During my internship, I engaged in meaningful research, particularly on children’s rights, a field I’m deeply passionate about. After completing some foundational tasks, I was invited to contribute to one of the NGO’s official publications. This was a significant milestone for me, as it aligned with my goal of engaging in policy-relevant writing. I’m grateful for the trust placed in me and approached this opportunity with the same care and commitment I brought to the rest of my work. Being surrounded by professionals dedicated to advocacy and policy reform was inspiring and gave me a deeper understanding of how law and development intersect to promote human dignity, equity, and justice. Outside of work, Cape Town truly stole my heart. I’ll never forget seeing the African penguins at Simon’s Town, hiking to Cape Point with fellow interns, and going on a weekend safari that felt like stepping into a dream. These shared adventures created memories and friendships I’ll cherish for life. The VACorps staff were phenomenal—always supportive, approachable, and genuinely committed to creating a meaningful experience for each intern. The weekly activities were not only fun but also helped us better understand South Africa’s history and culture. I’m especially grateful for the community that VACorps fosters. Having that support system made a huge difference, both professionally and personally. Thank you, VACorps, for an unforgettable journey. I’m leaving Cape Town with new perspectives and a renewed passion for human rights work.

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Cape Town was a beautiful experience that has provided me with so many cherished memories I will desperately clinging to. I wanted to intern here because I felt that it would be the perfect place to learn about human rights law and it proved to be more than I had imagined. Cape Town has such a rich history with so many museums, organizations, and other avenues to learn more about it. I learned so much at my internship at the Dullah Omar Institute for constitutional law and human rights. I was also able to volunteer at a community organization which was one of my favorite aspects of this experience. I have fallen so in love with Cape Town, the beautiful nature, the art, and the friends I have met.

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I am very happy with my decision to come to Cape Town for my first internship experience within the field of human rights and public interest law. My decision was based on several reasons, but the main one was that the work being done in South Africa in the field of human rights was very inspiring to me. I felt this was the perfect place to observe how human rights issues were being addressed within an organization. Doing an internship in Cape Town with the human rights law internship allowed me to experience the type of work attorneys and candidate attorneys were involved in. I am very grateful for the opportunity to contribute, even in a small way, through the research, notes, and tasks assigned to me within the organization. One of the most valuable experiences for me at the human rights law internship was getting to know the people who worked there and hearing their experiences. I also appreciated the chance to visit schools in different areas of Cape Town to understand the variations within the school systems. The organization had a very welcoming environment; everyone was open to talking with and getting to know the interns and allowed us to be part of their work. This was a great experience, and I would definitely recommend future interns take the opportunity to work there. Living in Cape Town was also a wonderful experience. I met many amazing people and formed friendships that I believe will last a lifetime. I will miss everyone and the vibrant atmosphere that Cape Town offered. I stayed in Cape Town for about five weeks, and although I managed to experience many events, places, and cultures within the city, I would recommend future interns stay a bit longer to fully explore and enjoy everything they want to, as time flies by quickly! The weekly activities offered by VACorps included a wide range of experiences, from surfing and visiting Seal Island to hiking and wine tasting. Combined with cultural nights where we learned about South African traditions such as beaded jewelry, food, and films, these experiences allowed me to get to know Cape Town in a way that I wouldn’t have been able to by just visiting as a tourist. I am grateful to the VACorps staff for being kind, fun, and welcoming, and for introducing me to amazing people and the city of Cape Town. I will never forget this experience!

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I came to Cape Town, leaving Europe for the first time on my own. I stayed here for a little more than two months, interning for the Human Rights Consultant. My internship was remote, which enabled me to explore the city and the Cape region, giving me glimpses of its beautiful nature, cultural diversity, and the many charming cafés that Observatory is home to. During my internship, I worked on human rights-related issues. Staying in South Africa offered me a unique perspective, as it is the country with the highest inequality in the world, which is visible in Cape Town where the very richest live next to people who have nothing. What I really appreciated about my internship is that I worked on issues which I could actually witness here, offering me more practical perspectives. I had the opportunity to write various assessments and reports. One that particularly stuck with me was a response to the UN regarding what is missing concerning their global governance program of AI with a focus on the Global South, which I collaborated on with the other interns working for Kelly. Cape Town is a beautiful city with so much to explore, and two months have almost not been enough. There are so many beaches to visit, mountains to climb, animals to see, foods to try, and cultures and histories to learn about. During the orientation week, VACorps took us to the township Khayelitsha, where locals gave us a tour, offering us insight into life in the township. Through weekly cultural sessions and a self-planned trip to Robben Island, I had the opportunity to learn more about South Africa's history and cultures. As I prepare to return home, what I will miss most are the gorgeous natural surroundings of the city, the many sunny days, and the beautiful people that I have met on my journey. VACorps offered me a perfect mix of structure, support and freedom, providing many opportunities to connect with other people, explore the city together, and a team of incredible support staff on which I always felt I could rely.

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I came to Cape Town, leaving Europe for the first time on my own. I stayed here for a little more than two months, interning for the Human Rights Consultant. My internship was remote, which enabled me to explore the city and the Cape region, giving me glimpses of its beautiful nature, cultural diversity, and the many charming cafés that Observatory is home to. During my internship, I worked on human rights-related issues. Staying in South Africa offered me a unique perspective, as it is the country with the highest inequality in the world, which is visible in Cape Town where the very richest live next to people who have nothing. What I really appreciated about my internship is that I worked on issues which I could actually witness here, offering me more practical perspectives. I had the opportunity to write various assessments and reports. One that particularly stuck with me was a response to the UN regarding what is missing concerning their global governance program of AI with a focus on the Global South, which I collaborated on with the other interns working for Kelly. Cape Town is a beautiful city with so much to explore, and two months have almost not been enough. There are so many beaches to visit, mountains to climb, animals to see, foods to try, and cultures and histories to learn about. During the orientation week, VACorps took us to the township Khayelitsha, where locals gave us a tour, offering us insight into life in the township. Through weekly cultural sessions and a self-planned trip to Robben Island, I had the opportunity to learn more about South Africa's history and cultures. As I prepare to return home, what I will miss most are the gorgeous natural surroundings of the city, the many sunny days, and the beautiful people that I have met on my journey. VACorps offered me a perfect mix of structure, support and freedom, providing many opportunities to connect with other people, explore the city together, and a team of incredible support staff on which I always felt I could rely.

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Cape Town was my dream internship destination because of its natural beauty and unique history. As a Human Rights intern, being able to study injustice in a country that has significant economic and racial inequality has been conducive to my understanding of human rights on a global level. I interned for Dr. Kelly Stone, a human rights lawyer and consultant, and was able to assist her in projects concerning the reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals, women in policing, and the governance of AI. These projects spanned a wide variety of topics and addressed different skill sets to give me a sense of the day-to-day of human rights work in South Africa and abroad. My internship has been invaluable to my personal development, as well as to ascertaining what I will study in university. Besides my internship, Cape Town’s diversity and beauty have allowed me to dive into a new culture and absorb a new way of life. What I have learned from exploring the city has given me just as much as my internship. Exploring Khayelitsha during orientation week, planning my own trip to Robben Island, and attending the weekly culture series led by VACorps has added to my understanding of South Africa’s past and present. Some of my other Cape Town favorites include Sonder Café, Clifton 4th beach, the Old Biscuit Mill market, the Oranjezicht City Farm Market, Groot Constantia, and Ferdinando’s Pizza. Cape Town is a beautiful city with so much culture to absorb, history to learn from, and fun to have!

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I had an amazing experience with VACorps! The staff are incredibly welcoming and inclusive and I immediately felt at home once I arrived. They plan fantastic activities and join in, which is the best part about the Friday adventures. VACorps helped our intern group explore Cape Town and the surrounding area much more in-depth than we would've been able to had we come alone. I am so thankful that I was matched with such an amazing internship human rights internship; I learned a lot about myself, South Africa, and what a career in the human rights sector might look like. I am most grateful for the people I met here through VACorps as I now have friends all around the world and the USA, and I am incredibly grateful for what I was able to learn while working for an NGO in a country with a culture so different than my own.

I had a wonderful time during my summer in Cape Town! I learned a great deal at my human rights internship, and I really enjoyed taking initiative and managing my own time. I did a lot of research on artificial intelligence, and I learned how to research more effectively and became less afraid to really dig into big, overwhelming topics like AI. While I can’t even count the amount of life-changing memories I made on this trip, some of my favorite memories include going on the garden route tour (from being able to hug elephants to bungee jumping!), bonding with the other VA Corp interns, swimming in the beautiful ocean, joining the reading club on Saturdays, and eating the amazing foods in Cape Town. I will miss how friendly and easy-going the culture is in South Africa, among many things. I thought the weekly activities were all really nice, and Kholi and Kus were such lovely people and so fun to hang out with. I am so deeply grateful for this experience.

I chose to come to Cape Town because my university was offering a global internship program in South Africa that partnered with VACorps. In the summer between my junior and senior year of college, I wanted to participate in a human rights law internship and also wanted to get experience living abroad. I did not know much about South Africa before arriving in Cape Town, but I soon learned just how beautiful and rich in culture the country is. Though it was nerve-racking to travel alone to a foreign country halfway across the world, the VACorps staff made me feel at home right away. Everyone at VACorps is extremely friendly and approachable. I felt comfortable coming to them with any questions and problems I encountered throughout my stay. Everyone has been eager to help us have the best possible experience. Though I love my moms, I will miss Kholi and Kus's motherly energy when I get back to the US! My 2-month long human rights law internship was incredible. I got to dive into human rights research and law from a new perspective. It was very interesting to explore South African political dynamics and compare them to what I know about the dynamics in America. My supervisor introduced me to new ways to conduct research and critically analyze academic sources. I will always be grateful for my experience at my internship site and will carry the skills with me into my professional career. Two months was a perfect amount of time for me. I was able to explore multiple different projects in my internship and form connections with people I would otherwise have never met. The weekly activities were an incredible way to learn more about South African culture and to meet other interns in the VACorps program. In these activities, I learned traditional dances, the South African national anthem, and the history of different cultures in the country. VAC also helped connect me with different activities and experiences across South Africa. My favorite weekend here was when my house of interns went on The Garden Route Tour. We got to go on a safari, walk with elephants, and jump off the world's highest bungee bridge. It was a truly unforgettable experience. I got to do so many things in Cape Town that I never thought I would get to do in my life.

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When I was looking for a program to do for the first chunk of my gap year, I knew I wanted to go someplace interesting, do something engaging, and grow as an individual. VACorps has facilitated the chance for me to do that all x100. Throughout my time in Cape Town I have learned so much about my field of interest (Human Rights), my hobbies (turns out I LOVE early morning Atlantic swims), and myself. I came to Cape Town for three months (just under 12 weeks total) and have had the most amazing time. As someone who had been to Cape Town briefly before, I really came for the internship but had the joy of exploring the aspects of the city I hadn't seen before. Three months was the perfect time for me. I did everything I wanted (pro tip: ask the departing interns for a list of what they enjoyed most, which became my Cape Town bucket list), and had my remaining few weeks to revisit my favorite places. Exploring the markets, venturing up the mountains, and trying every type of food imaginable has been the greatest adventure. Beyond simply being in Cape Town, I loved the balance that VACorps provides. It is so great to live with a group of interns while still having my own work to go to every day and the independence of creating my own experience. The whole-group meet-ups ~2x a week are a great way to get to continue getting to know your peers and exploring the city but don't confine yourself by taking up too much time. We have the freedom to participate in the VACorps program when we want, and also have our own experiences when we want. Additionally, the VACorps staff is incredible. Simply having someone to call is always reassuring, but the lengths Kus and Kholi and everyone on the team go through to ensure we are having a good time is wonderful (they're also just super fun to hang out with - and have photoshoots with ;) ). I am going to miss all the adventures and laughter greatly. Overall, VAC has been one of the most liberating, engaging, and enjoyable times of my life, and I am so grateful to everyone here who made it so great. Obz is my home, and I can't wait to come back and visit again sometime soon!

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I did a remote internship with a human rights organization based in Cape Town and had an amazing experience. I did not necessarily think that my internship would be based out of Cape Town, or South Africa for that matter. However, I have always been interested in learning more about the social, cultural, and political aspects of the African Continent. What better way to broaden my horizons than choosing to intern with a human rights group in South Africa? Although at times it was hard (i.e. time difference) to communicate with staff/volunteers in Africa Unite, it got much easier as I progressed through my internship. You really can effectively work with people that are dispersed throughout the world. I liked that I was able to take on many challenging projects during the day, knowing that I could relax in the evening hanging with friends/family in the community in which I grew up. I do hope to actually travel to South Africa in the future, it would be nice to actually get to shake the hands of the people I was fortunate to work with. There were two major things that I took away from my experience. First, time management is key. I have for the most part been able to get tasks done, but this internship further taught me to hone in on those skills. Second, the ability to communicate is paramount. I initially had a hard time understanding those that I worked with. However, I pushed myself and did not hesitate to ask people to restate what they said if it was necessary. My favorite project was organizing a webinar, asking experts and human rights organizations based out of Mozambique to talk about the current crisis the country is experiencing. I would like to thank VACorps for coordinating with my internship site to give me such a fantastic experience!

I started my internship with VACorps remotely (due to difficulties traveling Coronavirus) for four months before moving on-site to complete my work. I was interning with the human rights program helping to deliver domestic violence prevention programs. Initially, I chose to intern in Cape Town with VACorps due to the relevancy of the project with my career goals (in this regard, my placement was superb) and the exciting opportunity to travel and be immersed in another culture and way of life. I really enjoyed my project and felt like I was listened to, well supported, and allowed to explore the projects that helped me reach my internship goals. What I was not expecting was the amazing activities and culture series that VACorps provided. They were a really nice way to get to do some fun activities and explore the beautiful sites that Cape Town has to offer. Kholi, Kuselwa, and Leanne at VACorps were very supportive and did their best to make sure that everyone felt happy and comfortable. I really appreciated their help and friendship upon arrival in Cape Town, meeting them was a very warm welcome to town. I did the Xhosa lessons with Kholi, which I would highly recommend. She gave me a really nice understanding of the language in a fun and thoughtful way. All in all, I loved my time in Cape Town. The internship was everything I had hoped for and I believe it will help to kick off my career. Cape Town is truly beautiful and has something for everyone to explore, with beautiful hiking, beaches, and loads of interesting history. The local people and staff at VACorps are super friendly and make you feel right at home. I'd highly recommend this internship program!

I chose this internship because I was excited at the prospect of engaging with a human rights program in South Africa. I wanted to learn more about South African culture, as well as develop the skills necessary to succeed working with an organization in another country. From this experience, I learned a lot not only from my check-ins with my internship supervisor but also from my country hosts. Their flexibility and understanding helped me to still learn and engage with the culture, even though my work schedule interfered with the biweekly cultural series meetings. I am very thankful for all of those who provided me with support through this program so I could gain the most from this opportunity. My confidence in research and building training grew with this internship. I also discovered new ways to maximize my personal productivity while still enjoying and learning from the material.

I chose to do a remote internship with VACorps as a pre-cursor to coming to South Africa. During the three months, I learned a lot about the culture and the people. This was possible due to the weekly remote interactions and video calls and I would not be as knowledgeable coming to Cape Town if I didn’t get the opportunity to understand more about the country I am going to travel to. I loved the intimate buddy calls - I could ask anything I wanted to know more about and I felt welcomed without actually having stepped a foot on the ground yet. As a Human Rights Intern, I was under the supervision of Kelly and Simon. They were wonderful mentors and gave me the freedom to work flexibly and at my own pace. Their warm personalities aided in my remote experience and I look forward to meeting with them in person. I would highly recommend an initial remote internship experience to others wishing to go to South Africa - coming from a completely different society and culture, it made my understanding of the people and country more fulfilling and it eases the transition into going to Cape Town in person. As a recently graduated Masters student, I was still in the mind-frame of being the student/learner. It took me the whole three months to get out of that mind-frame. It was difficult to get a perception of what was needed of me when I didn’t have a real-life understanding of what was expected of me. However, I feel that now, once I reach Cape Town, I will be able to provide my knowledge and know-how in a more realistic and tangible way. I feel that this remote internship experience had a HUGE impact on my self-esteem and made me realise that I have more potential than I thought I had. I felt that this remote experience was necessary for my in-country experience in the next few months.

I was in the midst of looking for an internship for quite sometime. I was narrowing down my choices when COVID-19 hit and all of my options were suddenly gone. I got an email about an virtual internship abroad and was immediately interested. I chose South Africa because I was very passionate about the organization I would be working for which involves human rights. I really enjoyed the internship work itself as well as the cultural workshops and buddy chats with the VACorps team in South Africa. I can confidently say I learned a lot and even made a new friend. I will miss video chatting every week the most and also communicating with my advisors every day.