VAC Internships Cape Town

I visited Cape Town before and fell in love and knew I would come back. I wanted to try living abroad for a short period of time, and the tech industry in South Africa is really developing, so I wanted to be part of that. I had an amazing process, to be honest. Rowan communicated every detail and took what I was looking for into consideration, so just keep up the good work. One of my personal goals was simple: I wanted a job and I got it. I really appreciated the internship placement, the support and knowing I could call VAC staff if I needed anything, the weekly activities, Culture Series, and VAC staff support. Orientation was very informative and fun. We were a small group, so it felt like chatting with friends. My advice for future interns is to have fun, learn, and try to enjoy every second. It goes by very quickly.

I was introduced to this opportunity through an alumnus of the program, which inspired me to pursue the internship. The hands-on exposure was invaluable, offering distinct practical insights that are rarely accessible in standard domestic tracks. This experience served as a powerful confirmation of my dedication to this field and my future career goals. I grew so much as a hopeful physician. I learned so many medical techniques and skills that have increased my knowledge tenfold. My advice for future interns is to be prepared to see some things you don’t expect to see back home. Make sure to take advantage of your time and show initiative. Collaborating and living with a proactive, adventurous cohort of peers added immense value to my time here, making the transition home bittersweet. Reflecting on my growth, my main takeaway is the importance of immediate proactivity. I am incredibly grateful to VAC for their stellar organizational support and the excellent weekly events they hosted.

I chose Cape Town for my place to intern abroad because I have been interested in South Africa and its history for a very long time. Additionally, because I am African American, I have always wanted to go to Africa and experience the land my ancestors were taken from. I decided to do my internship because I wanted to get real-world experience in my field as well as help people in need. In my internship, I worked in a legal clearing house helping to connect people needing free legal assistance with lawyers able to provide such assistance. In my time there, I became familiar with the legal system of South Africa and significantly bolstered my skills in administrative work and with people in general, making it a great experience overall. My role was to help with administrative work. I helped clients fill out paperwork and worked on their files. One of the personal goals I reached during my internship was becoming more independent and gaining real-world experience. I feel really good now that I have worked a real job in my field. My advice for future interns is to make sure you are good with people and are able to focus for long periods of time. This internship is valuable experience, but it feels like a real job. You are not just shadowing people, and there is a lot of reading and writing. I really appreciated the support and knowing I could call VAC staff if I needed anything, as well as the weekly activities and Culture Series. The orientation activities were the best and definitely gave me some positive memories I will never forget. The Friday meetups and Monday Culture Series were also super fun and enjoyable.

Photos

I had an amazing experience in Cape Town and really loved getting to live in the city and spend so much time here. I think four to six weeks is a great amount of time to fully experience everything, although staying longer would also be amazing if you have the opportunity. I especially loved my medical internship and am so grateful for everything I learned from it. It was such a unique experience getting to see a different healthcare environment and learn from so many incredible people. I enjoyed being hands-on with the patients and talking to the doctors. I also really enjoyed seeing how South African healthcare and training are different from the US. The organization provides free healthcare to people who really need it. For future interns, be prepared to handle blood and intense injuries. It’s an intense internship, but you can also do as much as you want to. I also met so many amazing people during my time here, and everyone was genuinely so welcoming and kind, which made the experience even more special. I really appreciated the internship placement, the weekly activities, the Culture Series, and knowing I could call VAC staff if I needed anything.

Photos

My time with VAC was nothing short of transformative. My home away from home, the people here have become family and Cape Town has become a place that will forever be in my heart. Without a doubt I will be back, to enjoy South Africa as well as see my VAC family again. My personal goal was to learn as much as possible about the South African legal system as well as just be a sponge for any situation. I definitely did this. I learned so much and feel like I’ve become so much more aware of how the law operates in South Africa and all over Africa. My internship organization contributes to long-term community change through free legal help and workshops explaining different parts of the law. My role was helping consultants with intake sheets to ensure a smooth consultation, as well as research and client-facing roles to support the attorneys. My tip for future interns would be to never forget you are truly helping people in a way that is truly special. Legal burdens are debilitating, and helping those who cannot afford it is rewarding in many ways. Work hard and remember you are changing people’s lives! Besides being instantly welcomed, VAC not only placed me in an amazing internship, but between the Culture Series, Friday adventures, and overall being supportive, they helped me understand and experience South Africa in the best way possible. I can’t put into words how grateful I am for my experience here, and I will forever tell everyone about the best two months ever! Thank you VAC! <3 I felt, during my entire time here, supported fully and knew that if I needed something the VAC family would be there. I truly appreciated it and thought the program did a wonderful job of being involved and letting us know they are there for anything.

Photos

Overall, VAC was a life-changing experience. Cape Town is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, and every single day I felt like the city got more and more beautiful. I met people from all over the world, was exposed to unique hands-on experience within the workplace environment that I would not be able to find elsewhere, and I made memories that I will talk about for the rest of my life. During my internship, I got one-on-one experience working with clients, which is experience I would not be able to get anywhere else. It truly changed how I viewed psychology, and I am very grateful for my experience. The organization that I worked with, ensures that members within the community have the mental health help that they need and deserve. My advice for future interns is to be ready to hear hard stories. You will get great experience, but you should also be comfortable working one-on-one and having clients of your own. The staff at VAC quickly became family within the first day of meeting them. You are always greeted with open arms, hugs, and a smile when you see them. They are so passionate about their work, ensuring that each person has the best internship and overall experience here in Cape Town. The weekly meetups and activities were also some of my favorite memories here. This city, the people, the working experience, and the memories I made here will change me for the better and will change how I view the world. I am so, so thankful to have found this program, and I think that if you have the opportunity to work through VAC, you should take it without hesitation. It may just change your life.

Photos

I chose to come to Cape Town because I had a brief visit last year and fell in love with the city and the people I met. I felt really uncertain about how I wanted to go about it, but I’m so thankful that I had my South Africa experience through VAC. My internship gave me a lot of opportunities for field experience and individual learning, which I really enjoyed. I learned a lot, especially about advocating for myself as well as just how an NGO functions. I planned an event which required a lot of correspondence. I think my communication skills, especially surrounding fundraising and donations, really improved. I also think my general understanding of the functioning of nonprofit organizations improved. The organization focuses a lot on local people and communities and contributes towards long-term change within the city of Cape Town in terms of human rights education and development. The VAC employees are so helpful and kind, and I genuinely looked forward to seeing them every week. The weekly meetups were always so fun and engaging and were a great way to get to know our peers and see the city. VAC also made integration into my internship really easy, which I appreciated. Even though there were some moments that challenged me, I feel like I grew a lot. I always knew I could reach someone at any time of day, and I think the personal WhatsApp communication makes everything super easy. Orientation was SO MUCH FUN! I think orientation week provides the perfect opportunity to make friends and see the city.

Photos

I absolutely loved this experience. The VAC staff was absolutely amazing and truly made me feel welcome in this amazing country. My internship taught me so much, and I am sad to leave! One of my goals was to learn new ways of doing procedures that I had seen many times before. Because of the lack of resources, the dentists had to make do with what they had, which taught me new ways of doing things. The dental clinic helps people in the short term by pulling teeth and fixing cavities, and in the long term by doing preventative cleanings and checks. I was able to help assist with cavity fillings and extractions. My advice for future interns is to go in with an open mind and be ready to learn. Don’t let what other people tell you influence your own opinion. I truly enjoyed my experience. I especially appreciated the internship placement, the weekly activities, the Culture Series, and knowing that I could call VAC staff if I needed anything.

I chose Cape Town because I had a really close friend who spoke very highly of VAC after completing this program the winter before. This was my first big solo trip, and I wanted to go somewhere different. I loved my entire seven weeks here, as I feel like I grew tremendously on both a personal and professional level. My internship was not at all what I expected it to be, but this turned out to give me the best possible experience. Counselling was not something I was really considering for a long-term career, but seeing the progress of my clients, witnessing their reactions when I told them I would be leaving, and researching the best psychological theories to follow during sessions opened my eyes to a whole new path for my future. A main goal I had was to do research while being here. While I didn’t explicitly conduct research for a project, I had to do a lot of my own research on counselling and theories of psychology so I could learn how to apply them to my practice. While it was scary at first, I got the hang of my day-to-day routine pretty quickly and grew to really look forward to talking with my clients and hearing their exciting updates. My proudest moments were when clients explicitly thanked me for my work and mentioned how I helped them in detail, because it made me feel like I truly made an impact and did some good in their lives, which was my biggest goal for the internship to begin with. Anybody can be a victim of trauma, and everyone deserves a safe space to heal and learn how to grow from and live with it. I am proud when I look back on clients who I saw from the beginning to the very end, analyzing their progress and feeling confident with the tools I provided them to create the life they desire and deserve to live. My advice for future interns is to be open-minded, advocate for yourself, and do not be afraid to ask for help especially when it comes to counselling. No question is a stupid question. In addition to the career enlightenment, I found the VAC staff and weekly activities to be a wonderful way to explore Cape Town in ways I never would have thought of on my own. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with my experience and will be returning back to America changed for the best.

Photos

My time with VAC allowed me to have an experience that not only immersed me in South African culture, but also taught me to always keep learning, push my comfort zone, and promote positive and meaningful change in communities! I learned all this while creating life-long friendships and enjoying the beauty of Cape Town! During my internship, I loved the research I got to do. I was able to write and complete a 3,000-word research article to be published in the organization’s article review. The organization does incredible research, litigation, and community outreach for Cape Town and South Africa as a whole. I played a small role in bolstering their publications. I also loved the highly personalized VAC experience. Orientation was amazing, and the Culture Series activities were so unique and fun! I appreciated the support and knowing I could call VAC staff if I needed anything. Overall, my time in Cape Town taught me to keep learning, push my comfort zone, and promote positive and meaningful change in communities, all while creating life-long friendships.

Photos

I loved Cape Town so much, and VAC was such an amazing resource to have. I really, really enjoyed all of the VACtivities. The staff are so, so lovely, and they helped me figure out how to make the most of my time. I loved the Culture Series, my housing was amazing, and overall, I just loved the whole experience. Serena, Kuselwa, and Loyiso were especially amazing and helped me out all the time. Cape Town is also an amazing place to spend the summer, and I loved getting to be there and explore the city. At my internship, I loved working on the Amathole Project questionnaire, helping with the user experience of the organization’s website, and designing and collecting data for a study started by a previous intern. The organization works with public health data that helps track the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and it was valuable to contribute to that work. I always felt like I could reach out to the VAC staff for support, which was very comforting. The VACtivities I attended were amazing, and I always had so much fun—especially at Babylonstoren. I was also so impressed by my housing experience. When I made suggestions, they implemented them!

Photos

I picked Cape Town because I wanted my data science background to actually mean something tangible, not just live inside a homework assignment. My internship gave me exactly that. I came in as a Political Science and Data Science student and left having built a data infrastructure completely from scratch master trackers, standardized systems, spreadsheets, and comprehensive impact reports. What I loved most was witnessing the human dimension behind all the numbers. I got to do site visits, conduct quantitative and qualitative research, and hear firsthand what these programs contributed to the community’s children and families. Having to translate these unique experiences into dashboards, reports, and spreadsheets felt like some of the most meaningful and tangible work I have ever done. I really enjoyed building out mastery and attendance trackers and running correlation analysis to see how consistent attendance connected to student progress. It felt rewarding to turn everyday classroom data into something that could actually inform decisions. I also loved putting together a donor and sponsor-facing report because it meant translating the day-to-day work happening on the ground into something that could help sustain the program long-term. Seeing that report actually get published and sent out to potential donors, knowing it could genuinely help engage people with the program’s mission, was one of the most rewarding moments of the whole internship. I also learned that I thrive in ambiguity, particularly when I am handed a problem with no template and no instructions. This is a version of my own resourcefulness I did not recognize until this internship. My biggest tip to incoming interns would be to stay adaptable and work hard. Come in ready to build, not just to observe. The more comfortable you are with creating structure from scratch, the more value you will be able to add. Get to know the organizations beyond the data as well, the stories behind the numbers made everything I built way more meaningful. The VAC staff made Cape Town feel like home almost instantly. The weekly activities gave interns something to look forward to, and I’m so grateful for how supported I felt navigating an entirely new country. They were incredibly adaptable and helpful, whenever interns needed support, they were there

I chose Cape Town because I wanted to experience a different culture while gaining hands-on experience in education. What I loved most was getting to experience everyday life rather than simply visiting as a tourist. Through my internship at a local primary school, I was able to build connections with students and teachers while learning about the community firsthand. One of my main goals was to better understand education outside of the United States and see how a school responds to the needs of its community. I spent time observing younger learners, seeing how teachers supported different learning and behavioral needs, and having meaningful conversations with staff about their experiences and the challenges facing their students. Seeing the relationships teachers built with their students was one of the biggest highlights of my internship. I stayed for about eight weeks, which gave me enough time to adjust and really experience the culture. The VAC staff and weekly activities made settling into a new country much easier and introduced me to parts of Cape Town I probably would not have discovered on my own. I am especially grateful for the people I met and the opportunity to experience education and community from a completely different perspective.

Photos

I had an amazing experience with VAC! Being able to experience the various cultures of Cape Town while working at such an impactful internship site meant the world to me. I am incredibly grateful for the experience and look forward to returning to Cape Town soon! During my internship, I watched live births, epidural placements, and spent time in the labor ward. The organization is a nonprofit working in maternal health, and I helped counsel new bookings and provided support to mothers during labor. I also appreciated the support from VAC, the weekly activities, and the Culture Series. There was lots of guidance before arriving, and meeting the VAC staff during orientation was a highlight.

Photos

Coming to Cape Town was the best decision I made this summer! My internship site was a perfect fit for me, and VAC made the entire experience smooth and enjoyable. My internship solidified my decision to pursue gynecology because I was able to witness births, talk to mothers, and do small clinical tasks. The organization provides resources to underrepresented communities that don’t have the best access to medical care or quality-of-life outcomes. They provide counseling resources and tools to help people struggling with substance abuse get their lives back on track. They also help new and continuing mothers have the resources and tools to properly care for their children while also looking out for their own mental health. I helped by assessing mothers and counseling them if they had any mental health concerns or issues with substance abuse. I really appreciated the internship placement, weekly activities, and VAC staff support. My advice for future interns is to do your research about Observatory and Cape Town in general, have a list of things you want to do, and plan everything out. The time will go by fast.

Photos

I chose Cape Town because I wanted to experience living somewhere completely different while also getting real work experience. I didn’t want to just travel somewhere for a few weeks; I wanted to actually live here, work, and experience what everyday life was like. Looking back, I’m so glad I chose Cape Town because it ended up being so much more than I expected. I absolutely loved my internship. I got to work on sexual and reproductive health research, help with REDCap surveys and data, administer surveys, and see some of the clinical side of the work. One of my favorite experiences was getting to observe a nurse take blood samples for an HIV study. It was really rewarding to see how the work I was helping with connected to actual patients and public health. One of my main goals was to gain experience in clinical research and better understand how research connects to public health and patient care. I contributed to sexual and reproductive health and STI research, helped design and manage REDCap surveys, administered surveys in person, and worked on data cleaning. I especially enjoyed seeing how research is carried out beyond the classroom and learning from people who work directly in the field. My experience became much more hands-on once I communicated with my supervisors about the areas I was interested in and asked how I could contribute more directly. I would tell future interns to go in willing to ask questions and take initiative. It is also important to be flexible because the pace of research can vary, and there may be quieter periods when you have to look for ways to get involved. One of my favorite parts of the whole experience was simply living in Cape Town. I genuinely tell everyone that Cape Town is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. The scenery, the people, the food, and just the feeling of being here made me feel so at home. By the end, I had gotten so comfortable here and felt like I had built a life for myself. I also loved meeting other interns through VAC, especially people from schools that I would never have met otherwise. It was really fun hearing about everyone’s internships and having people to explore Cape Town with. The weekly activities and Culture Series made that really easy, and some of the people I met through the program ended up being a huge part of my experience. I genuinely loved the VAC staff and felt so comfortable with them. They were incredibly welcoming from the beginning, and I never felt uncomfortable asking questions or reaching out when I needed something. Being so far from home could have been intimidating, but having people here that I knew I could rely on made such a difference. I stayed for about two months, and I think that was a great amount of time because I had enough time to settle into my internship and actually feel like I was living in Cape Town instead of just visiting. My biggest advice for future interns is to come with an open mind, give yourself time to adjust, and take advantage of everything the program and the city have to offer. I’m extremely sad to leave. I feel like I found a second home in Cape Town, and I know I’m going to be talking about this experience for a very long time.

Photos

I was excited by the opportunity to expand my horizons through an internship abroad and chose Cape Town for its vibrant culture and incredible natural landscapes. From the ocean and mountains to the greenery surrounding the city, the natural beauty was easily one of my favorite parts of the experience. Whether exploring botanical gardens, visiting the coastline, or simply taking in scenery unlike anything back home, Cape Town constantly gave me something new to appreciate. As my first experience traveling abroad, my eight weeks here challenged me in ways I didn’t expect. I left with a greater sense of gratitude, cultural awareness, and a broader perspective on the world. During my internship with a local environmental conservation organization, I researched and wrote about threatened wildlife species and environmental awareness. One of my favorite projects challenged my own assumptions about an animal I had previously been wary of and gave me the chance to learn about its importance within the ecosystem. I also joined colleagues on an overnight conservation trip to a nature reserve, which became one of the highlights of my time in South Africa. My internship also helped me better understand what I value in a future workplace and the kind of environment I hope to work in. Although two months gave me plenty of time to experience Cape Town, I still left feeling like there was more to discover. I’m especially grateful for the warmth and generosity of the VAC team and for the experiences they created throughout my stay.

I chose to come to Cape Town because one of my friends who had been here adored it, and I can see why! Between the beautiful landscapes, rich culture, and everybody I met, it’s hard to leave it behind. The weekly opportunities put together by VAC let me connect with people outside of my internship, but still with the shared experience of learning abroad. I really appreciated the internship placement, weekly activities, Culture Series, and knowing that I could call VAC staff if I needed anything. My internship gave me many opportunities to lead in different areas. I got to lead supporting stations like food prep and the cleaning station, while also leading stations working directly with the birds, like the rehabilitation pens. The organization works to rehabilitate marine birds and educate the public about the birds around them and their own impact on the environment. My role was to help provide the necessary care to the birds so that they could eventually be released. For future interns, most of the skills you learn on the job come with practice. Everybody on the team is rooting for you, so don’t be hard on yourself if you can’t get the hang of something the first few times.

Photos

In Cape Town I learned from brilliant physiotherapists, shared stories and laughs with fellow interns, and experienced incredible hikes, beaches, food, and theatre. I have a newfound confidence in myself as a developing clinician, and I’m excited to apply everything I’ve learned when I return home. During my internship, my confidence treating children with neurological disabilities improved greatly. I developed classroom management skills through Movement Classes. I learned how to use play as a therapeutic intervention and how to tailor games to specific children’s needs and personalities. I worked with a team of educational therapists who provide treatment that allows students to best participate in their studies. I was placed at an amazing school with an experienced supervisor who really cared about my development as a clinician. I also appreciated that I was able to get in touch with my supervisor prior to the internship so that I could properly prepare. My advice for future interns is to embrace the unexpected situations that come with working in a primary school, be willing to expand your comfort zone, and have fun! Stay humble, keep an open mind, serve with compassion, and have a great time. I also learned so much about the layers of history here, and I can’t wait to keep traveling and living in new places. This trip reignited my love for adventure and traveling, and I am so grateful for all the kindness and guidance from VAC.

My main goal was to understand how South African football culture works, and I would say that I totally reached this goal. With a variety of different tasks, specifically the #She’sABaller campaign, I came to understand how football and its surroundings work here. The organization that I worked with helps give people the chance to play football no matter where they come from. Especially through our #She’sABaller campaign, girls also have the chance to play football and develop their personal and social skills. I also really enjoyed being able to meet the people at my internship site beforehand and have a conversation about what I could expect and what they could expect from me. I love Serena, Kus, Loyd and Rowan. They have great personalities and made the start in a country outside of Europe so easy and comfortable. If you have problems, they are also very helpful contact people. In my eyes, the VAC program was the best program I’ve ever done. You offer great activities and create moments that will last forever. I’m gonna miss you :'( I also liked that every week was a different activity. The best was at GAPA!!

Photos