VACorps

I chose VAC to learn more about the field of psychology that I was interested, and was opened up to new fields and experiences that I never imagined! I loved the hikes, adventures, restaurants, history, and deep sense of community in the gap year program and within Observatory and Cape Town as a whole. I will never forget planting lettuce on a beautiful sunny day with a view of Table Mountain and the entire waterfront! I loved how accessible Observatory is - the restaurants, thrift stores, and live music scene. I stayed from January-March and it seemed like the perfect amount of time - definitely wouldn’t have wanted it to be any shorter! I am grateful for the opportunity to have immersed myself in a new place and live in one of the most beautiful and diverse places I have ever been.

I chose VAC because I wanted to explore the field of psychology during my gap year— and in doing so, I was introduced to new areas of interest and experiences I never could have imagined! I absolutely loved the hikes, adventures, incredible food, rich history, and deep sense of community I found through the gap year program and throughout Observatory and Cape Town as a whole. One of my favorite memories is planting lettuce on a sunny day with a breathtaking view of Table Mountain and the entire waterfront — something I’ll never forget. I also loved how accessible Observatory is, with its amazing restaurants, thrift stores, and vibrant live music scene. I stayed from January to March, which felt like the perfect amount of time — I definitely wouldn’t have wanted it to be any shorter. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to immerse myself in such a beautiful, diverse place and to truly experience life in Cape Town.

I had high expectations for VACorps, and the experience exceeded them. The support from the VACorps team was excellent. Aside from the Lead Me workshop, the orientation program grounded me in the culture and geography of the city and gave me a strong sense of what to explore and experience. The weekly excursions were fun, well-organized, and clearly communicated. I didn’t attend enough Culture Series events to comment meaningfully on them. My internship was the highlight of my time in Cape Town. I was placed in a dynamic environment where I was given real responsibilities and the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution. I gained valuable professional experience and learned a great deal about everyday life in South Africa through my coworkers, as well as about the country’s politics and history through conversations with more senior colleagues. I also genuinely enjoyed the people I worked with and felt welcomed as part of the team. Finally, I made real, lasting friendships here. The close-knit layout of the Lofts and the abundance of exciting things to do create the perfect recipe for forming deep bonds. The people I met were smart, adventurous, and kind—we even went skydiving together in the first week! I’ve never been surrounded by a group quite like this before. I heard about VACorps through word of mouth—and it makes sense. People who do this program tell others to do it, too.