Internships in Cape Town with VACorps

I found that my time here with VA Corps was not only deeply touching in terms of the people I met, the places I got to experience on a weekly basis, and the sense of community here in Cape Town that warmed my heart and soul. Taking a step outside with everyone at VAC and finding myself in a new neighborhood, and new city, and new country felt like a newfound sense of freedom and connection with the world that is unmatched. I cannot only say that my time doing an internship here changed my life trajectory but gave me a new outlook and sense of appreciation for life.

In late 2019 when I started my search for an internship location, I had no idea or the slightest inclination that I would end up in Cape Town. As I searched online, I came across the VACorps website and read about VACorps and the testimonials from the previous interns and I knew I had finally found my internship destination – Cape Town and with VACorps.

I started the internship application process and everything was running smoothly until Covid struck and then I had to put my internship on hold as the world went into lockdown. What I really appreciated even when everything was on hold is the effort that VAcorps staff and especially Loyiso put in keeping me updated on the progress he was making to find an internship site that would suit my interests.

Even though it took 2 years before I could finally travel to Cape Town and do my internship, it was well worth the wait, and I was definitely not disappointed. My internship site at the adolescent mental health clinic has been extremely fulfilling, and even though at times it was heartbreaking to listen to the difficult mental health issues of the patients, that is what the internship was about, and I learned a great deal. The staff at the site was very friendly and it took less than a day to feel at home. Sometimes the activities at the clinic required just shadowing the professionals but this was also a perfect way of observing and learning and soaking in the “silent experience” gathered.

I came to Cape Town only focused on completing a two-month internship, but I must admit the weekly activities organized by VACorps led me to see and appreciate that there is a lot more to the experience than just interning in Cape Town. The city is just beautiful and my two months felt a little short to appreciate everything that the city has to offer. So all I can say is that my internship period was just a ‘Cape Town appetizer’ and I will definitely come back for more when I have more time. But in the meantime a BIG BRAVO to VACorps for not being just an internship agency but for going beyond to integrate the interns into South Africa. The weekly activities, especially the visit to GAPA (Grandmothers Against Poverty and Aids) have led to my being ´adopted’ by the grannies and now I leave Cape Town as a ´grandchild’ of GAPA and so this gives me a good reason to come back to Cape Town. I will be collaborating with GAPA to set up a similar project back home. So thanks to VACorps for without you I wouldn’t have met those inspirational, strong women.

For anyone considering interning with VACorps, you will NOT regret that decision. The personal and professional experience gained will definitely leave a mark on your heart that will be with you forever. And for anyone coming to intern, come with an open mind, ready to embrace all there is to enjoy from nature to food, to massive shopping malls, and most of all to the very friendly people of South Africa. So for now, it is not goodbye Cape Town but see you again in the near future.

I jumped on the opportunity to come to Cape Town but honestly didn’t do too much preparation for my time here prior to arrival. With COVID uncertainties and difficulty finding a clinical partner to work with I didn’t want to get my hopes up too high. This experience has been so much more enriching than I could have imagined. I’ve lived abroad before but the community organization and cultural insights of VACorps were unlike anything else. I always enjoyed our Friday activities and although it was challenging to muster up the energy to go to the culture series after a long day at the clinic on Mondays, I always learned something new. VACorps played a huge role in how much I enjoyed Cape Town. This has been a week of challenging and emotional goodbyes. I can’t wait to come back in the future and share my love for Cape Town with others.

I had the opportunity through my graduate program to complete one of my physiotherapy internships abroad in Cape Town. My school partners with the VACorps and we were paired with various sites around Cape Town. This was an amazing place to do an internship - the people were so welcoming, the food was incredible, and there was so much to do after work and on the weekends between nature, markets, and nightlife. I will miss the energy and joy here in Cape Town the most, along with the food and access to nature. We really enjoyed being out on the weekends and would always make new friends as everyone is so friendly and welcoming.

I loved working at my internship site because we got to meet and collaborate with local physio students, and work with children with a variety of diagnoses and abilities. I was able to practice being independent with my physio treatment and challenged myself to try new interventions. It was a great learning experience and I will never forget my time there.

The VACorps staff was so welcoming and felt like family from the second we arrived. They were there for anything we needed and we always felt so supported. They are the kindest group of people and made every Friday activity so much fun!

I chose to complete an internship in Cape Town because I knew I wanted another opportunity to study abroad and learn about physiotherapy in another cultural setting after having the opportunity to do so in Uganda. When I learned that my DPT program works closely with the VACorps and that this was a possibility for one of my clinical rotations, I jumped at the chance. I have greatly enjoyed my time working at my internship site. The kids are incredibly kind and amazing to work with, and the staff at the school are supportive and invested in helping students learn. I will never forget the two fourth graders who took the time to teach me Afrikaans as they were learning it in school. The VACorps staff is great, and the activities are so much fun! It is an exciting way to explore Cape Town and the surrounding areas with other students. I am particularly grateful for the Monday night culture series because it introduced me to aspects of South African culture I would not have otherwise experienced.

I chose Cape Town because of the beautiful scenery and the opportunity to work with a sports team for my internship. I had the great opportunity to work with experts in the field of sports physical therapy at a rugby club. From physiotherapists to strength and conditioning coaches, to health and wellness experts; I had amazing mentorship from every staff member. I learned and was able to practice a lot of different techniques that I hadn't yet learned in my program.  I was also made to feel so welcome from day one due to the welcoming nature of the staff and players. The high level of the athletes combined with the expertise of the support staff is unmatched in internships elsewhere.

VACorps was the key to having the best time possible during my internship in South Africa. The staff were welcoming, gave great advice and recommendations, and bridged the gap between my background and the local culture here in Cape Town, SA. Everyone who is a part of the VACorps program is so welcoming and treats you like family. I have learned so much from the weekly culture series and had endless fun on the Friday adventures. The country is spectacularly beautiful and the people are of the nicest I've met while traveling. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who is considering taking a leap and participating in an internship in this beautiful city.

I chose Cape Town because it seemed to be a culture that was unlike any other that I have experienced before. Additionally, I wanted to be able to experience the differences in the healthcare system and how physical therapy differs from what I am used to. VACorps definitely made my time here in Cape Town SO MUCH better than it would have been otherwise. The staff always go out of their way to make you feel welcomed, safe and supported. My favorite part of interning in Cape Town was making connections with my patients and those I worked alongside, from who I learned so much. I became more confident and independent in treating children and maintaining my own caseload. Additionally, I was able to work alongside other healthcare professionals and get more insight into their approaches to treatment. I was able to build rapport and relationships with each of my patients. I learned a lot about different games and activities, behavioral management, and age-specific approaches to treatment. Everyone I have met here has helped me shape a new perspective on life (work, friendships, relationships, abilities, etc). This experience helped me learn how to appreciate the little things, find beauty in everything, and take the time to make connections and get to know those around me. In addition to all the beautiful people I have met, the scenery and surroundings of the city are spectacular. Cape Town is a city like no other.

I had an incredible experience in Cape Town with the VACorps program. I did a physical therapy internship at a school for blind children, and I received a fulfilling fully independent caseload from day one. I will never forget the beautiful children I got to work with on my clinical site and the extreme joy I felt every day in their lives. I loved the beautiful outdoor playground that is Cape Town and hiking the gorgeous mountains and playing on the white sand beaches. I will miss the people I met here the most. Everyone is so kind and willing to look out for one another. Even in the poorest living conditions, everyone finds the beauty, joy, and fun of living.