Gap Year Internship Program in Cape Town with VACorps

I chose Cape Town because I wanted the second semester of my gap year to be different from the first, which I spent in Spain. I had always heard wonderful things about Cape Town and was eager to finally experience it for myself. From orientation onward, I felt incredibly supported by the VAC team, and that support continued throughout my time here. Embrace the love everyone at VAC has to offer—it truly is such a special program, and I hope more people come to appreciate it as much as I now do. One of my goals was to learn how to be truly passionate about my internship, and I absolutely achieved that. I also loved working with the kids and sharing games from the US with them—it was an unforgettable experience.

My time in Cape Town was incredibly rewarding, adventurous, and eye-opening. During my internship, I worked with a nonprofit organization based in the township of Langa, where I tutored high school students in algebra, physics, and trigonometry. This experience exposed me to both the challenges faced by the community and the inspiring, service-driven mindset of many local leaders. Beyond my internship, I took advantage of everything Cape Town has to offer. I hiked many trails, explored neighborhoods like CBD and Sea Point, and spent time at the beach with friends. I highly recommend doing an internship through VACorps because you can explore your professional interests while experiencing life in one of the most beautiful cities in the world!

I came to Cape Town with sky-high expectations—and somehow, this city still managed to exceed them. Every day, I found myself asking, “What should I try today?” and there was never a shortage of answers. Few places in the world offer the same richness of opportunity as Cape Town does. Whether natural, cultural, or social, this city truly has something for everyone. Looking back on my time in the program, I’ve made lifelong friends and developed essential life skills. From meaningful personal connections to unforgettable experiences, Cape Town and VACorps gave me everything I hoped for—and so much more. I came into this internship wanting to push my comfort zone, and that’s exactly what I did. Everything I took on at my internship was new to me, which challenged me to sharpen my problem-solving skills and trust myself. I’m especially proud of the work I did with the camera—it was my first time using anything other than an iPhone! I figured out a simple system for transferring photos and quickly learned what kinds of images would perform well on social media.