Internships Reading Room
VACorps Reading Room
The VACorps Reading Room is a forum where we promote literature pertaining to South Africa for our Cape Town Interns. Although we don''t require participants to read the following info before arrival in Cape Town, these selected resources will go a long way to helping you understand the unique complexities of South African culture. It is particularly important for you to have a basic understanding of South African history, considering that this nation is just 10 years removed from a very dark political past. Names like Mandela, Biko, de Klerk, Tutu, Botha, Kruger, Mbeki and Rhodes should mean something to you when you set foot in this country.
Know South African history. Know South African culture. Know South African politics. Place yourself in context with the past and the present.
Books:
(The Essentials)
-Long Walk To Freedom, by Nelson Mandela
-My Traitor''s Heart, by Rian Malan
-The South African War, by Bill Nasson
-Country of My Skull, by Antjie Krog
-Waiting for the Barbarians, by J.M. Coetzee
-To Every Birth Its Blood, by Mongane Wally Serote
-Ways of Dying, by Zakes Mda
Websites:
(The Essentials)
-Get a feel for South African geography and then click on each city to read a write-up. From Lonely Planet:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/africa/south_africa/south_africa.htm
-And Lonely Planet''s Cape Town overview:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/africa/south-africa/cape-town
-The Mail & Guardian is a great source for coverage of South African politics and current events.
http://www.mg.co.za/
VACorps Testimonials
Read what past participants have to say about our program.
|
Kelly StoneGenre of Internship:Law Dates of Participation: June 2011 - August 2011 |
|
"I boarded a plane in mid-May having just finished my second year of law school. I left a great job and a set career path because I wasn’t happy. And ... read more
|
|
|
Jennifer ReynoldsGenre of Internship:Occupational Therapy Dates of Participation: August 2011 - November 2011 |
|
"There’s no easy way to sum up my experiences here. Everything I’ve done, everyone I’ve met and all the places I’ve been have been amazing. I wouldn’t trade it for ... read more |
|
|
Claire BrightonGenre of Internship:Law Dates of Participation: November 2009 - February 2010 |
|
"On the 19th of November 2009, fresh out of law exams, I boarded a plane bound for Cape Town, South Africa, in the pursuit of sunshine, adventure and ... read more |
|
|
Whitney TaylorGenre of Internship:Media and Gender Dates of Participation: May 2011 - August 2011 |
|
When I first thought about interning in South Africa, so many what-ifs ran through my mind. I knew everything would be different than what I was used to back home. ... read more |
|
|
Jeremy HintonGenre of Internship:Physical Therapy Dates of Participation: August 2011 - October 2011 |
|
''I tried my best to prepare for my two months in Cape Town. I Google-Mapped South Africa and spotted out a few of the big cities, I wikipedia’ed Cape Town ... read more |
|
|
Franca del SignoreGenre of Internship:Human Rights Dates of Participation: October 2009 - March 2010 |
|
"In the process of changing my career path, and having decided an internship was the best way to achieve this goal, I set out on a search for ... read more |
|
|
Luke ClearyGenre of Internship:Advertising Dates of Participation: June 2008 - August 2008 |
|
"Chances are, if you’ve made your way to the testimonials page of this website you’re already on the cusp of the adventure of a lifetime. Go for it. ... read more |
|
|
Alisha GibsonGenre of Internship:Medical Dates of Participation: March 2011 - May 2011 |
|
“My internship placement was, as I would say, banging!! It was the best ever! I got to experience my dream job of delivering babies right before my eyes. ... read more |
|
|
Juliane HundtGenre of Internship:Refugee Work Dates of Participation: April 2009 - June 2009 |
|
“VACorps was not the first internship program I participated in; however, the experience was one-of-a-kind. The organization was one of the few international placement agencies offering positions with a refugee ... read more |
|
|
Justin BeanGenre of Internship:Sustainable Energy Dates of Participation: June 2010 - August 2010 |
|
“Why do you want to go all the way to South Africa to do an internship?” Someone asked me before I departed for Cape Town. The ... read more |
|
|
Josh DilkGenre of Internship:Human Rights Law Dates of Participation: September 2009 - February 2010 |
|
Cape Town, South Africa was a natural destination for me when the recent economic recession postponed when I would begin working at my Firm. Having recently graduated from ... read more |
|
|
Gerald ThamGenre of Internship:Human Rights Dates of Participation: May 2010 - July 2010 |
|
"I'd like to thank the whole VACorps team for making this adventure-of-a-lifetime not only possible, but even more spectacular and meaningful than my wildest expectations! It's an even ... read more |
|
|
Elsa PetersonGenre of Internship:Social Work Dates of Participation: January 2009 - January 2009 |
|
“When I decided I wanted to travel and live abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, I had no idea that my life ... read more |
|
|
Michelle Pinter-PetrilloGenre of Internship:Urban Agriculture Dates of Participation: January 2011 - April 2011 |
|
“During my sophomore year while looking at options for studying abroad I quickly realized that I did not want to study at a university. Instead of spending my time in ... read more |
|
|
Tim LaRoccoGenre of Internship:Human Rights Dates of Participation: January 2009 - April 2009 |
|
“When the opportunity to participate in a professional internship in Africa presented itself to me, I had a feeling it ... read more |
|
|
Zach LoftonGenre of Internship:NGO Development Dates of Participation: March 2010 - July 2010 |
|
"My ten weeks in Cape Town, South Africa were invaluable! It was easily one of the greatest experiences of my life. Volunteer Adventure Corps provided me with an ... read more |
|
|
Giulia NotariGenre of Internship:Gender Advocacy Dates of Participation: July 2011 - September 2011 |
|
" VAC's passion for Cape Town and South Africa is contagious. I am leaving Observatory very sad and nostalgic because thanks to VAC I have had an amazing experience and ... read more |
|
|
Anna DowlingGenre of Internship:Medical Dates of Participation: September 2011 - December 2011 |
|
Spending four months of my life in South Africa has been a life-changing experience that has transformed and enriched me as a person. Working at Heideveld Day Clinic offered me ... read more |
|
|
Kelly SmithGenre of Internship:Social Work Dates of Participation: September 2011 - December 2011 |
|
In my language there is a saying “Ndiwelimilambo enamagama” ( I have crossed famous rivers). It means that one has traveled a great distance, that one has had wide experience ... read more |
|
|
Matt RussellGenre of Internship:IT/Software Development Dates of Participation: September 2011 - December 2011 |
|
From the first day I arrived in Cape Town, feeling like a naïve tourist at the airport to the final hours I spent trying to squeeze in one last hike, ... read more |
|
