Project Description

Social work internships abroad in South Africa
Social work internships abroad in Cape Town attract those who are willing to swap daily comforts for a unique opportunity to assist the most disadvantaged members of the community. Our social work candidates show an outstanding sense of humility, display empathy, and have a genuine desire to better the lives of others. By participating in a social work internship in South Africa, you will work alongside established South African social workers and gain experience and insight into this field that will stick with you throughout your career. If you are looking to make a positive change in the lives of others, especially those who are victims of abuse, abandonment, and/or affected by HIV/AIDS, than our social work internships will be a tremendously rewarding experience for you.
Social work internships abroad with VACorps
VACorps will find you an internship specific to your professional goals. Candidates for our social work internships abroad are expected to have a strong theoretical understanding of social work, and interest in developmental psychology, sociology, and/or prior experience working in a social work setting. We have placed program participants at internship sites in the following social work settings:
- Orphanages and children’s homes
- Clinics and NGO’s for those affected by HIV/AIDS
- Women’s health clinics for victims of abuse
- Homes for chronically ill children
- Cape Town welfare projects in the townships
Benefits of doing your social work internship in Cape Town, South Africa
- Complement your theoretical understanding of social work— Work within the social work field that directly relates to your area of professional interest.
- Satisfy degree and graduate school requirements—Gain certified clinical hours and a letter of recommendation towards your professional future in the field.
- Experiential learning —Directly assist South African social work professionals with patients assessments, group therapy, home evaluations, support services for those with HIV/AIDS and victims of abuse, charting/patient write-ups, and working alongside other public healthcare workers.
- Make a difference in the lives of others—Connect with your patients on a personal level as you use your skills and passion to improve the everyday lives of your patients.
Meet past participants:
Avital Strauss, Illinois, USA (2023)
Avital joined the VACorps PRogram as part of her Gap Year in January 2023 and participated in an internship at an NGO that supports and serves underprivileged communities in one of Cape Town's townships. [...]
Laura Balan, Tennessee, USA (2022)
Laura recently earned a BA in Social Work at Belmont University. She joined the VACorps Program in July 2022 and participated in a social work internship at an NGO based in one of Cape [...]
Jessica Buss – Edmonton, Canada (2019)
Jessica is studying her Bachelor of Child and Youth Care at MacEwan University. She joined the VACorps Program in May 2019 and participated in a social work internship at an NGO that offers trauma [...]