Samuel Matsumoto

Sam studies Political Science at UCLA in the United States. He joined VAC in June 2026 and completed an education internship with two South African educational organizations, where he gained experience working with young people, supporting students through social and academic challenges, and reaffirmed his love for teaching and working with youth.

I chose Cape Town as the place to intern abroad because I really just wanted to get a unique experience. Many American students study abroad in places like Europe and Asia, and I wanted to do something different from all of that.

My favorite part of interning in Cape Town was how flexible and adaptable my two sites were. They both allowed me to adjust my hours so that I could still get off early enough in the day to have time to partake in my many adventures. Throughout my time here, I learned that I love adventuring solo and being spontaneous. I also learned that I love meeting new people, and that is something that gives me some of the most joy in life.

During my internship, I truly reaffirmed my love for teaching and working with youth. Both of my host organizations are heavily invested in the development of youth, from both an academic standpoint and on a human level too. In my role, I supported these goals by being there to support students in whatever challenges they faced, whether it be social or academic.

My advice to future interns is to be ready to be adaptable and advocate for your needs. I would also emphasize the importance of getting to know the students, as they are truly wonderful people who want to be supported.

I also loved the VAC weekly activities and Culture Series. The Culture Series was a great way to truly get out into the community and learn more about African culture. My favorite one was for sure the drumming session in Langa. Shoutout Kus for being at all of them and for teaching me so much. And shoutout the VAC staff, the weekly activities were amazing and I loved hanging out with them.