Ceren Üzümcü

Ceren studies Mineral Processing Engineering at Istanbul Technical University in Türkiye. She joined VAC in March 2026 and completed a clean energy and engineering internship with a South African aviation technology company, where she gained practical experience in solar power, Li-ion batteries, 3D design and flight testing, while contributing to projects involving solar-powered aviation technology.

Cape Town was always one of my dream places to be, and it also had many qualified places in my department to get experience from. When I came across the VAC program online, I saw that this was a great opportunity and wanted to try my chance. After I got my acceptance, the VAC team was very helpful throughout the process. They explained the process very well and were by my side every step of the way.

My internship was amazing in every aspect. My colleagues were super interested and willing to teach me all the things they know and experienced. I learned a lot from my internship and gained so many amazing people. My advice would be to be curious and willing to learn, give attention to everything your colleagues want you to learn, and ask questions without being shy. 

I improved myself mostly in energy, especially solar power and Li-ion batteries, and in 3D design, which is what I really wanted. Getting experience in those areas was amazing. I did projects with my colleagues and supervisor and also learned the basics and gained experience in flight testing. It was an enlightening experience for me. I am sure this experience and the knowledge that I learned will be so useful in my future career. I supported building an airship, controlling and testing solar panels, and making 3D-designed materials to mount to the airship.

I learned a lot of things about myself during my internship and living in Cape Town on my own. I saw that I can actually achieve a lot more than I expected and can handle everything that I run into. My version before coming to Cape Town and after leaving is so different in so many good ways, and the previous version of myself would be so proud of the things that the latest version of me did.

Cape Town felt like home thanks to the VAC team and my friends. The VAC staff and weekly activities were amazing, and they were something I looked forward to during the week. The VAC team was always by my side and never let me feel alone. I loved the activities and Culture Series because they helped us meet other people, and I learned a lot about the culture, food and history. It was a unique and unforgettable experience for me. I suggest it to everyone. It will be one of the best times of your life.