Elly J

Elly studies Engineering at the University of Denver in the United States. He joined VAC in February 2026 and completed an engineering internship with a South African aviation technology company, where he gained exposure to engineering and computer science within the development of green-energy aviation technology and reaffirmed his decision to pursue engineering as his career path.

I chose Cape Town as my place for an internship because I wanted to explore the world and get job experience. I had heard so many great things about Cape Town that when I saw this program, I just had to do it.

During my internship, I reaffirmed my decision that engineering is the right path for me and that I will be going back to school to finish my degree. The organization I worked with is developing green-energy aviation technology that can be used for purposes such as ground scanning and cargo delivery. The technology provides a cheaper and more eco-friendly alternative to using satellite or airplane imagery.

My advice for future interns is not to be shy about asking questions. Everyone was very friendly, and if you’re interested in engineering and computer science, there is a lot to learn.

My favorite thing about my time in Cape Town was the social interactions with all the friends I made. I am so grateful to have experienced this with them. I am very sad to be leaving, as I will miss the daily activities with friends and the weekend expeditions. If I could, I would definitely stay longer!