Thandi Agbetorwoka

Thandi studies Media & Communications at Brunel University London in the United Kingdom. She joined VAC in January 2026 and completed a journalism and communications internship with a South African cultural heritage organization, where she deepened her understanding of Cape Town’s history and worked with the marketing department to develop a social media strategy aimed at raising awareness among domestic and international audiences.

Interning in Cape Town has been a great experience. I feel that I have grown a lot as a person, and navigating life here has taught me about self-trust. I’ve learnt to be open to trying new things and activities. I really enjoyed making new friends and creating memories together.

I started my internship hoping to learn a lot more about Cape Town’s history, and I certainly achieved this. I was exposed to a lot of information and had the chance to engage in interesting and insightful conversations with a variety of people from different backgrounds.

The organization I worked with aims to decolonize its history by centering the experiences of those who have been silenced by forces of oppression. It critically examines past narratives and questions whether these messages truly reflect the history of the Cape and its people. I was able to support this objective by working with the marketing department to develop a social media strategy that would help raise awareness of the organization and its objectives to both international and domestic tourists. 

My advice for future interns is to come in with an open mind and feel free to ask questions about the history. There is a lot to learn, so take the time to get familiar with the different exhibitions as this will help develop your understanding.

The weekly activities with VAC were also a highlight for me, as I got to do things that I typically wouldn’t have done before. The Culture Series provided an opportunity to be exposed to and learn more about the diverse cultures that make Cape Town what it is. There was a lot of variety in the weekly activities, which meant there was always something to look forward to.