Giovanna Indraccolo

Torino, Italy

2024

Giovanna is studying Human Rights and Environmental Law at the University of Turin. She joined the VACorps Program in February 2024 and participated in a human rights law internship.  

My time in the Mother City has been both special and intense, enriching me in countless ways, personally and professionally. My first week here was incredibly impactful, as I was positively overwhelmed by all the amazing sights. Observatory quickly became my favorite neighborhood with its vibrant and youthful energy. I didn’t just make friends here—I found a family. Strangers from all over the world became like brothers and sisters to me, and I hope to stay in touch with each one of them.

My internship was stimulating and offered me the chance to challenge myself with interesting and relevant projects. My boss was incredibly supportive and approachable, which made the experience even better. I worked on three distinct projects, each of which was both engaging and intellectually rewarding. Throughout this time, I improved my legal and technical English and became more comfortable using various tools on my laptop. Skills like drafting documents, time management, and flexibility became second nature.

At the beginning, I was quite nervous since this was my first long-term experience abroad on my own. However, during difficult moments, there was always someone there to help—whether it was a friend or someone from VACorps. After two months, I’m leaving Cape Town with a profound sense of melancholy but also deep gratitude. I truly hope to return one day!