Aimee Papelle

Amy is a nursing student who joined the VAC program in May 2024 and participated in a medical internship at a public clinic.

I chose to do an internship in Cape Town because I wanted to experience healthcare outside of the U.S. South Africa is a fantastic place for this due to the HIV/TB epidemic, which is very different from what you encounter in first-world countries. I wanted to contribute to an under-resourced area while also enjoying activities outside of my internship, so Cape Town was the perfect choice—truly the best of both worlds!

I absolutely loved Cape Town because there is so much to do, and no matter what you’re into, everyone can find something they enjoy here! I’ll never forget the incredible hands-on experience I gained at the clinic. The doctors and nurses were so eager to teach and gave me opportunities to try various procedures, making it an amazing learning experience.

I got to witness labor and deliveries, perform sutures, administer IVs, do post-birth assessments, give immunizations, and gain a broader understanding of the role nurses play in healthcare. I also loved the flexibility of being able to rotate through different departments, which allowed me to shape the experience to fit my needs. It truly exceeded all my expectations!

What I’ll miss most are the people. I met so many wonderful individuals here, and I hope the friendships I’ve made will last a lifetime. I stayed for 7 weeks total, including a 1-week orientation, and I think 6 weeks at the internship is just the right amount of time. It gave me the chance to really settle into the work and explore so much of Cape Town in my free time.

I’m beyond grateful for the connections and activities VAC provided, and I’ll always look back on this experience with so much fondness!