Nelson Mitchel
2026
Nelson joined the VACorps program in January 2026 as part of a gap year. During the program, he completed an athletic training and sports medicine internship with a community-based sports and wellness organization in Cape Town.
Cape Town is an incredibly beautiful and scenic place, and spending time here was a welcome change from colder seasons back home. I loved hiking, relaxing at the beaches, and exploring the local restaurants and cafés around the city. Living here also taught me a lot about myself, especially the importance of budgeting and being there for friends when they need support. I will really miss the warm weather, the nightlife, and the late-night conversations and debriefs with friends.
During my internship with a sports and community-focused organization, I learned the basics of athletic training and gained a better understanding of how important time management and a willingness to learn are in a professional setting. I stayed for about two months, which felt like the perfect amount of time to settle in and experience the city. The VACorps staff were incredibly kind and supportive, and they helped make the experience both memorable and meaningful.
Ashley is a pre-med student at Indiana University and joined the VACorps program in May 2021, where she participated in a medical internship at a local Cape Town clinic. “My time in Cape Town could not have gone better. Though...
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“I choose Cape Town as the site for my internship because it was highly recommended to me by many friends and family members as one of the most unique and exciting places to travel and to experience. Additionally, the socioeconomic...
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Pedro, pictured on the right, is studying engineering at Universidade Estadual de Campinas in Sao Paulo. He joined the VACorps program in February as an in-person intern at an NGO that supports refugees in Cape Town. “At my current life-stage,...
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