
Innogen Naylor
2023
Innogen joined the VACorps Program as part of her Gap Year in January 2023 and participated in an internship at a local school for learners from Zimbabwe who are attempting to integrate into the South African education system.
“VACorps is a magnificent program located in a magnificent city. When I leave I will have been living in Cape Town for three months. The time I have spent here so far has gone by far too quickly, but looking back I have had so many unforgettable experiences. There is never a dull moment when living in Cape Town. Whether you like to hike, shop, skydive, scuba, or volunteer there are a million opportunities for this and infinitely more. I came expecting to only stay two months but ended up extending my trip since I couldn’t imagine leaving so soon. Through VACore I worked at an elementary school focused on integrating Zimbabwean students into the South African education system. Today (as I am writing this) is my last day, and as a farewell, they have just finished putting together a lovely celebration. All of the staff came together with food, drinks, and cake to wish me safe travels and to say thank you. I couldn’t express how grateful to them I was for this opportunity. VACorps itself is a lovely program. The staff are so kind and welcoming. I was never afraid or homesick while here since I knew I had such strong support systems. The weekly activities were always a great time, getting together with all the students after a hectic week at our sites and getting to see new parts of the city. I have loved my experience with VACorps, I couldn’t have asked for a better program.”