Julianna (pictured second from the right) joined the VACorps program as part of her GAP year in January 2021.  She did her internship at an NGO that promotes human rights and youth empowerment.  Julianna will attend Simmons University in Boston this fall. 

“I found VAC when I was looking for a program to travel and learn during the pandemic. VA Corps turned out to be an extremely reliable and consistent organization that always answered my questions and shared my and my parent’s values of safety, fun and learning abroad. They placed me with an internship that aligned with my career ambitions but was more virtual than I would have liked, were very accommodating when I decided to switch internships, and found me a better fit at an NGO. While working for Africa Unite, I learned a lot about the inner workings of NGOs, how to propose a budget, public schools in South Africa, and much more. It was a great learning experience and will be very helpful as a resume addition in the future.

My time in Cape Town was an experience I will never forget. I made lots of friends, tried many new things I have never done before, like bungee jumping, canyoning, and paragliding, and had an overall amazing time. I especially loved the VACorps Friday activities and outings, like camping at Cederbergs, Garden Route, and Kruger. Living in Obz and getting to know the area was also great, and by the end, I definitely felt at home there.

I would advise future interns to stay the full three months to get as much as possible out of their time here. Look for learning opportunities everywhere, go to every Friday activity and hike, and take every chance to try something new. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the VAC staff if you need anything. Say “yes” to everything and you will have an awesome time at VAC!”