Ryan Jenson

Ryan is currently a Second Year Juris Doctor Candidate at the University of Wyoming College of Law. He joined the VAC program in May 2024, and participated in an internship a an NGO focused on advocating for land and agrarian reform, supporting rural communities, and promoting food sovereignty through grassroots mobilization and policy influence.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Cape Town. My internship was fantastic, and I felt I gained exactly what I was hoping for. My favorite part of interning in Cape Town was the opportunity to experience a culture different from that in the States. I appreciated the legal research I conducted on the ongoing conversation about Expropriation without compensation in South Africa. It felt incredibly relevant to the real issues currently facing the country and beneficial for my personal goals regarding my legal career back in the States.

There were plenty of opportunities, both within my internship and outside of it, to immerse myself in the culture of Cape Town and its surrounding areas. I believe the three-month duration of my stay was ideal for experiencing the local culture. The VACorps staff were awesome—super friendly, easy to talk to, and, most importantly, very accessible in case of any issues. Overall, the program was very well organized, and I felt confident reaching out if I ever needed assistance.