Gain work experience in the healthcare industry while undertaking practical fieldwork alongside an occupational therapist who works with community members suffering from the HIV and AIDS epidemic in South Africa. Through health education, workshops and the implementation of treatment plans at a support group center for vulnerable children and the elderly, you’ll gain quality exposure and insight in to the health issues plaguing the informal settlements surrounding Cape Town.
WATER UPDATE
Cape Town will not run out of water in 2018, but is still in the midst of a drought. We are encouraging our volunteers to continue saving water and would like to assure you that African Impact has contingency plans in place should the situation change – all volunteers will have sufficient water. Life in Cape Town will continue and the community programs need dedicated volunteers more than ever.
AS AN INTERN, YOU'LL GET TO:
- Work alongside South African healthcare workers in a township-based support group center founded to support communities affected by the HIV and AIDS epidemic
- Gain daily exposure to health issues – including exposure to victims of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis – while researching and delivering health-based workshops and other outreach
- Learn why the occupational therapist’s role is of key importance in the African context and use your new skills to ensure the health and wellbeing of grandmothers and the children they care for
- Be supported by a senior healthcare worker, personal development coach and academic trainer to acquire and develop new skills
- Live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Cape Town, and spend your weekends enjoying the incredible adventure and cultural activities on offer
Volunteer Reviews
“My experience with African Impact was like nothing I could of imagined, it was amazing. During my time in South Africa all the staff made me feel very welcome and comfortable. I worked with some amazing people in the community of Khayelitsha. The GAPA project that works with the grandmothers to provide a safe after school care environment for the children was such an inspiring program to be a part of and the knowledge and bond you grow with the grandmothers and the children were incredible.”
Emily Field, Australia
“Before I left home, I was extremely nervous and was doubting if I even should go or not. Luckily an internship abroad was mandatory for me to finish school, otherwise I would have never had this amazing opportunity. I have never been the outgoing type, but even to those people who are just like me I say ”Do it! Just throw yourself into this experience because you will never forget it”. I’ve honestly had the best experience of my life here!”
Maudy Metsemakers, Netherlands
Dates & Rates
Prices include:
- Airport pick-up and drop-off. An African Impact team member will be waiting to meet you and will transport you to our program base
- All accommodation during your internship
- Meals (Mon – Fri only). At weekends we encourage you to go and try some local restaurants
- 24 hour support by our experienced staff members who live and work alongside you
- All required training, resources and guidance required to complete your internship, including a Personal Development Coach
Prices exclude:
- Medical and travel insurance
- Flights to your chosen destination
- Visa-related fees
- Weekend trips and other non-project activities
- Items of a personal nature, including gifts, snacks and alcohol
- WiFi and laundry
About the Destination
During your stay at the tip of Africa, you will be located in Observatory – the city’s most bohemian suburb, a short 10 minute drive from the Cape Town city center.
The secure property is fully furnished and staffed with a cook and housekeeper, and very close to shops, bars and restaurants. Interns in Cape Town share a room with 2-6 other interns and volunteers and bathrooms are communal. WiFi is available for a small fee as well as access to a small lock-up safe for your valuable items.
Cape Town is hands-down one of the most beautiful cities in the world, so this unique internship destination offers visitors beautiful landscapes, cultural sightseeing opportunities, fantastic leisure and sporting activities and plenty of sunshine for most of the year.
Weekends are usually a good time for tourist activities where you can enjoy the beach during the summer time as well as some really unique adventures such as cage shark diving, paragliding, kite-surfing and taking a wine tasting tour through Cape Town’s beautiful winelands.
As you work and travel in Africa, the people of Cape Town will warm your heart, entertain you and you will discover great diversity in the different communities.
Whether you are an intern looking for work experience, coming for a gap year, or a well-seasoned traveler, this internship in Cape Town promises to leave you a deeper, stronger individual ready for the next adventure.
You will spend 8 – 12 weeks living at African Impact’s program base in Observatory, Cape Town; a sociable shared home with other interns and volunteers. From here you will travel daily to the support group center, where you will work alongside highly qualified professionals who will eagerly share their wealth of knowledge with you.
Work & Impacts
Health Education
Each week, with the support of the occupational therapist, you’ll help research and present healthcare workshops at a health club for grandmothers suffering from the effects of HIV or AIDS. Topics range, but can include anything from cancer awareness, diabetes and healthy eating, to high blood pressure, nutrition and heart health. You’ll be able to bring your own ideas to the workshops, or help the grandmothers feel empowered by supporting them to run their own sessions.
When available, you’ll also be given the opportunity to assist in health days, when local clinics visit the center to implement health check-ups, HIV/AIDS testing and TB treatment. You may also be asked to support community outreach programs, such as delivering health and well-being messages for local radio stations.
Work & Impacts
Occupational Therapy
You will shadow a professional occupational therapist at the support group center throughout your internship, in order to contextualise your experience and provide professional development. This will involve one on one meetings with them, as well as getting involved in consultations with grandmothers and assisting with the assessment of the children in their care.
Since you will have regular involvement in the activities and treatments being conducted with the participants at the center, you’ll offer the OT an extra set of eyes on the ground and be able to advise on what may be needed to help improve their health and well-being. OT’s will rely on your advice and suggestions – as well as your ideas for new activities – that may help in the improvement of health, or healthcare delivery.
Work & Impacts
Professional Development
This is an area we specialize in as we recognize its importance. You will have 3 professional experts to support you as an individual:
- A senior healthcare worker to add context to your specific interests within this field; this will provide a deeper insight into the history of South Africa, as well as the challenges on the profession.
- A highly qualified personal development coach to work with you through one to one and group discussion. They support you with tools to use throughout your experience and beyond, exploring personal goals and opportunities for your future.
- Monitoring and evaluation is the measure of the impact of your work. You will be guided by our educational trainer on how to analyze data and translate it into valuable communications.
Work & Impacts
Additional Tasks
Throughout your healthcare internship, you’ll help to:
- Source new ways to assist the occupational therapist, reducing their work load and making their daily jobs more effective.
- Present your findings, ideas, suggestions and research to the team, whether it be informative presentations, community profiles, data platforms, or even organizational sheets that will streamline their processes.
- Provide administrative and ad-hoc support to the team, whether it be starting a new filing system, responding to emails or answering telephone calls.
Fun & Travel
Cape Town Sightseeing
Cape Town has many iconic sites which makes for great photograph opportunities. Take a boat trip to Seal Island, visit the celebrated Robben Island and of stand on top of the world-renowned Table Mountain, reaching it either by foot or cable car. A convenient and fun way to see more of what the city has to offer is to take the Hop-on, Hop-off City Tour bus. You will also have a chance to do some shopping and enjoy fine dining at the V&A Waterfront or at one of the many local food markets.
Fun & Travel
Cape Town Adventures
You can hike up the magnificent Table Mountain, or take the cable car to the top. Once you’ve soaked in the breath-taking view, you can choose to abseil your way down. Surfing lessons, shark cage diving and sky-diving are also on many tourists’ “bucket lists”, and Cape Town’s mountain ranges make for great mountain-biking too.
Fun & Travel
Beaches And Ocean Adventures
Although the water may be just a little cold, Cape Town has plenty of beautiful beaches to visit, each with its own unique atmosphere. If you are really keen to explore the waters you can dive with the sharks or take a tour to Cape Point Peninsula where you will have a chance to swim with the penguins at Boulders Beach.
Fun & Travel
Wildlife
Cape Town has something for everyone. If you’re not really a city slicker and prefer to discover what nature has to offer, you can experience an African Safari at Aquila Safari – a “Big 5” private game reserve with animals such as the springbok, lion, cape porcupine, olive baboon, leopard, and African elephant.
The Cape Point at the tip of the Cape Peninsula lies within a nature reserve within the Table Mountain National Park which is a World Heritage Site. Cape Point is a nature enthusiast’s paradise with many buck, baboons, Cape Mountain Zebras, birds and a variety of flora and fauna unique to the area.
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