Work alongside professional physical therapists in South Africa.

Develop cross-cultural skills and sensitivities while working with patients from various socioeconomic backgrounds.

Satisfy degree requirements for university credit (if applicable).

Take advantage of hands-on, experiential learning opportunities.

Gain clinical hours for graduate school applications.

Take part in a Physical Therapy internship in Cape Town and have the chance to gain a global understanding of how important the field is in a South African context. VACorps offers placements which are ideal for those who are interested in completing or continuing their education in the physiotherapy field. Interns will work alongside established professionals in providing care to patients with various musculoskeletal and neurological ailments.

VACorps will work with you in creating an internship placement that matches your long-term professional goals. They will also assist you with ensuring that you meet your course requirements, whether the be for an undergraduate or graduate level programs. Ideal program participants are those who have a sound understanding of biomechanics and human anatomy, or those who have experienced working in rehabilitative settings in the past. 

VACorps has successfully placed interns in the following fields:
- Pediatric physical therapy
- Sports/Musculoskeletal physical therapy
- Neurological physical therapy
- Geriatric physical therapy

Physical Therapy Internships in Cape Town

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Take part in a Physical Therapy internship in Cape Town and have the chance to gain a global understanding of how important the field is in a South African context. VACorps offers placements which are ideal for those who are interested in completing or continuing their education in the physiotherapy field. Interns will work alongside established professionals in providing care to patients with various musculoskeletal and neurological ailments.

VACorps will work with you in creating an internship placement that matches your long-term professional goals. They will also assist you with ensuring that you meet your course requirements, whether the be for an undergraduate or graduate level programs. Ideal program participants are those who have a sound understanding of biomechanics and human ...

Take part in a Physical Therapy internship in Cape Town and have the chance to gain a global understanding of how important the field is in a South African context. VACorps offers placements which are ideal for those who are interested in completing or continuing their education in the physiotherapy field. Interns will work alongside established professionals in providing care to patients with var...

18-20

21-25

26-30

31-35

Resume

Online Application

Phone/Video Interview

-We guarantee you a professionally relevant internship placement 
-On-the-ground program staff support
-Personalized airport collection 
-Participation in our famous 3-day VACorps program orientation
-Weekly Culture Series every Monday 
-Participation in "VACorps Weekly Meet-ups (watch video)
-24/7 emergency & safety support 
-Discounted local travel along the Garden Route 
-Learn to Scuba Dive with VAC Scuba 
-Exclusive access to VAC Travel Adventures
-And much more!

Internship Placement

Emergency Support

On-Site / In-Country Staff Support

Airport Transfer (Pick-Up)

Airport Transfer (Drop-Off)

Accommodation / Housing for Program Duration

In-Country Orientation

All Program Activity Costs

Intern Abroad

University Freshman (1st Year)

University Sophomore (2nd Year)

University Junior (3rd Year)

University Senior (4th Year)

University 5th Year or More

High School Freshman (1st Year)

High School Sophomore (2nd Year)

High School Junior (3rd Year)

High School Senior (4th Year)

High School 5th Year or More

No schooling completed

Nursery school to 8th grade

Some high school, no diploma

High school graduate, diploma or the equivalent (for example: GED)

Some college credit, no degree

Trade/technical/vocational training

Associate degree

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Professional degree

Doctorate degree

1-3 Months

3-6 Months

Short Term

Kinesiology & Exercise Science

Physical Therapy

English

Cape Town

South Africa

All Nationalities

Apartment/Flat

Group living

Guest House

Independent living


<h3>What inspired you to go abroad?</h3><p>I wanted to travel somewhere during my summer holidays, since I have volunteered (Reach Out Volunteer Scuba Diving and Marine Conservation Program) in Cambodia in late 2016, my parents didn't let me go on another volunteer program. So, I searched for an overseas internship program.</p><h3>Why did you choose VACorps?</h3><p>I wanted to have an internship that is in the Medical field - more specifically Physiotherapy if possible. VACorps of South Africa offered that, and so I found the program for me!</p><h3>What was your favorite part about South Africa?</h3><p>I loved how there are so many things to do and see in South Africa, even just in Western Cape province - getting close with the African penguins at Boulders Beach was amazing, Garden Route wildlife safari tour was incredible, Table Mountain was breathtaking, Cape Point was absolutely beautiful, and Blouberg Beach was unreal!</p><h3>What made your experience abroad unique?</h3><figure class="awesome-image right-aligned" style="width: 50%;"><img style="" src="https://www.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto1-leung-1518496557.jpg" alt="At a community health clinic in Cape Town, South Africa"><figcaption class="caption"><p>Physiotherapist Mongezi and I at Site B Community Health Clinic, Khayelitsha.</p><p></p></figcaption></figure><p>It was getting the chance to see both the beautiful and the ugly of South Africa, I got to see the rich neighborhood from the Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour, and I got to see the other side in Khayelitsha, the township where I had my intern.</p><h3>How did local staff support you throughout your program?</h3><p>They had weekly activities which were fun to get involved in.</p><h3>What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?</h3><p>I wish I could have spent 1 weekend to take a free diving course and get a license because that would have been so cool to get in addition to my diving License.</p><h3>Describe a typical day in the life of your program.</h3><p>In the morning, a few other interns and I Uber to the community health clinic in Khayelitsha from Observatory. I observed how the physiotherapist treat the patients and do certain tasks with the physiotherapist in the room. In mid-afternoon, we would go back home and I check out some places to go for the weekend and journal. I&nbsp; would then go for dinner at&nbsp; Mama's Kitchen at FOREX Bar in the evening.</p><h3>What did you enjoy doing in your free time?</h3><p>I enjoyed going to the tourist attractions and take nice photos and cherish those moments.</p><h3>What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?</h3><p>There was open kitchen, and I shared the house with six other housemates. I liked having some housemates to share stories with every day and as travel companions.</p><h3>What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?</h3><p>That South Africa has 11 official languages, open your heart and mind to learn either Xhosa or Afrikaans from the locals in your working environment. South Africa is known as the "Europe" of Africa - being more modern than its surrounding countries, so do not expect huts in Cape Town.</p><figure class="awesome-image centered" style=""><img style="" src="https://www.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto2-leung-1518496906.jpg" alt="African penguins at Boulders Beach, Cape Town, South Africa"><figcaption class="caption"><p>African Penguins at Boulders Beach</p><p></p></figcaption></figure><h3>What was the hardest part about doing an internship abroad?</h3><p>I think the hardest part of doing an internship abroad is probably the language barrier between us the international students/interns and the locals who do not speak English very well.&nbsp; As I observed how the physiotherapist ask the patients about their conditions in Xhosa, I wish I knew more Xhosa than just the basic conversations so that I could have understood what they were saying instead of waiting for the physiotherapist to briefly explain their conditions.</p><h3>What surprised you most about Cape Town?</h3><p>I was very surprised about the culture shock of "fat" being a compliment as it meant having access to resources and having provisions and being happy.&nbsp; Whereas, being thin may cause others to start being more concerned whether you're feeling stressed.</p><h3>What is one thing you wish you would have known before doing an internship abroad in South Africa?</h3><p>One thing I wish I would've known before doing an internship abroad in South Africa would be the types of activities they offer there - like free-diving courses that can get you certified! I would've signed up for it straight away if I knew about this earlier.</p><figure class="awesome-image centered" style=""><img style="" src="https://www.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto3-leung-1518496932.jpg" alt="Elephant Bush Walk at Buffelsdrift Game Reserve"><figcaption class="caption"><p>Elephant Bush Walk at Buffelsdrift Game Reserve.</p><p></p></figcaption></figure><h3>If you could go abroad again, where would you go?</h3><p>If I could go abroad again, I would like to go to an European country like Spain or Scotland, or South American country like Brazil or Argentina. So I'm debating on whether to learn Spanish or Portuguese.</p><h3>What do you feel the biggest benefit of doing an internship abroad is?</h3><p>I feel the biggest benefit of doing an internship abroad is answering my own questions about the country that I was in, by being there physically to clear up the confusions and misconceptions I had.&nbsp; Another benefits would be achieving the goal of interning abroad and being empowered to be better after being inspired by more incredible individuals that I met there.</p><h3>Do you have any packing tips for individuals headed to Cape Town, South Africa?</h3><p>My packing tip would be to bring both cash and card to South Africa, so that you wouldn't run out of cash. Another one would be a windbreaker as it can get really windy in Cape Town.</p><h3>Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?</h3><p>I think I really want to become a physiotherapist; it's been confirmed!</p><h3>Would you recommend VACorps to others? Why?</h3><p>YES, because it's so worth it.</p>


Samantha Leung

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Samantha Leung who participated in VACorps program.

Physical Therapy Internships in Cape Town

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