Work with a South African Public Health organization and seasoned colleagues to gain hands-on work experience and explore the real-world application of concepts learns in the classroom. Interns will develop a deeper understanding of the South African healthcare system, and how various societal factors contribute to public health challenges and impact public health initiatives in South Africa.
Cultural Engagement: This internship program includes weekly cultural workshops that allow you to learn more about South African culture.
Placement: The Cape Town Public Health Virtual Internship is an individualized placement where you are placed with an internship site based on your skills and interests, the needs of the worksite, and position availability.
We work with an award-winning partner in Cape Town that specializes in providing meaningful, hands-on and immersive internship experiences for university students from around the world. You will be placed with local organizations that work in public health settings to reduce the health burdens faced by South Africans. You will work directly with service providers and populations affected by communicable and non-communicable diseases. You will gain exposure to the challenges faced by health institutions, NGOs, and the people they serve.
All internship sites offer good learning opportunities. If a particular organization interests you, feel free to mention this in your application, but please note that placement with a certain company/organization cannot be guaranteed. Placement decisions are based on the skills and interest of the intern, the needs of the worksite, and position availability. A clearly written, detailed cover letter and “Individualized Placement Statement,” part of the application process, will enable us to place you in a suitable organization.
This internship is facilitated by an American epidemiologist and qualitative researcher, working as an infectious disease consultant in Cape Town, South Africa. you will have a well-rounded professional learning experience through a combination of mentorship, discussion, reflection, and hands-on practical experience in the field of public health. You will develop practical skills coinciding with theory learned in university while acquiring an understanding of how various societal factors contribute to public health challenges and impact public health initiatives in South Africa. The program facilitators will work with you to create specific internship objectives and projects with your local organization supervisor.
Job responsibilities will vary depending on placement and may include direct client service provision, research, advocacy, grant-writing, program development and facilitation, etc. in your application, please use your "Individualized Placement Statement" to outline any specific skills that you would like to learn or apply in your internship. The program facilitators will work with you to create specific internship objectives and projects with your local organization supervisor. Interns may work in one of more of the following project areas: data processing, quantitative and qualitative health analysis, public health research, community outreach and awareness building, creating and collecting surveys, designing public health education materials, general office admin.
The program fee factors in the total number of work hours, the duration of the internship and the number of academic credits. During the application review phase, your Program Coordinator will provide you with an estimated program budget, based on your specific circumstances and internship program. See examples of estimated program fees below.
Quarter Schools:
1 undergrad academic credit = 30 total work hours
Semester Schools:
1 undergrad academic credit = 45 total work hours
NOTE:
“If I had to choose one thing that I liked the most about my internship site, it would be the workplace culture. Somehow, my supervisor and my fellow interns and I created and maintained a workplace dynamic that always felt laid-back and non-intrusive while still pushing us to maintain the deadlines that we set for ourselves.”
-Matthew
“I learned a lot in my internship including how hard I can push myself. I realized I love doing research. Additionally, I have learned how working to help others is my true passion. Highlights include meeting with my supervisor every week and working on creating a girls’ module tackling real-life issues to help young women and girls in the Crossroads township.”
-Malikah
Summer: January 25
Fall: April 15
Winter: September 1
Spring: November 15
- See Qualifications & Requirements Tab below