Study/Internship Abroad 2025

My transformative journey traveling South Africa: experiencing Cape Town, Durban, and St. Lucia cultures!

Program Overview – South Africa, 2025

My study abroad experience in South Africa was a transformative moment in both my academic and personal journey. Through the UF in Cape Town Software Engineering and UX Design Internship program, I earned 6 credits while working directly with the YMCA Athlone branch to build technology for social good.

Beyond the project, the program included cultural and historical immersion across Cape Town, which expanded my perspective on global development and digital equity. I returned with strengthened skills in agile development, client communication, and cross-cultural collaboration—along with a renewed sense of purpose around using tech to empower communities.

Experiential Learning

Cultural Immersion

Technology & Society

Global Collaboration

Sabrina taking a photo of an elephant from inside a vehicle

Global Impact

Global Learning & Skills Acquired

Professional & Workplace skills

Collaboration & Team Dynamics

Cross-Cultural Awareness & Communication

Global Citizenship & Ethical Engagement

Adaptability & Problem Solving

Personal & Interpersonal Growth

Learning Mindset & Intellectuala Curiosity

International Networking

Achievements & Highlights

Key Achievements

Completed a comprehensive learning management system in 4 weeks
Learned LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, PostgresQL, PHP)
Conducted user research and testing with students at YMCA Athlone
Gained firsthand insight into global digital equity and education access challenges
Strengthened collaboration, leadership, and team-based problem-solving skills

Program Highlights

Consulted with 4 other teams on their projects

Visited 2 provinces, 2 cities, 6 towns for maximum cultural immersion

Gained true understanding of South Africa's history

Befriended locals while also growing interpersonally

The Internship

YMCA Athlone Learning Atmosphere

In partnership with the YMCA Athlone in Cape Town, our team designed a beginner-friendly learning management system to promote digital literacy and coding education among underserved youth.

The platform provides a browser-based IDE, interactive lessons, and progress tracking, all within an accessible and engaging interface. Admins can manage content, monitor learner progress, and generate insights via a secure backend system.

Our team of 3 spent 4 weeks developing this platform to help spark curiosity and confidence in young learners while bridging the digital divide.

This experience taught me that creating meaningful technology goes beyond just writing clean code—it’s about understanding users, listening to their needs, and building tools that empower them.

Team YMCA working on project at YMCA Athlone office

Lessons Learned & Advice

Key Lessons Learned

Cultural context is crucial in technology design and user experience
Diverse teams produce more innovative and inclusive solutions
Empathy and active listening are essential for cross-cultural collaboration
Global challenges require global perspectives and local understanding

Advice for Future Students

Embrace discomfort - it's where the most growth happens
Say yes to opportunities, even when they seem challenging
Document your journey - you'll want to remember every detail
Build genuine relationships - they'll last long after the program ends

Acknowledgements

This incredible journey would not have been possible without the support, guidance, and encouragement of several remarkable individuals and organizations who believed in our cohort and saw the potential in us to truly help these organizations.

Special Thanks To:

Dr. Sanethia Thomas - Professor
Surpris (Jack) Mezardieu - Teaching Assistant
Ping Neo
Naomi Harrell
EDU Africa Team - Educational Partnership Organization
YMCA Athlone - Serving Organization

Their Impact:

Each of these incredible individuals and organizations played a crucial role in shaping my experience. From providing academic guidance and emotional support to facilitating cultural connections and ensuring program excellence, their dedication made this transformative journey possible.