Epic Exchange offers meaningful, well-paid internships to South Africans looking to travel and work abroad and gain international experience. The internships on offer include hospitality and agricultural internships in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Austria, Switzerland and Denmark. We also offer gap year and teaching English programmes to New Zealand, Australia, China, the United Kingdom and Spain. Epic Exchange works with the participants to find the best-suited internship programme. We have over fifteen years of experience in matching applicants, so our participants can have an epic experience and enliven the sense of adventure!

What inspired the founding of Epic Exchange, and how has the mission evolved over the years?

What inspired us to start Epic Exchange was the pursuit of passion for cultural exchange, as I had worked in the industry for 7 years. Plus, the desire for financial independence was a motivator, and I like being my own boss and having the freedom and flexibility to work when I want to. I value having a good work-life balance.

What sets Epic Exchange apart from other international internship placement services?

What sets Epic Exchange apart is our passion, as we are an owner-run business that cares about the experience our applicants have abroad, and our applicants are not just a number. I was lucky enough to do four cultural exchange programmes, and I had the best time ever. I can’t encourage South Africans enough to travel and live like a local in a foreign land. I also strive to reply to all emails within 24 hours, which has led to us recruiting a lot of applicants, as applicants like the speedy replies.

Can you tell us about the team behind Epic Exchange and what makes them passionate about international placements?

The team behind Epic Exchange used to be bigger, but Covid did a number on us and almost bankrupted us, and now I am back to a one-man business, and I wear all the hats to allow applicants to enliven their sense of adventure by going on an epic exchange programme abroad. I have the travel bug, and I thoroughly enjoy encouraging young South Africans to grow personally and professionally by interning or going on a gap year programme abroad. It’s a far more enriching experience doing a cultural exchange programme as opposed to going on a holiday abroad.

In your opinion, what are some of the long-term benefits of joining an Epic Exchange programme for young South Africans?

The long-term benefits of going abroad, whether that be with us or another company, have a profound effect on most applicants. When you experience a different culture through a cultural exchange programme, it leads to a far deeper appreciation and understanding of both yourself and the people in the country where you are as well as the countries where fellow foreign applicants are from. It allows one to get out of one’s comfort zone and learn and grow and certainly aids in future job aspirations, as it says a lot about the kind of person you are. Plus, for South Africans, it very much allows for financial independence, as one can earn a lot more than staying locally in South Africa.

Do you have other news or updates that you would like to share?

I look forward to growing my company and offering even more exciting options for future applicants to go abroad and have the best time ever.