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Meet the Team

Steven

Steven Levy

International Program Development

Steven, an energetic, slightly over-caffeinated American who moved to Cape Town in 2002 with his South African wife and Russian cat, launched Connect-123 in South Africa after ten years of starting and running various businesses in Moscow, London and San Francisco. While working in finance and venture capital in Cape Town, Steven realized that thousands of local organizations could use the help of skilled, international students and that thousands of students and professionals could benefit from real, hands-on, international work experience. Together with Lea, he developed Connect-123's experiential learning programs to help students build their international work experience while simultaneously earning university credit. Steven, who now lives in Barcelona, holds a BA in Political Science from Cornell University and an MBA from London Business School.

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Lea

Lea Levy

Program Director, China and Spain

Lea, who studied Fine Arts at the University of Stellenbosch, started her career as a game lodge manager in the Sabi Sands. After being offered an internship in Moscow with a top PR and communications consulting firm, she packed her winter coat and ended up working in Russia for three years with top international FMCG brands. During this time of newfound capitalism and opportunity, she also discovered her skills as a networker! However, her love for South Africa led her home, where she worked in marketing, advertising, and trend forecasting, prior to co-founding Connect-123. Lea, who has a natural ability to understand and match organizations’ needs with applicants’ skills, is based in Barcelona.

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Eimear

Eimear Costigan

Program Director, South Africa

Understanding why people seek new and meaningful experiences overseas is easy for Eimear. While completing her languages degree at university in Dublin, she spent summers working in France, Spain and the UK, and studied at the University of Bordeaux for a year. Her previous role as an international Marketing Manager for a US multi-national took her to North America and all over Europe, while her itchy feet took her to Central America and Japan in her spare time. Eimear gets a real kick out of matching the right person to the right opportunity – and loves seeing interns fall under Cape Town’s spell, just as she has done.

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Katie

Katie Arango

Program Director, Argentina

Katie, a US native, had traveled to Buenos Aires on several extended trips before the city’s lure became too strong and she decided to call it home. Long fascinated by the global scene, Katie earned a degree in International Studies from Miami University and spent time studying and living in Madrid, Spain. She then worked in marketing for an international board game company followed by a brief foray as an online community editor for several websites before joining the Connect-123 team.  Still a tourist at heart herself, Katie loves watching newcomers discover the charm of Buenos Aires and takes great pleasure in helping them make the most out of their work and volunteer opportunities while experiencing everything this dynamic city has to offer.

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Melanie

Melanie Martin

Program Manager, Ireland

Melanie, who left the grey of England to study in the even greyer and wetter Ireland, moved to Cape Town to find the sunshine and try her hand at marketing, having dabbled in magazine production and advertising. She worked in conjunction with a design agency, promoting and marketing a brand management system, and used her powers of persuasion to secure a buyout of the company. Melanie has traveled widely and spent time volunteering in Mozambique, Sri Lanka and Guatemala. After several years as part of the Connect-123 Cape Town team, Mel felt the lure of the Emerald Isle once more. She now heads up our Dublin program, adding her experience and enthusiasm to the unique energy of one of Europe's most vibrant capitals!

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Claudelle

Claudelle David

Program Coordinator, South Africa

Claudelle earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of the Western Cape and spent a few years working in the public health sector, which included living and working in a rural farm town along Cape Town’s scenic Garden Route. She has also worked in the very challenging and exciting sector of education and skills development of people with disabilities. Having always had an interest in experiencing and learning about other countries and cultures, she spent time traveling in South Africa, India, Mauritius and most recently lived in Dublin, Ireland. Her experience of studying there and working at a college interacting with students from different countries sparked her interest in sharing her love for Cape Town and South Africa with young people from abroad. Naturally Connect-123 is the ideal place for her to do this!

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Daniela

Daniela Rondina

Program Coordinator, Ireland

Daniela, who holds a degree in French and Argentine Law, has always been interested in international issues and human rights. She spent many years volunteering for different local organizations, having the chance to get involved in various social issues. Those experiences showed her the power of volunteering and the ability we all have to make a difference. She was then offered an internship at an international organization that defends human rights in Latin America, which gave her an even more international view. Being part of the Connect-123 team allows her to find similar life-changing experiences for program participants, while helping them explore a new culture!

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Jackie

Jackie Palmer

Program Coordinator, South Africa

Jackie has traveled South Africa far and wide and has a love for all of its beautiful game parks, beaches and destinations. After school she found herself bitten by the travel bug and before long was exploring Europe. She spent a year living in London raising funds for a number of charities and has seen the likes of Netherlands, Scotland, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Jackie has an Honors degree in Organizational Psychology from the University of Cape Town. While studying at university Jackie filled her spare time working for a team building company and tutoring students. Jackie loves to wine and dine and take weekend breaks. She has joined Connect-123 due to her passion for travel and people and to help facilitate the same eye opening experiences that she values so dearly.

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Sherilyn

Sherilyn Chia

Program Coordinator, China

Sherilyn left Singapore to study Chinese Language and Literature at Nanjing University in China. Intrigued by her interaction with both international and Chinese students, she decided to move to cosmopolitan Shanghai after graduation to put her east-meets-west background to full use. She enjoys the fun of volunteering, the excitement in meeting new people, the wonderment in the exchange of culture, and the knowledge gained from the overseas experience. Joining the Connect-123 team gives her the chance to share these joys with others. Sherilyn welcomes you to join her in exploring one of the most exciting cities to be in the world now!

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Simone

Simone Matus

Program Coordinator, South Africa

Simone, having completed her BA degree in Social Dynamics at the University of Stellenbosch, decided she wasn’t finished studying just yet and travelled to Salem, Oregon for a semester abroad at Willamette University. But her passion for travel, history and people as well as learning about and being absorbed into different cultures started long before this. After travelling across America, living in London and spending time in various parts of Europe, she has made Cape Town her home and loves absolutely everything about what the city and its surrounds have to offer.

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Vanesa

Vanesa Baldino

Program Coordinator, Argentina

Vanesa studied Political Science at the University of Buenos Aires before completing a Masters in International Relations at the University of Bologna. During her Masters, she did an internship in Rome, working for an Italian senator at Parliament. Back in Buenos Aires, she worked in public administration and as an English / Spanish teacher prior to joining Connect-123. She loves the idea of sharing her experience as a former international intern to help program participants in Buenos Aires and also enjoys showing everyone this amazing city! Always active, on weekends, Vane can be found playing field hockey with her local team.

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Miche

Miche Stemmers

Operations Coordinator, South Africa

Miche completed her Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, and is a born and bred Capetonian. After completing her studies, she traveled to the United Kingdom where she worked within the hospitality industry for a year. After returning from the UK, she explored this new found passion for travel with trips to the United States, Asia and back to Europe to mention a few. Having joined Connect-123 she now has the opportunity to meet interns and volunteers from different walks of life, and share her experiences with them. In the operations role, Miche loves taking care of program participants' housing requirements, and seeing them enjoy the social events she has arranged. Despite catching the travel bug, Cape Town is home, and where the heart is.

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Jimmy

Jimmy Wu

Program Assistant, China

Jimmy Wu, a native of the Hubei province in central China, majored in nursing and English in college. He has always been interested in various cultures and in exploring China’s natural beauty and has travelled extensively throughout the country. After graduation, Jimmy worked at an international hospital in Shanghai and spends his free time volunteering at local charities. At Connect-123, he enjoys the chance to make friends from all over the world, to introduce them to the real China and to help them adapt to one of the world’s fastest changing cities!

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Candice

Candice Le Noury

Program Coordinator, South Africa

While studying towards her English Literature and Political Science degree at the University of Cape Town, Candice took some time to travel through England and Scotland, embracing the rich historical heritage of London, and the old-world beauty (and deep-fried Mars Bars) of Edinburgh. Once she graduated, she couldn't wait to start exploring again, and headed off to France for a year - living and working in the French Alps, absorbing as much of the local culture and cuisine. Candice is a proud and passionate Capetonian, but will happily hop on a plane to anywhere, given a ticket!

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Testimonials

Volunteering in Buenos Aires through Connect-123 not only provided me with one of the best experiences of my life but also confirmed my passion for medicine.

Jackie Laplant

Medical Volunteer
Tulane University graduate See more

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