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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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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 McDowell

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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Celine

Celine Fjeldheim

Program Coordinator, South Africa
Celine, a food obsessed, Cape Townian-born Norwegian and self proclaimed eternal traveler lives by the mantra: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain. After acquiring her language and psychology undergrad degree from Stellenbosch University, Celine took a detour and studied and worked as a pastry chef, in Cape Town and Oslo. She was then drawn to the land of Mrs Queeny, King Banksy, fish and chips, minding the gap, rainy days and pommy ways, to London; where she completed a Masters degree in Neuropsychology. Here she worked for two years, with stroke patients as a brain rehabilitation assistant and as a mentor / coach, teaching life skills and confidence classes to local teenagers. After years of intrepidly exploring Europe, South America and Africa, 27 countries and counting, the allure of beautiful Cape Town became too much! She returned home in 2010 and started working as a study coordinator at Tygerberg Hospital, focusing on adolescent trauma and post traumatic stress disorder. Celine's passion now lies in healthcare education and youth self-actualisation and she loves showing off her beloved city to Connect-123 students and volunteers!
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Charné

Charné Tromp-Ahmed

Program Coordinator, South Africa
While studying toward a degree in Public Relations Management and working at a major international publishing house, Charné opted to take a gap year to travel abroad. A love for new cultures, meeting interesting strangers and the hustle and bustle of the big city lured her to London where she put down roots for several years and worked for a care agency and a financial education charity, to name but a few. But soon enough sunny South Africa came beckoning and Charné returned home, where she dabbled in some work in the academic sector, while working as a freelance writer and consultant. Her role at Connect-123 allows her to combine her passion for travel and social media; and in her spare she loves discovering the hidden gems of Cape Town.
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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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Jess

Jess Wills

Program Coordinator, South Africa
Jess completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Cape Town. During her vacation she spent a few months in the USA working on the ski slopes. After studying, she then decided it was time to explore her horizons even further and lived in London for a few years, whilst travelling extensively through Europe. Jess has a passion for travel, language and culture. However, her love for South Africa, its people and wildlife, brought her back to Cape Town which is where home is currently.
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Jimmy

Jimmy Wu

Program Coordinator, 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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Liat

Liat Feldman

Program Coordinator, Dublin
Liat Feldman, a Dublin native, grew up in Toronto and graduated from Glendon College, York University with a BA in French and History. Shortly after, she moved to Israel on a scholarship and earned a Masters in Education. Having lived there for 3 years, she decided to return to Canada but got side-tracked and moved to Italy and taught and managed English courses for four years. After too much pizza and wine, Liat decided to head to cooler climes and lived in Oxford for 1 year and then returned to Ireland. After a few years heading up English courses, Liat got involved with an organization promoting the value of studying and working abroad. Connect-123 allows her to continue and extend the experience to international students who want to work in her favourite city. Liat is an avid rower, educator, cyclist, foodie and citizen of the world.
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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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Paula

Paula Carrettoni

Program Coordinator, Argentina
Paula who holds a degree in journalism, has always had a passion for travel, especially exploring cultures and learning languages.  She spent several years working in media, especially radio, when she decided she needed a change – which took the form of a two year long trip throughout Europe and Asia!  While working in the US, Andorra, Spain, and Italy, she discovered her passion for working with international people and taking part in cultural exchanges.  A Buenos Aires native, Pau enjoys interacting with interns and volunteers from all around the world...and showing them all that her city has to offer!
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Why Connect-123?

Testimonials

...each day brought something new into my life; be it a new challenge, a new lesson, a new friend, or a new adventure, my life was constantly filled with moments that taught me more about myself and my field of study than I could have ever imagined.

Cat Boland

Child Life Intern
Appalachian State University See more

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