I was in Cape Town with Connect-123 for June and July of 2010. I cannot say enough about how amazing my experience was and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a valuable internship abroad and cultural experience.  Cape Town is an amazing place for people seeking adventure, great culture, beautiful landscapes, and history.  Whether you want to go hiking, bungee jumping, sunbathing, or go on a safari, there is something for everyone in Cape Town.  It is also full of a variety of cultural heritage and backgrounds.

The Connect staff is always available to help with any of your needs along the way, and they also organize monthly and bi-weekly events and trips for all of the interns to meet each other and experience South Africa together.

The variety of internships available to students is incredible.  During my internship I went to small businesses, like craft shops and agricultural farmers, to provide business consulting for how these companies could be more efficient, organized, and sustainable.  It was a truly rewarding and valuable experience passing on the knowledge I had to others that needed it.  Gaining hands on business experience in a foreign country during a summer internship was nothing short of priceless and I have the Connect-123 staff to thank for making it all possible.

When I started looking into intern opportunities I was very open to options. My preference was interning at a design firm, but I was open to anything remotely related to the art and design field. I knew the experience would be amazing regardless, and I was not disappointed in the least. Connect-123 found me a terrific position as an intern with an NGO focusing on the rights of the disabled. My role was to rebrand their organization.

I started from the core with a new logo and brand image, applied the new image to existing print media and also created new materials providing my opinion on ways for them to promote their organization. Being the sole person in charge of their rebrand provided me with a lot of responsibility and creative freedom that I would likely not have had at a design firm where I would have been at the bottom of the “food chain.” It was also very rewarding being able to use my skills to help such a great NGO. Having the whole identity package for my portfolio and the international experience for my resume are just more benefits of an amazing experience.

My internship was terrific, but that is just one aspect of the overall incredible experience. Cape Town is just as beautiful in real life as in the photos and provided a stunning environment to practice my photography and fine art hobbies. It provides sharp cultural diversities and an eclectic array of activities to suit anyone’s tastes from fine dining at the world class restaurants, letting loose on Long Street with the numerous bars and clubs, to hiking up Table Mountain or lounging at the Camps Bay beaches to name a few.

Cape Town will always hold a special place in my heart, but it is the people I met there that I will miss the most. The only negative part of my experience there was having to say goodbye to the great friends I had made. It was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had and I want to thank Connect-123 for making it possible.

Volunteering in Cape Town was probably the best experience I have ever had. My internship was at a small rehab hospital dedicated to the poor population. The people I worked with were amazing, friendly, and took me in with open arms. By working closely with the nurses, and showing my interest, I was able to function as a nurse myself. My hospital did everything to help me have a good experience and even offered for me to travel with patients to some of the big hospitals and day clinics. By doing so, I learned a lot about HIV/AIDS, TB, and the poor population. Working at a small hospital helped me to feel right at home.

The city of Cape Town alone is breathtaking. There are numerous opportunities for fun activities including hiking Table Mountain, enjoying the beach, wine tours, safaris, and bungee jumping! The shopping is fun, whether at familiar stores down at the Waterfront or at Greenmarket Square bargaining with locals for a good price. There are plenty of things to do in and around the city, so there is no chance to be bored.

Connect123 made traveling to South Africa and finding an internship very easy. They offer you enough freedom to be off on your own but give significant guidance throughout your stay so that you know you are well taken care of. Gabby, from Connect-123,  gave me extra opportunities beyond the rehab hospital to experience South Africa’s health care, such as clinics in the townships and volunteering at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital. These combined experiences were invaluable and really helped me shape my future nursing career. I made lifelong friends with the people I met through the program and locally, and I eagerly look forward to an opportunity to visit South Africa again.