From my first chat with Steven on the phone I knew that Connect 123 and South Africa was exactly what I was looking for - a serious internship experience in which I could not only learn a lot and gain professional experience but also in a place full of culture, history and adventure that I could explore. Professionally, I couldn’t have been more pleased with the my internship placement - as it was spot-on my interests and how professional yet easy-going the placement process was. Steven and Lea and the gang are so helpful and always around to make your life more easy no matter what your question is - they’ve turned into quite the travel guides and have a wealth of knowledge of the area. I learned more than I could hope for and made a wonderful work-family over in Cape Town that has left the door open for future employment. If you are looking to gain great experience in your field and to explore a wonderful place then this is it. Hands down. Get on the phone, book your tickets and pack your bags.

Organising my internship through Connect-123 was the best thing I could have possibly done. At first I thought they only organised events and an internship, but they have provided so much more. Going through Connect made this summer the time of my life! All Connect-123 students live in the same building so it couldn’t be any more social. Also the Connect office is in the same building, so the staff is very accessible and they were always more than happy to advise me.

I absolutely loved my internship in Cape Town (I worked with an email marketing company) since the attitude is very laid back and the people at work were so friendly.

The Connect-123 social events were always a blast. Lea, Mel, Steven and Gabby always pick a new place to visit and this is a chance for the Connect staff to find out how you’re finding your internship if you haven’t already let them know what you think of it. It is also a great way to meet everybody during your first week in Cape Town, and this is where you make your friends for the trip — in my case and everybody else’s case, friends for life!

This summer has been fantastic, and I would say to anybody who wants an internship to go through Connect because you will have such a better experience. For me, this has been the best two months of my life.

Connect-123 was the absolutely ideal organization to go through for the summer! They set me up with a fantastic internship at a hospital, which was exactly what I was looking for, and provided a beautiful apartment as well. From there, we were all given complete independence, though you always knew that Steven, Lea and Melanie were right there in case you ever needed anything. They also organized great expeditions and were always extremely helpful and accommodating. I just had the time of my life this summer, and couldn’t have had the same experience without Connect!

My experience in Cape Town, South Africa was the greatest time of my life! I had a very exciting and rewarding internship, where I worked with a business college for students from the local townships. There, I was a business development intern for their Entrepreneurship Centre where I helped write business plans, create marketing strategies, and find investors for various entrepreneurs from the townships. I was also privileged to teach two college-level courses in the fields of economics, and entrepreneurship. In my free time, I did everything from climbing mountains, to tasting wine in the nearby vineyards, to going shark-cage diving in the Indian Ocean! Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It’s a place where cities, mountains, and oceans meet, and I will never forget the times that I had there. Thank you again Steven and Lea and the rest of the Connect-123 gang, for providing me with such a fun and rewarding experience. I will be back for the World Cup South Africa in 2010!

I feel so fortunate to have been involved with such a great organization. Steven and Lea are truly passionate about creating opportunities for young individuals. Making the transition into the working world after years of being a ‘student’ is not always an easy thing to do. With Connect-123 I was able to find an internship that helped me to make this transition giving me the confidence I needed to go into the real world. Plus I was able to do this while experiencing beautiful Cape Town and South African culture. There was never a dull moment! Connect-123 ensures that you get the most out of your opportunity from finding you an internship specific to your needs while making sure you know where the party is Friday night!

Connect-123 is a great company. The service that Steven and Lea provide is fantastic! I worked in the film business in L.A. but I visited Cape Town and absolutely fell in love with the outdoor lifestyle, the beautiful city and warm, friendly people. My wife and decided to move here but I realized I didn’t know anyone in the film business in Cape Town - and in the film business who you know is everything. So I turned to the experts at Connect-123. After submitting my CV I had a phone interview with Steven to determine what my goals were and what I wanted to gain from the experience. Within a week, Lea had found the perfect internship for me at a well-known feature film production company here in Cape Town. She managed to find a company that needed my very specific skills in feature film production. I’ve been at the company for about three months now and I’ve absolutely loved the experience. I’ve been talking to the producer and it may even turn into a full time paid position soon! I’ve made several great contacts in the film industry and I couldn’t have done it without Connect-123. I would recommend their service to anyone in any industry. They really work hard to ensure that you receive the best experience. Connect-123 is your first step towards a great career!

My time in Cape Town was priceless. My internship experience was challenging, engaging, exciting, and so much more. I was able to interact with a unique culture and obtain valuable skills relevant to my area of study while feeling as though I was giving something back to those around me. The people at Connect made every effort to personally ensure our comfort, safety, and enjoyment during the time we were with them. They were not only mentors to us in our new South African lives, but also friends. The memories gained, people encountered, and opportunities experienced while in Cape Town are something I will value the rest of my life.

Connect-123 is a truly extraordinary organization. In the service they provide, they somehow manage to strike the perfect balance between hands-on assistance in practically every aspect of your experience in Cape Town (from finding you the perfect work experience to planning weekend trips to pristine wineries) and giving you the freedom to travel and explore the most gorgeous country on the planetl. Steven and Lea are both wonderful resources for anything you might want to do during your stay, and their warmth and friendliness really make for a sense of community among all the students and young professionals working through Connect. My own internship experience was remarkable. As an aspiring writer, I wanted to come to South Africa to engage in the more creative and artistic communities in Cape Town. They managed to find me a position working for a respected film production company, and within six weeks I had already been asked to begin my own project adapting a novel into a feature film. Now I am going to continue working on this project even after I leave Cape Town. Their persistence in finding me the perfect internship has lead directly to the best creative opportunity I’ve ever had! Connect-123 is far and away the best study abroad organization out there. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

I asked for a placement that involved research and lab work which was exactly what I got when I arrived. However, I’ve since also received training at a hospital which was my number one goal. So all in all I have gotten back far more than I had originally expected. I am super thrilled that not only am I achieving what I set out to do but I will leave with totally new skills. The location of the placement is also a bonus. Not many people can say they conducted their work with stunning scenery of a mountain and animals like wildebeest and impala right in front of them. On weekends there is so much to do, you truly never get bored. I am certain I made the right choice choosing Connect-123.

I had always wanted to visit South Africa and found that Connect-123 was the most impressive group out there. My expectations were far exceeded throughout my interaction with Steven and the gang. Not only did Steven call me almost immediately after my application, but he quickly replied to all questions I had in my preparations for my trip. From picking me up from the airport, to ensuring that my work at the hospital went smoothly, to arranging excellent and affordable accommodations; I was continually impressed by Connect-123. I wouldn’t travel to Cape Town any other way.

I honestly don’t know where to begin. If I tried to say all the amazing things I gained throughout my experience with Connect-123, I’d end up with a novel the size of the latest Harry Potter. One thing I had asked Steven was “How did I stumble across this program while surfing the internet, and have it COMPLETELY change my life?” Not only did I gain experience from working in the hospital, but I gained an overwhelming appreciation for the people and world around me. There are just no words to explain how much I have grown as a person by simply being immersed in the culture that surrounded me. To find beauty in a place with such devastating poverty is beauty in and of itself, if that makes any sense at all. I highly recommend Connect-123. They make the best team and are super supportive of every participant in the program! Steven and Lea were there for us at the drop of a hat, as professionals and as friends and I wouldn’t trade my experience for the world!

Connect-123 is the most organized and efficient program that I have ever been a part of. They put a great amount of time and thought into every detail, helping you instantly feel at home. The program’s small numbers and planned group outings create an intimate, fun environment and opportunity to meet new people. My internship applied to my studies more than I ever anticipated, and I was given tasks and responsibilities that taught me so much and greatly expanded my interests. On top of that, Cape Town is truly an amazing city with so much to offer. I did everything from shark cage diving to wine tasting and constantly found myself wishing for more time. I feel extremely fortunate that I was given this opportunity, and I know that it will be a life changing experience that I will never forget.

The two months I spent in Cape Town, South Africa were by far the best two months of my life. I had a wonderful internship, superb housing, and incredible roommates. I met some amazing people while I was there and gained invaluable work skills and knowledge that can be applied towards my career in the future. Not to mention the social life that Connect-123 hooks you up with! I highly recommend this experience to anyone who has the opportunity to enjoy it.

My experience with Connect-123 significantly impacted my life. From the second I applied to the program until after I returned home they were in constant communication with me making sure everything went smoothly. I loved how the program participants were from all over the world, offering different experiences, opinions, and areas of interest. The dynamic environment of South Africa was something so incredible and so very different. The food, people, and surroundings were like nothing I had ever seen before. The culture is so unique and there is always something new to experience in Cape Town. The responsibilities given to me during my internship made me really feel like I made a difference in my company, something not always the case at home. I learned an immense amount, but also was able to contribute information I have studied but have never been able to apply in the real world.

My experience in South Africa has been remarkably eye-opening. I had the perfect internship that gave me the opportunity to dive right into South African culture and make significant differences in the lives of those I worked with. After studying abroad in Cape Town I wanted to do something to give back to the place that I had grown to love. I was able to live in a high quality and safe setting as well as be a valuable addition to an organization working with students in townships. Steven and Lea are so obliging and supportive in every area. They have an expansive network and give interns the chance to explore South Africa’s culture, nightlife, and natural beauty. Connect-123 opened doors that offered me the internship of a lifetime and the experiences I have had will be extraordinarily beneficial to whatever I choose to do in the future.

Being thrown in at the deep end with the newspaper was the best possible way for me to start my journalism internship in Cape Town as it gave me an insight into a part of the city that very few people, even locals, know about. In terms of my goals, I’ve always wanted to write for newspapers, get decent experience of the world of newspaper journalism and have a good time whilst doing it. I can safely say that my time as an intern has given me all of that. I have had in excess of 20 bylines which is more than I could ever have hoped for and everyone in the newsroom has gone out of their way to help me. As a result I have had an amazing internship.”

Connect-123 provides an incredible opportunity to gain a unique experience in a remarkable culture. Traveling as a tourist is limited by achieving only a surface knowledge of a country, whereby living and working there offers an insight into a country’s distinctive features. Through Connect-123, I was able to spend six weeks working in marine conservation. My office was square miles of protected beach fronts and hiking trails, my desk a twin engine rubber duck (zodiac). My co workers were an accurate representation of the diversity that makes Cape Town so special. I was awoken to a truly remarkable place that everyone should get a chance to see. Connect-123 provides this unique opportunity.

After graduating from the London School of Economics I was not particularly sure what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to work internationally, but I did not want to stay in Europe. Connect-123 paired me with a great multi-national company that provided me with a great internship experience. Combined with the spectacular setting of Cape Town, my experience with Connect-123 helped me develop both professionally and personally. I was hired soon after by a great company in Singapore as a direct result of my professional exposure in South Africa. I cannot thank Steven and Lea enough for their help in providing a fantastic experience in one of the world’s most unique places.

My experience in Cape Town would not have been as extraordinary as it was, without the expertise of Connect-123. They are the most well connected people in Cape Town and took a caring and holistic approach to ensure that my internship, accommodation and social experiences were nothing short of amazing. The small size of the program combined with planned excursions to wineries, scenic hikes and popular clubs, to matching my interests and skills with an internship that fit perfectly with my majors has truly made my time in Cape Town unforgettable, and has undoubtedly left me wishing I could extend my stay. I feel as though I have made lasting relationships with the people I have met here and am certain that my international internship experience combined with a great reference letter from my boss will give me an edge on the competition when applying for other positions back in the States.

From the indescribable poverty of the townships to the gorgeous, breathtaking landscapes of the wine lands and coast, the amazing thing about Cape Town is that it is such a land of extremes. Fortunately I was able to see both extremes as Connect-123 was great at organizing trips to venture beyond the city and my internship granted me access to the clinics in the townships. My internship in the clinic, a mixture of both helping and observing, also allowed me to learn a great deal about HIV and antiretroviral treatment. Besides arranging my fantastic internship and organizing memorable social events, Connect-123 are great in that they truly care about making each student’s experience in Cape Town the best that it can be and thus offer very personalized attention. This has been an amazing experience that I will always value; I only wish I had stayed longer!

One word sums up my experience in South Africa: incredible! I was there for three months and had the time of my life. Steven and Lea, who run Connect-123, are two of the greatest and most accommodating people in the world and they are completely dedicated to making sure that each intern has a positive and life changing experience. They both have extensive experience in traveling and working with younger people. On top of that, as the company implies, they are two of the most well connected people in the city. When you meet them you will understand what I mean. While I have done internships in other places, Steven and Lea are one of the main reasons why I would recommend Connect-123 and Cape Town above any other. I don’t know what else I can say other than to tell you to take the adventure to the end of the world and make the most of Cape Town and Africa. It is an incredible journey that I will never forget.

Connect-123 gives you the most personalized attention and treatment you can get ever! From matching you up with a great internship, to finding you the ideal housing arrangement, to making your stay in beautiful Cape Town fun and enjoyable, Connect-123’s internship program was perfect. My accomodation was excellent, very comfortable and spacious, and located very close to the city centre and to my internship office on a very quiet and safe street. One of the best things about this
program is that you can be very independent, but also easily meet and get-together with the other interns, all from different countries and interests, or you can join in on the weekend sightseeing and adventure trips.

Working through Connect-123 made everything easy. The internship I did was perfect for me, and the individual attention that I got really made me feel comfortable about traveling to Cape Town. The Connect-123 group get-togethers were a great way to really experience what the Western Cape has to offer and I can’t wait to come back.

Connect-123 was absolutely fantastic in arranging the internship, accommodation, social activities and much more. My internship has given me the professional edge I needed for a career in journalism and has benefited me profoundly. I came to South Africa hoping for a great time and my expectations were more than fulfilled. I can’t recommend the country, the people and Connect-123 highly enough! I experienced more than I ever thought I could: sky diving, shark cage diving, going on a safari and writing for an internationally recognised magazine. The only bad thing about my experience was having to leave and come back home!

I was lucky enough to spend four months in Cape Town and with Steven and Lea Levy. I swear Steven and Lea know everybody! Steven placed me in the perfect internship for my needs. The company I worked for welcomed me immediately and treated me like one of the family, including whisking my boyfriend and me away to the wine country the first weekend we were in town. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel all over South Africa both with my job and independently. It’s a beautiful country and I don’t think anyone has lived until they have seen the sun set over the escarpment and God’s Window in Mpumalanga. Having the safety net of built in friends, an active social calendar and not to mention all logistics sorted out, made my experience with Connect-123 extremely valuable. Steven and Lea aren’t just service providers; they became my friends. I will miss the beautiful country and can’t wait to come back!