Testimonials

When I began to think about my plans for the summer I wanted to make sure that they met certain criteria I had laid out for myself.  I wanted to gain some real world work experience, travel, network and have something to add to my resume.  In reality, my experience with Connect-123 in Cape Town was so much more!  I was able to not only visit, but live in one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. 

Traveling from North America, and having never set foot in Africa, there is nothing that truly prepares you for what you will experience during your time there.  On one hand, Cape Town is a picturesque, culturally rich, electric city which is almost surreal.  On the other, it is still facing many issues such as poverty, inequality and other socioeconomic challenges.  However, this mix of both only adds to the uniqueness of this incredible place and allows you to truly appreciate it.

As for my internship, once again my expectations were far surpassed.  Despite only being able to spend 6 weeks at my host organisation, a research and consulting firm, I was able to get a taste of life after university.  From the get go, I was given the opportunity to earn additional responsibilities and play a larger role within the organization.  I was involved in various projects with varying levels of importance and complexity.  This gave me the chance to apply many of the concepts and skills which I have learned throughout my years at university.  In addition, learning how to work with people including co-workers and clients will definitely help me in my future career as I truly believe this isn't something which can be learned in school.  The people I met during my internship were truly amazing and genuine.  From day one they were very friendly and made me feel part of the organization.  I was invited to each meeting and treated as an equal, not as an intern.  Even three months later I am still in contact with those people I met at my host organisation.  I have no doubt I have made longtime friends which I hope to visit again in the near future!

In summary, I embarked into the Connect-123 program with a simple set of expectations, which turned out to be completely overshadowed by what I actually experienced during my short 6 week stay.  In addition to my initial objectives, I was able to experience something unique and incredible, which will not only impact me professionally, but has also impacted me personally.  If I had an opportunity to go back, I would do it in a heartbeat.

My experience in Cape Town far exceeded any expectations I had prior to arrival.  The close friendships I formed, business experience attained, and the immersion to a new culture and city all helped make this experience the best three months of my life. 

As an intern with the southern African office of a global microfinance NGO, I attained a greater understanding of development, business at the Base of the Pyramid, and more specifically insight into the microfinance sector.  Connect-123 worked with me to find a company that fit my needs, and in turn, my host organisation involved me in projects related to my field (Human Resources).

This was an extremely valuable and unforgettable experience, and I highly recommend an internship in Cape Town to all those seeking a unique experience.
 

I am an italian student and I came to Cape Town to volunteer at a refugee NGO in the city bowl!

I was a bit afraid when I first arrived in Cape Town, because I expected a completely different environment and I didn’t know what I should expect from my day to day life.  But fortunately my experience was amazing, thanks also to the marvellous staff of connect-123 that welcomed me and helped me for all the three months in South Africa!!! I suggest everyone who wants to come to CT to join connect-123 to find amazing friends from all over the world to share your experience with!!!

I just got back from 6 months in the beautiful Cape Town and one thing is sure I would not mind going back tomorrow.

During that time I was an intern at a National Human Rights Institution constitutionally mandated to promote respect for, observance of and protection of human rights in South Africa. I worked on different reports, attended Parliament meetings and conducted a survey with refugees and people from the townships. These different tasks confirmed my interest for the human rights field. My experience also gave me the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds (members of parliament, refugees, ordinary citizens), which improved my ability to work with people from overseas.

In addition to the professional experience gained I got to visit an amazing city. There is always something to do in Cape Town whether during the day or during the night. I met so many incredible people from South Africa and from other countries. I will never forget my time there and it taught me some valuable lessons. I cherish all those South African memories and I am very much looking forward to going back one day.

Once again thank you to Connect Staff for giving me this opportunity and for being there no matter what (wounded finger, accommodation…). Merci.

My experience in Cape Town was amazing and life changing.  I always had a passion for helping others but after working in the corporate world for the past 7 years I lost sight of my purpose and meaning in my life.  After returning back to the United States after my 30 day volunteer experience at a creche, I have a new outlook on life and have learned to appreciate even the small things that I have.

I worked in a creche in a very diverse neighborhood outside of Cape Town and was assigned to work with 3 and 4 year old children from all different races and backgrounds.  I was surprised at the differences between the classroom environment in the United States and South Africa, such as the discipline, the teaching methods and the overall demeanor of the children.  I learned new things about the children every day and they learned new things about me.  Since there were approximately 30 children in the classroom at one time, I believe my ability to spend one on one time with each child made a huge impact on them.  The most memorable experience of my volunteer position was the children's hugs and smiles when I left every day.  In addition to the children, the teachers and administrator at the creche are the most inspirational and kindest people I have ever met.  I only had a limited amount of exposure to the cchildren and this experience taught me very valuable techniques on how to interact with children as well as how to keep their attention.  In addition to learning about teaching, I learned a significan amount of information about South Africa's struggle with Apartheid and the current social and economic structure of the country in general.

The experience changed my life so much that I am making plans to return to Cape Town to volunteer for a longer period of time.  I thank Connect-123 for giving me the opportunity to connect with such fantastic children and staff and finding that sense of purpose that I had lost.
 

My 3 months in Cape Town were absolutely amazing.  Connect 123 supported me throughout the whole process – from setting up my internship to acting as a resource throughout my stay.   I found that interning through Connect provided a great balance of the saying, “work hard, play hard.”  My internship was a rewarding, learning experience that opened my eyes to new people and a new culture.  Connect set up many social events throughout my time in Cape Town which was a great way to get to know the people and city around me.  I thrived off of the adventure that living in Cape Town brought to my life every day.  I enjoyed hiking, cliff jumping, bungee jumping, shark cage diving, traveling, and so much more.  Cape Town is a beautiful city with so much to offer – never a dull moment!  The only thing I regret is not staying longer, but I guess that means I’ll have to start planning my next trip to South Africa!