Reviews
Real stories from real participants, parents and university partners who share their experiences as well as their advice. Learn more about the benefits Connect-123 interns and volunteers receive on our programs around the world!
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Kateryna Tepylo
I had no idea what I wanted to do with my summer. I knew I wanted to travel and I knew I wanted some exposure to nonprofits in other countries. Connect-123 was the perfect vehicle to help find the perfect place. After I had decided to travel to Dublin, Connect-123 found me a perfect place to intern for the 6 weeks I spent in Ireland. At a very small NGO I was able to discover more about non profits around the world while also improving my advertising and promotions skills. I was able to do so much because of the size of the organization which helped me better understand what I want to do with my life. I was even invited as a guest on an Irish environmental radio show to talk about my journey to Ireland and to give a Canadian point of view on Irish and world environmental issues. It was such a cool experience! The internship allowed to grow both my professional and personal skills while having the chance to explore the unbelievably beautiful country of Ireland. My summer in Dublin changed my life for the better and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to do what I did. Through Connect-123 I was able to meet a ton of amazing people who helped make my summer even more grand. My summer helped me become more confident, more independent and opened my eyes to more of the world. I can't say enough what an amazing experience it was!
Internships in Dublin
Janice Isidro
Discovering Connect -123 was the best thing that could have happened to me! I wanted to come to Barcelona for 3 months and gain some cool abroad work experiences in advertising and copywriting that I could add to my resume and portfolio. I did that and so much more. I was really picky with what type of internship I wanted to do but the staff and program director were always readily available and willing to go beyond their call of duty to make sure I was satisfied and happy. Finally, I landed the job of my dreams! I did SO much more than what I could have asked for and now my portfolio looks amazing with real life work that the company uses. I came to Spain by myself (and 0 spanish speaking skills), and I can now get by on conversations and can't count the number of foreign friends I now have! The Connect team (and other interns who come to the same city around the same time) are wonderful! We went out for dinners and events and built great bonds. Wish I had more time to see them! I'm so sad that I have to be leaving. Barcelona is so amazing and so different than back home. I had a blast with all their little random festivals. The fire festival in Valencia, paint fight, carnival in sitges, and so much more) Life is so calm here but at the same time, the work load for my internship I had was heavy (which I asked for), and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Internships in Barcelona
Heather Wenzel
Cape Town was completely different than I expected, and something I couldn’t have actually prepared for. The culture is rich, and the people are so proud of their heritage. I am so lucky that I can take this sense of belonging back home with me to America. I have never felt so immediately accepted and a part of a community as quickly as I was in Cape Town. My co-workers made me feel at home and took it upon themselves to show me how they lived, where they were raised, and how they became the people they did. It was fantastic to see parts of myself in these people across the ocean from where I have grown up my entire life. The opportunity to work in my field of study while experiencing a culture so different and yet so similar to my own could not have been found anywhere else. Though Cape Town was different than I had imagined, it will be something I remember for the rest of my life and look back upon fondly as the greatest growth point of my college career.
Internships in Cape Town
Matt DiNauta
My experience in Cape Town with Connect-123 was phenomenal. If you are ready for a unique experience that will stay with you forever, look no further than Connect. Lea at Connect worked with me to find the ideal internship to match my interests. I interned at a small advertising agency where I was in direct contact with clients and my work for them was often used. When I found that I had some free time to fill, Lea worked with me to get a second position as a tutor in a boys home in Cape Town. I worked side-by-side with people my age from Cape Town’s townships. Working there was the most rewarding and inspiring experience of my life. South Africa is a breathtakingly beautiful place, and I was never bored for a minute with hiking, surfing, and awesome restaurants and bars all around Cape Town. The nightlife in Cape Town is fantastic, and Lea and Steven know what’s happening around the city every night of the week. Connect is your family away from home and everyone there is great when it comes to helping you with any problems that arise. The addition of an internship in South Africa to my resume has been wonderful and stands out like nothing else could. I am never short of a great work experience to bring up when talking to employers. Best of all are great friends I made through the program from all over the States and the world.
Internships in Cape Town
