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!

Scroll down to view all – or filter by destination, opportunity or both.

Destination

Opportunity

Danielle Hamersley

Finance Intern | Shanghai
The University of Nottingham
3 October 2018

I honestly cannot fault Connect-123 at all. When I initially looked at the fee it seemed a lot and I thought how am I going to raise this money; I can honestly from my heart say it has been worth every penny and the many, many long shifts I worked at my part-time job! Lea was assigned to help me plan my internship and I could not have asked for anybody better. No-one could have done a better job... it isn’t possible! Everything I ever asked for was always catered for and I never had any worries. When planning my internship I was studying in my third year at university but I knew Lea had everything under control I could trust her 100% to solve any problems or answer any questions I had. She was so efficient and my emails were often answered within minutes. Even when I was abroad she often messaged to ask how I was doing. Nothing was ever too much bother and the experience turned out to be so much more than what I ever imagined. I was also lucky enough to be housed with very fun housemates and we are even now still in contact. I would highly recommend for anybody who is considering joining Connect-123 to do it - it is an experience you will not forget!

Internships in Shanghai

Polly Ratcliff

Social Work Intern | Dublin
The University of York
31 August 2018

I decided to spend my summer volunteering, with a specific goal to spend this time in Dublin in an effort to live amongst the Irish culture and explore my own Irish roots further. I initially wasn’t sure how to go about it. I spent time researching online and found many volunteering programmes specifically geared toward one sector of work. Connect-123 works on a slightly different method, in that you can choose from a wide variety of career areas, and the team will work to place you in the best possible one for you. I am currently a Psychology student, with the goal of working in the mental health and social sectors. I had a Skype interview with the Connect-123 Dublin Program Co-ordinator, in which she took the time to learn exactly what I wanted to get out of my placement, and the areas I was specifically interested in. The effort and genuine care the team at Connect-123 put into ensuring that I was happy, comfortable and interested in my placement was brilliant, and they were extremely supportive during my enrolment in my chosen scheme. I chose to work at a drug rehabilitation center for women in Dublin city center. I can honestly say that I had the best summer of my life, sounds a bit OTT, but it's true. The center is a fantastic, inclusive and supportive environment, and the staff were second to none, helping me to understand addiction recovery programmes, social issues faced by many of those struggling with addiction, and a personal approach to recovery. The women I worked with were a vibrant, wonderful, funny and courageous group, and my time with them and everything I learned from them was invaluable. I entered the programme thinking I would gain experience in the workplace in terms of mental health and social care, but I left my placement with a learning experience about life, people and supporting each other that I never expected. I would highly recommend this programme, it is truly inspiring and a fantastic way to further understand issues that you may not have personally faced. It was truly an amazing place, and I will never forget my time there, nor any of the wonderful people I met along the way. The Connect-123 team was really helpful in organizing accommodation to make sure that my move to Dublin ran as smoothly as possible. I spent half my time in halls on UCD campus, and the other half in Dublin city center. In both, I met great people from across the Globe, some of which are now friends for life. The Connect-123 team made every effort to ensure that everyone on the programme was happy and settling in well, with regular check-ins and introductions to others on the scheme. They also organized social events catering to all and were really helpful in recommending other things to do such as sightseeing in Dublin city centre and trips to explore other beautiful parts of Ireland. I cannot recommend Connect-123 and the lovely team highly enough. From start to finish, my time there was made as comfortable and fun, and the team genuinely care for the welfare of those they are looking after. If you are wondering whether or not to go for it, my advice would be ABSOLUTELY DO. You won’t regret it. I am now applying for my Masters degree in Dublin, possibly to do Addiction Studies, none of which I would be doing if it weren’t for Connect-123.

Volunteer in Dublin

Emily Frascati

Animal Science intern | Dublin
College of San Mateo
9 August 2018

I completed my summer internship in Dublin at an animal shelter.  I chose to do this internship through Connect-123 because I wanted to have a relaxing summer before I started medical school. This particular internship placement had loads of options ranging from cuddling cats to sitting in on surgeries and observing. I chose to help with the weekly kids' camps because it gave me the opportunity to do a little bit of everything each week, including going to the zoo every Wednesday (for free). No matter what internship you are doing, the first few days can be daunting but everyone I met was extremely helpful and exceedingly kind. This internship was wonderful partly because they were incredibly flexible. I ended up injuring my hand over the summer and they were more than happy to give me some time off to figure it out. Ireland is a great place to spend the summer because there are so many different places to explore that are nearby. The whole of Ireland is the same size as the state of Indiana, meaning you can traverse the whole country in a weekend if you really wanted to. Flights to Europe are ridiculously cheap so it’s a wonderful excuse to go pamper yourself in Paris (the gluten-free offerings are incredible) or go exploring in Lisbon. Nikki and Rosie were my main points of contact for the summer, both of them are amazing and are there for literally anything you need. They organized loads of events in Dublin and around the country, which gave me an opportunity to meet the other Connectors and get to know everyone a little bit better. I adored my internship this summer, thank goodness I got to stay for my school semester, otherwise I'm not sure I would have been able to leave.

Internships in Dublin

Ellie Broscious

Education Intern | Shanghai
Earlham College
5 August 2018

After staying home all of 2017, I knew that I wanted to do something different during 2018 - something fun, related to my interests, and not in my hometown. Connect-123 helped me find a fantastic internship teaching English at a summer camp in Shanghai. Not only was my internship incredibly fun, but it also helped me learn more about what I do and don’t want to do in the future. Living in Shanghai for two months was fun and helped me improve my Chinese. My time in Shanghai was terrific and helped me grow as a person.

Internships in Shanghai

Yi Liang Jiang

Pharmacology Intern | Dublin
Bristol University
4 August 2018

I completed my pharmacology internship at a hospital in Dublin. I worked in an immunology lab, where I learned how to operate centrifuge, Phadia 250 and QuantaLyser. The colleagues and chief scientist were welcoming and patient. Thanks to my summer internship, I gained knowledge of many crucial laboratory skills such as preparing coverslips and writing audits. Connect-123 not only made sure that we worked in a safe and professional environment but also filled our free time with exciting adventures and good food!

Internships in Dublin

Kolleen Jabbour

Law Intern | Barcelona
Concordia College
4 August 2018

My experience with Connect-123 was one of the best things that ever happened to me! At first, I was super stressed and hesitant to go to another continent and to work in a city that I’ve only seen in pictures and movies. I was nervous to be in a place where I know absolutely no one. However, Connect-123 facilitated things for me and guided me through every step of my journey. Indeed, Connect-123 found me the job that I was looking for and always comforted me when I was feeling anxious. It was so easy to socialize with the coordinators of the program, they went above and beyond to make people feel welcomed and to assure that they have a great time in the city they would organize all sorts of activities and inform us on the events happening in the city! I spent two months working in an immigration law firm. I became comfortable with everyone I was working with and they were all there if I needed help or if I had any questions about work, the city or anything! Indeed, I feel like I found a new family, I built great relationships with my coworkers and found a place that I could call my second home. It was an experience of a lifetime. I loved my stay in Barcelona to the point where I was considering living there. Barcelona will always hold a special place in my heart. I am forever grateful and thankful for this experience!

Internships in Barcelona

Cole Brightbill

Music Production Intern | Dublin
Drexel University
4 August 2018

I study recording arts and music production at Drexel University. Via the Connect-123 program, I got an internship in Dublin at one of the premier recording studios in Ireland. Right off the bat, I was impressed with my placement. My internship in Dublin was one of the most valuable times in my life. Once I arrived in Dublin, Nikki and Rosie were there to help me adjust to living abroad, and made sure I was comfortable in my internship by giving me guidance and encouraging me to proceed independently. During the course of the summer, I was able to learn and excel in my internship, as well as travel all over Europe and see places I never would have otherwise. Connect-123 hosted awesome events and trips around Dublin, which really helped us interns explore Ireland to the fullest. I can't recommend Connect-123 enough!

Internships in Dublin

Jace Grissom

Human Rights Intern | Shanghai
Earlham College
4 August 2018

Shanghai is a vibrant, fast-paced, and progressive city. My summer internship in Shanghai provided me with an endless stream of opportunity and experiences that allowed me to grow in my professional and personal goals. Working at a startup, I was given a lot of responsibility as an intern that challenged me to learn new skills and problem solve independently of reporting to a supervisor. Through my internship experience, I gained in my professional and social immersion experience by being exposed to a new LGBTQIA+ community in Shanghai in my work and my free time. Most of my days were spent in the office, but I also had the opportunity to attend social events hosted by my company at night and on the weekends.

Internships in Shanghai

Catherine Kozuch

Sustainable Development Intern | Buenos Aires
Case Western Reserve University
4 August 2018

My time in Buenos Aires was an experience I'll never forget! I didn't know what to expect, as I had never been to South America, but the city is amazing. You'll never be bored with the city, you could do something new every day for two months and you wouldn't run out of things to do. Whether that be strolling el Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays, checking out the art at The Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires, finding out where to get the best empanadas, or heading down to play foosball at Jobs Bar with your friends, there's something for everyone!
The Connect-123 team was incredibly helpful and supportive the entire way, they went above and beyond to make sure everything was running smoothly and to make sure I was comfortable. Aside from that, they organize events so that you can meet everyone else who's in Buenos Aires through Connect-123. I ended up meeting some amazing people, some of whom became some of my closest friends and doing most of everything with them.
As for my environmental sustainability internship, it was amazing to work with an environmental NGO. All of the employees were Argentinean, so it was a great way to meet people who weren't American and talk to them about Argentina and how things are in Buenos Aires. The NGO that I worked with worked alongside with the Ministry of Sustainable Development, so we could go around to offices, evaluate how they're running, and then create a report for them on how to get certified either bronze, silver, gold, or diamond in sustainability. From that report, they could either choose to do follow the recommendations on their own, or hire us to put those recommendations in action ourselves.
My favorite part, personally, was working with the schools! We would go to schools throughout Buenos Aires, from elementary to high schools, and from public to private schools, in order to give environmental workshops. We would come in and, especially with the little kids, have them do interactive activities in which they learned how to recycle properly, or how to save water in their own home. With the older kids, we would introduce more complex topics such as climate change and water/air pollution. It was great to help throughout the city both in getting buildings to utilize more sustainable practices, and spreading environmental education awareness! All in all, I would definitely recommend coming here!

Internships in Buenos Aires

Meaghan Kincaid

Marketing & PR Intern | Barcelona
SUNY at Oneonta
4 August 2018

I chose to do a marketing internship in Barcelona, Spain this past summer. I was in contact with Lea Levy, who facilitated my internship. I could not have been happier with the placement she found me, at a coworking space on the port near Barceloneta. I wouldn’t have traded my internship experience for anything. Running the company’s social media platforms and blog section has shown me how marketing and public relations is executed internally. I met some of the most amazing individuals at my internship who have become some of my closest friends. Realizing there are people all over the world who you have more in common with than people from your hometown is an incredible feeling. I shared an apartment with a girl from Colorado, Brynna. We ended up traveling all over Europe together. We visited Prague, Portugal, France, and Italy. When we were in Barcelona one of my favorite experiences was the paella cooking class that Connect-123 held for us. We had sangria and some delicious paella. Overall, this experience was something I am so grateful I was able to do. Being a part of Connect-123 was comforting, especially in the beginning when you are on your own in another country. They held dinners and snacks on the beach where we were able to meet others in the program. If I could go back and relive this again, I would in a heartbeat!

Internships in Barcelona

Josefine Tegerdal Hune

Archaeology Intern | Dublin
Stockholm University
4 August 2018

I decided to do an archaeology internship in Dublin to get as much practical experience as I possibly can. It was always something I knew I would do this summer, but the challenge was to actually find somewhere to work. After searching a bit on the internet and being stressed about not finding anything, I found Connect-123 and everything went swimmingly after that. Before I knew it, I arrived in Dublin. Deciding on Ireland was more or less a spontaneous choice, but after it was confirmed it really did make sense. The Irish are very proud of their history, especially the Viking Age, so it felt like a good place to practice archaeology. My boss was also enthusiastic about the subject and made me visit all these cool sites and museums. I appreciated how involved the Connect-123 team was. They organized different events and fun things for us to do so that everybody had the chance to meet each other. I definitely learned a lot on my journey in Ireland, and I do not regret it for one second.

Internships in Dublin

Sarah Rost

Medical and Public Health Intern | Cape Town
Carleton College
1 August 2018

My medical and public health internship in Cape Town and my work in palliative care at a public hospital taught me to live life to fullest and take advantage of every opportunity available to me. Through this experience, I discovered both my love of traveling and healthcare. Working in palliative care taught me the importance of human interaction in medicine, and for that, I will always be grateful to my host organization. This was by far one of my favorite summers ever, and I hope I can return to this beautiful city someday! I want to thank Connect-123 for the experience of a lifetime in South Africa. I absolutely loved living and working in Cape Town, and will really miss this home away from home.

Internships in Cape Town

Austin Neal

Physical Rehabilitation Intern | Cape Town
Ball State University
31 July 2024

My medical internship in Cape Town in physical rehabilitation helped open my eyes to different cultures, ways of living, the struggles that people go through, and how resilient people are. The best way to learn is via experience, and that is exactly what I got. At the hospital, I was able to learn the sorts of things you aren’t taught in books. I observed therapy sessions and I got to work with a group of colleagues who, over the course of my internship, became friends. I observed and shadowed occupational therapists and physiotherapists as they treated stroke victims, people with disabilities and those with broken bones. Cape Town was an amazing experience that I will never forget. I met great people here and I feel like it has helped me grow in ways that I can’t put into words. Cape Town will forever have a piece of my heart.

Internships in Cape Town

Taylor Watson

Health & Wellness Intern | Dublin
Lake Superior State University
26 July 2018

I applied to Connect-123 in search of an internship to fulfill graduation requirements, and what I got out of my experience was more than I could have ever imagined. I did an 11-week health and wellness internship in Dublin. I learned a lot from my coworkers, they were so nice and always willing to help. I was blessed to have Nikki and Rosie, Connect-123 program coordinators in Dublin, assist me along the way with little tips and tricks about transportation, things to do, places to eat, where the best scones are, literally anything you could think of, they were always there to help! I was able to travel around Ireland and Europe a bit on the weekends with one of my roommates from Connect-123, which was amazing. There were group dinners, weekend trips and events planned with all the Connect-123 interns, which was a great way to meet new people and make new friends. Overall, it was an experience I will never forget and I cannot wait until the day I'm able to go back to Ireland.

Internships in Dublin

Faizan Rai

Public Policy intern | Cape Town
King's College London
18 July 2018

Culture, politics, and nature. It is fair to say that my time in Cape Town can be characterized by these three defining features, along with much more. Having the opportunity to live, work and holiday in Cape Town exposed me to a whole new way of life, which is something I looked forward to before coming here. The city and indeed the whole country is abundant in culture, with various beautiful languages being spoken all the time and music being played from all walks of life. The accepting nature of South Africans compels me to return, as I have made lasting friendships during my experience here. Another aspect of Cape Town I have loved is how history and politics has echoed all around me, always. As a student of International Relations, I was eager to learn how South Africa functions. Through visiting historically significant sites such as Robben Island and various museums commemorating South Africa’s history, I have developed a passion for South African affairs and I wish to play a part in the progressive ambitions it has for its future. What has struck me most is how, despite the turbulent past, the people of South Africa remain ambitious, forgiving and hopeful to create a free and just society. Finally, it is fair to say that Cape Town is the most beautiful city I have lived in. The stunning landscape of three beautiful mountains on one side and the jaw-dropping blue sea on the other, with a city of narrow streets and skyscrapers sandwiched in between made waking up at 7am every morning more than enjoyable, as every day provided me with a new experience. I can count myself extremely lucky with the opportunities I was provided during my internship. Working in government was the ideal internship for me and Connect-123 ensured I gained an internship I would be happy with. The highlight of my work experience was being able to travel around the country for work. During my travels to Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth, I have gained vital professional skills as well as vast exposure to South Africa as a nation. In summary, I must thank connect-123 for making Cape Town such a memorable experience and exposing me to South Africa, a country that I will surely return to.

Internships in Cape Town

Donald LeCompte

Communications intern | Cape Town
Washington and Lee University
18 July 2018

Connect-123 was great! They took the time to connect with us before we arrived to ensure that our internship placements were ones that matched our skills and passions. They were also a great go-to resource if we had any issues or if we had questions about things to do and the best way to go about doing them. Many of the events we attended and excursions we went on were organized by Connect-123, and they did a great job of working with us to ensure that it would be a great experience. I’m glad our University partners with Connect-123, as they made our time in South Africa memorable!

Internships in Cape Town

Emily Painter

Building Conservation Intern | Dublin
University of Vermont
18 July 2018

This summer I completed an internship in Dublin in historic building conservation. Connect-123 provided a dream-come-true opportunity with my internship. Building conservation is not a very large field, but I couldn’t have thought of a more amazing or perfect internship experience for this summer! My company was very friendly and taught me so much about the field. Connect-123 was super supportive and it was wonderful to have such a great community in Dublin! Having spent time traveling on my own, it was incredibly nice to have a ready-made group of friends waiting when I arrived. The connections at work and through Connect-123 will last me a lifetime and provide an amazing portal to my future career.

Internships in Dublin

Nina Samarelli

Healthcare intern | Dublin
James Madison University
17 July 2018

Connect-123 found the perfect medical internship for me in Dublin! In the hopes of becoming a Physician Assistant, shadowing various doctors and nurses around two children’s hospitals has been an incredible experience, one that is difficult to find in the US. I have had the opportunity to observe what it is really like in a children’s hospital and how things operate. Each healthcare professional I have met has been more than willing to answer my questions and explain any type of medication, diagnosis or procedure. Not only were the people in the hospitals kind, but everyone in Dublin was! I felt so comfortable living in this city and it quickly became my favorite place in the world. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to advance in my healthcare career, meet some of the most amazing people, and grow into a more independent and confident person.

Internships in Dublin

Sarah Treanor

Environmental Intern | Dublin
SUNY at Oneoneta
13 July 2018

I completed my environmental and sustainability internship in Ireland at a Dublin-based creative studio and shop with a focus on the environment and healthcare design. From the day I started my internship, I helped make the products that were sold in the shop, as well as help manage the cash register. There was a big street festival a few weeks after I arrived, so a lot of work needed to be done to prepare. After the festival, I assisted on a project that aims to create a green corridor connecting the Botanical Gardens (located in the Northwest Inner City) to the Liffey (the river running through the center of the city). The nature corridor, it is envisioned, will create a ribbon of biodiversity and fertile ground for social innovation, green enterprise and nature-based solutions in Dublin. The Connect-123 coordinators made sure that everyone was adjusting well to life in Ireland, and set up different events for everyone to get together at! Dublin is one of my favorite cities. It's not as big as NYC, and it also has a much more laid back atmosphere than anywhere I've been. For anyone thinking about doing an internship abroad, I can't recommend this program enough.

Internships in Dublin

Iris Arborgast

Environmental Intern | Shanghai
Carleton College
13 July 2018

Connect-123 guided us every step of the way as we applied for Chinese Visas. They helped us get settled into a lovely apartment in Shanghai and organized frequent events for the group of interns in Shanghai. They also assisted us in finding Mandarin classes. Shanghai is a convenient and exciting city - you could get lost in the number of activities there are in the expat community. My internship taught me a lot about NGO work, the environmental movement in China and how to work in a professional environment. Overall, a great experience!

Internships in Shanghai
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