Reviews

Kelly M

Connect-123 gave me the most life-changing experience. Thanks to Carla and the Connect-123 team all of my questions were answered prior to the experience so I felt confident going into it. The Child Life Practicum gave me child life skills I’m confident I wouldn’t have been able to learn through just a typical Child Life Practicum. I gained life-long friendships, lessons and had a great time experiencing the South African culture. We were able to volunteer at multiple locations, with several different types of situations and it was so eye-opening and will certainly benefit me going forward in this field. This program gave me a new perspective and so many new skills. I’m forever grateful. After completing this program I feel much more confident in my skills in this field and am so excited to continue my career in this field. Thank you Connect-123 and everyone a part of the team. I am forever grateful.

Addison C

Entering the workforce during the midst of COVID-19 was an unpredictable obstacle, but Connect-123 did an excellent job of getting me plugged into an internship abroad that prepared me with the experience and confidence I needed. I worked with a young and vibrant media production company, only a few minutes from my apartment. The internship gave me the flexibility and creative freedom to take on a variety of projects over the span of three months. I left with an expansive portfolio, new friends, and a big dose of Cape Town culture. Not to mention, I had an absolute blast working alongside my co-workers! Even though I'm back in the US, I still have my job connections back in South Africa and will be continuing my collaboration with them. None of this would have happened without all the amazing support and guidance from Carla. She was there to answer every phone call, late-night text and helped me adjust to my new life abroad. She even went out of her way to meet up for dinners and adventures across town. We made so many wonderful memories and it wouldn’t be the same without her or my new Cape Town family!

Amelia H

Connect-123 provided the opportunity for a life-changing experience. Their program was so much more than just a practicum. Through them, I gained child life skills I couldn't have learned anywhere else and developed life-long friendships. We were able to volunteer at several locations, building connections with the community and providing the students with diverse experiences. In addition to hospital settings, we got to visit a school for children with autism, a day center for children with a wide variety of disabilities, and serve at a local foster home. The two hospitals we volunteered at gave us experience in a pediatric clinic, a pediatric ward, and an oncology unit. This program enabled me to learn so many new skills and develop a culturally diverse perspective. I loved experiencing a different culture and getting to know the people. We had the unique experience of getting to advocate for child life in an area where it is not prevalent and see firsthand just how effective these principles are. After completing the practicum, I feel so much more confident in my child life skills. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience in one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Connect-123 provided an exceptional learning experience as well as memorable activities that allowed us to really experience Cape Town. If you have the chance to participate in a program with them, it's absolutely worth it!

Emma O

As a young and newer child life student, I was looking for a program that offered a very diverse, authentic experience of what Child Life is truly about. Connect-123 provided me with that and so much more. During my time in Cape Town, South Africa I gained skills and developed great confidence in observing, documenting, and carrying out therapeutic play sessions with children of various ages and diagnoses. Outside of time spent at the two hospitals, we got to attend workshops that helped build communication and knowledge about Child Life, resumes, and interview skills. On top of all these wonderful experiences, we also had many opportunities to explore the beautiful country of South Africa! The girls I met were amazing, my preceptor prepared and helped me in more ways than I can count, and the program provided me with the well-rounded, enjoyable experience I set out to find! I would recommend this program in a heartbeat.

Alyssa L

As an aspiring Certified Child Life Specialist, I am incredibly grateful I chose to complete my Child Life Practicum through Connect-123. This program provided me with the once in a lifetime experience, and I  learned so much in just a short four weeks. During my time, I volunteered with two hospitals in South Africa, worked with many different children and families, and met so many warm-hearted people that I will never forget. Connect-123 is a helpful program that will support and help you even after you complete the program. Completing this program through Connect-123 helped me step out of my comfort zone in the right direction and prepared me for my future in more ways than I can imagine. I will never forget this experience of a lifetime and the friends I made during my practicum. I highly recommend Connect-123 to everyone, and I hope others choose this program to study internationally!

Hailee Morisseau

My time in Cape Town was truly memorable. I had the opportunity to complete an observership/internship at the hospital where I was able to learn from the Department of Neurosurgery. My healthcare experience was a well-rounded one as I also had the opportunity to observe other scopes of practice, such as anesthesia, child life, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physiotherapy. Not only was I able to observe surgeries, clinics, and ward rounds, but I was also given the opportunity to assist with data entry to help transfer the department over to an electronic note system. This experience was incredibly helpful for me to gain more exposure to healthcare and to become more confident in the career path that I want to follow. Cape Town itself is a beautiful city to be in and I met a lot of great people from all over the world. The coordinators were always happy to help with anything and they played a key role in making my experience as memorable as it was!

Logan Kaifes

Completing the Child Life practicum abroad helped me grow as an individual and in my future career. I was able to experience Child Life in a different culture, working with various patients and their families in a healthcare setting different than I was used to. It helped me to step out of my comfort zone and realized how important the power of play is for all kids! I made so many memories and lifelong friends while studying in Cape Town that I’ll cherish forever! It was truly the best experience I have ever been given and thank you Connect-123 for being there every step of the way!

Lisa Clark

Connect-123 did an amazing job finding the perfect internship for our son.  As parents of a recent high school graduate who was taking a GAP semester in the fall 2019, we were unsure of what to expect.  He was doing this on his own, not through a college program.  Working with the staff at Connect-123 was delightful.  Kate was always available to answer questions before and during the internship, and considering our late application, she put great consideration and effort into finding the right placement.  She set up a Skype interview with the business owner for the internship and I was able to say hello and ask questions after the interview with my son.  Our son was happy with his apartment and everything worked out well with roommates.  I was also impressed with my communication with Steven Levy during the planning stages, very hands-on with the program, reaching out to me with more detailed information about the apartment arrangements.  We were able to visit our son in Cape Town and stopped by the office to say hello to the staff.  We met Kate for coffee and found she truly cares about each intern and is fully invested in making this an amazing experience.  She visited our son at his internship to check in with him and she and the staff organized and accompanied the interns on fun outings on several evenings and weekends!  With our son 8,000 miles away, it was so nice to know he had the support of the staff if needed, but it was nice to see that he was able to figure out how to live on his own, with meals, laundry, transportation, and so on.  I would highly recommend this program for anyone who is comfortable living abroad, independently.  This was an incredibly valuable experience for our son!

Paige Rideout

Brooke Hauser

This past summer I had the amazing opportunity to complete my Child Life Practicum with Connect-123 in Cape Town, South Africa. I was able to not only expand my knowledge in the field of child life but I was able to expand my experience. The opportunities I was given to support not only children through their unique healthcare journeys, but their family members as well, gave myself the confidence and skills I needed to continue to pursue the wonderful child life field. The most memorable day I had included, preparing and supporting a 6-year-old girl for day surgery. With the guidance of my amazing preceptors, I witnessed the little girl's fear, stress, and anxiety slowly start to decrease. On top of all of the incredible experiences I had within the hospitals, I managed to meet the most supportive and wonderful group of girls that I still talk to every single day. We had the best times together, taking advantage of all the trips Connect-123 offered to us, like the beautiful Safari weekend. Cape Town, South Africa will always have such a special place in my heart, and of course all the incredible people I shared this life-changing experience with. I know I will be back in beautiful Cape Town one day!

Sarah Eiland

This summer I had the unique opportunity to work for an NGO that aims to uplift the homeless population of Cape Town by providing meaningful job opportunities, a monthly income, and social work services. The NGO currently operates three urban gardens, a street sweeping operation in the tourist-heavy area of town, and recently opened a safe house and rehab facility outside of the city. During my internship, I had the chance to fill a variety of roles. Some days I swept with the homeless men and talked to them about their life stories. Other days I filled the role of a garden supervisor or completed reports for stakeholders. My project in the latter half of my time in Cape Town consisted of me collecting a visual story to share with donors and for the archival integrity of the organization. It culminated in an event where our pictures were hung, beneficiaries spoke, and all 45 of us in attendance ate from a giant pot of soup I made in my small apartment. My most memorable day was my first day when I visited the home of a notorious South African prison gang leader. Working with the NGO exposed me to troubles and people I would never have encountered otherwise. I learned about homelessness, apartheid, current South African political affairs, drug addiction, South African gangs, Cape Town crime, and so much more just through my daily interactions with people who are affected by these issues. My internship turned out to be much more field experience than I anticipated, but I would never have gained the knowledge and personal growth that I acquired through any other type of internship. I am forever grateful for this life-changing opportunity. It has already changed how I look at my future. I will surely think of my time in Cape Town and the lessons I’ve learned for years to come.

Abbey Vacca

Morgan Braun

Reflecting upon my time in Cape Town, South Africa has been bittersweet! Following this amazing opportunity, I can say whole-heartedly that I do not have any regrets about committing to a month abroad for a child life practicum. Through this practicum, I felt that I received an extremely well-rounded and layered learning experience. As a student, I was quickly immersed in a variety of pediatric health centers that allowed for a great opportunity to observe preceptors engaging in therapeutic play and procedure prep while quickly turning around to providing me with the personal opportunity to practice these skills under supervision. This truly was a practicum that provides students with great exposure and space for doing much more than simply observing and taking notes; you are truly supported and encouraged to be hands-on and try new and existing skills in a safe and supportive environment. The children and families you meet while in these health care settings help you learn, and also show you why so many of us are aspiring to be child life specialist. Even with plenty of time spent in healthcare settings it does not mean there is any lost time exploring the motherland. Connect-123 hosted many AMAZING events while allowing a very gracious amount of time to explore the culture for what it truly is. Don’t be afraid to take a chance and fly across the world to visit one of the most amazing places in the world while learning and growing in the child life profession; you will NOT regret it. My life is forever changed through the many amazing women I grew close to and the culture that helped me become enlightened in both my personal and professional life.

Danielle Zacharias

My time in Cape Town was nothing short of amazing. I made friends from all over the United States, along with those from South Africa who I am still in touch with today. I was able to explore an absolutely beautiful country while getting work experience at an internship of my choice. The staff of Connect-123 are there every step of the way, making the process of traveling to a new country much easier than expected. I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything. I am forever grateful for the opportunity and everything I learned on my trip.

Lindsay Hohlbaugh

Cape Town was nothing I could ever imagine. It taught me not only about myself but the capability I have with my future careers and goals in life. Being a part of Connect-123 made it much easier to adjust to the culture change and experiences I was about to endure. The people were extremely helpful and welcoming to all questions and new ideas. Being a part of the Child Life Practicum allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and be open to new opportunities. The child life specialists recruited for the practicum sessions were nothing short of amazing with the knowledge and background experience they have had within the child life profession. Not a day goes by that I am not thinking about Cape Town and the incredible people I met during this journey. Connect-123 is a fantastic organization that is determined to provide the best education and resources for their students and professionals. I'll be back soon, Cape Town! Cheers!

Ashley Camden

During September, Connect-123 provided me with an unforgettable experience to complete a child life practicum abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. This opportunity was completely out of my comfort zone, but I was so excited to take a leap of faith. I was able to work in multiple children’s hospitals that are very different from the United States to gain valuable healthcare experience and truly see cultural diversity between people, hospitals and language barriers. I had the privilege to see play as a universal language that helped breakdown those barriers and any stress. I saw medical play being used to let the patients explore and ease the fears a hospital can bring. The practicum gave me the tools I needed to succeed in my career as a future child life specialist and I was given the opportunity to see a wide variety of patients on different wards. I was definitely challenged but gained so much confidence throughout my time in Cape Town. I formed relationships with patients and their families and saw what struggles they go through each day. We also had ample time to explore the city and really experience South African culture. I learned a great deal about myself and the child life profession while in Cape Town and found amazing friends that I will cherish forever.

Brooke Frix

My time in Cape Town, South Africa for my Child Life Practicum was like no other. I am not even sure where to even begin about my journey in Africa. From applying to this practicum, to getting accepted, I was over the moon excited. It was definitely a big step out of my comfort zone to get on a plane and go all the way to Africa by myself without knowing anyone. I was definitely stretched in so many ways there! I was able to rotate between three different hospitals, learn about the culture and work with children of all ages. During that time, I was able to experience hands-on and sharpen my skills in Child Life. I confirmed on this trip, that Child Life is definitely what I am called to do! Outside of the hospital, I was able to go and explore the beautiful city of Cape Town and do things I would not have been able to do in the United States! So... If this opportunity opens up for you, I say go for it! Your life will forever be changed!

Rachel Zich

My child life practicum was absolutely amazing! It has given me the opportunity to take the next step towards my goal of becoming a Child Life Specialist and it was amazing to have done it in such a unique, diverse country. I learned so much about not only South Africa and the people who live there and their culture, but I also learned a lot about myself on this trip. I stepped out of my comfort zone and did things I never would have imagined myself doing like shark care diving and ATVing. I got to spend my time at two amazing and completely different hospitals while working under inspiring supervisors. The friends I have made on this trip have had a huge impact on me and I know we will continue to be friends even though we are from all over. I would recommend doing this program to anyone wanting to complete a child life practicum. This was one of the best experiences I have ever done in my life!

Erika Morgan

I am delighted to share my child life practicum abroad experience through the Connect-123 program. I was initially hesitant to complete my practicum abroad, because of the idea of being in an unfamiliar place with people I didn't know. Upon my first day arriving, I didn't feel alone; Connect-123 staff, along with my supervisors, and other program students provided me with a great sense of comfort and safety throughout my Cape Town journey. Along the way, we were all able to learn from one another. I was thrilled to be able to observe and learn from some of the most educated and well known Child Life Specialists from around the world. The knowledge and skills that I have gained are remarkable and I am forever grateful for the opportunities. I must say the variety of hands-on experiences such as the time spent within various clinics, observing an MRI or surgery preparation was my absolute favorite portion of the practicum! Throughout my practicum, I was pushed to step out of my comfort zone and set goals knowing that I would have the support and advice of my supervisors to assist me in accomplishing them. I tried so many new foods and activities that I am proud to say I've done! If you are looking for an outstanding practicum that can help you grow not only professionally but on a personal level as well, THIS IS PERFECT FOR YOU! This practicum has taught me so much about cultural differences and how those differences should bring us together instead of apart because differences don't mean one way is right or wrong. Being able to experience and witness the "Ubuntu" culture that South Africa strongly possess was an incredible experience. I am confident in the skills and information that I was taught has prepared me for the next step within my Child Life career and I can not wait to continue my journey! Cape Town and Connect-123 I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for such a rewarding and unforgettable experience and I hope to return someday!

Kelsey Browne

My child life experience in Cape Town, South Africa was nothing short of incredible. When I found out I was accepted into the program I was beyond excited to grow within the field of child life and gain a more global perspective of the profession. During my practicum, I had the opportunity to work in several children’s hospitals around the Cape Town area. Each hospital was unique within itself which further helped me practice my various child life skills. Under the supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist, I was given autonomy to build upon my strengths and weaknesses. There are plenty of opportunities for observation of the CCLS’s and other child life students. Collaboration was highly encouraged in order to create hands-on therapeutic interventions that were developmentally appropriate for the child and their family. Every day was filled with unique opportunities for me to gain competence both personally and professionally. I was further able to see play used as a universal language in order to communicate with children. A nontraditional practicum experience outside of the United States opened my eyes more to the benefits of child life. In addition to the work, we still had a great amount of time to explore the area we were living in for the month. There are many amazing experiences that Cape Town has to offer. If you are doing this practicum or are interested, I suggest taking advantage of any and every opportunity you get whether that be in the hospital setting or outside in the local community. It is important to immerse yourself in the culture you are living and working in. I have gained friendships with my practicum group as well as the CCLS who supervised us. I was able to overcome obstacles and step out of my comfort zone. I feel more confident in my abilities as an aspiring child life specialist. I cannot wait to see where this road will take me and I know I will forever reflect on my time in Cape Town throughout my career. If you have the opportunity to do this practicum, I am confident you will have no regrets.