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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Christine Cifelli
Connect-123 has provided me with a unique and valuable experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. After researching several international internship programs, I felt that Connect-123 was the only program with a specific one-on-one placement process, which provided me with a position based on my individual preferences and background. I was able to find exactly what I wanted, for that reason I really enjoyed going to work every day. I had the opportunity to work with great people from all over the world. Working and traveling abroad helped me to better understand people from other cultures on a professional and personal level. Connect-123 provided me with many social opportunities in Barcelona that really enhanced my experience. Barcelona is a vibrant, multicultural city with great food, culture, nightlife, and people. I highly recommend the program for anyone who wants to develop their professional skills, learn about a different culture, and explore an amazing city.
Internships in Barcelona
Tobi Onasanya
My experience in Cape Town can only be described in one word – awesome. I enjoyed almost every moment. It was a great chance to meet people from different parts of the world, and form connections with people I would never have come across on a normal day. Living with 3 girls that all already knew each other pretty well, I felt like a new girl in boarding school. Being thrown in the deep end, I have to say I loved it. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. The Connect-123 team did everything to make my internship as fun and as insightful as possible, whilst still giving me the opportunity to be independent and learn to use my own initiative and be resourceful. My street skills have improved as well which is always good; walking to work everyday made me more aware and cautious. I worked as an accounting intern for a rather small accounting firm. At first the small office and the jail like door took me aback. However, working there proved to be a worthwhile experience. The people are very welcoming and the warm, the friendly environment makes you feel at ease almost immediately. Also, everyone has a nice ‘African’ sense of humor, thus working hours were rather enjoyable. Unlike other firms I worked at, I actually was given a lot of responsibility and I felt that my time was valued. I worked on both the accounting and tax side of things, as well as, had a lot of contact with clients, which improved my interpersonal skills in a professional manner. All in all I can say that my experience in Cape Town is not one I will forget. I love the people I met and have made what I think as life-long friendships with some very amusing individuals. The Connect-123 team were amazing and my program coordinator, Simone, was incredible - the guidance was endless, which is something I think one can’t get enough of.
Internships in Cape Town
Vanessa Gonzalez
After spending two months in Buenos Aires, I absolutely fell in love with it – and the assistance I was given by Connect-123 at all times contributed immensely to that. On the one hand, living in the capital of Argentina did not feel that foreign to me. I was born and raised in southern Brazil, and there were quite a few things I shared with the porteños beside a passion for mate and soccer. On the other hand, I would have not expected working there to be anything less than challenging. Whereas I was thrilled to do a microfinance internship with an amazing local NGO, I knew I needed to work very hard to get the most out of my experience -- I was in a different country, had to speak a different language and feared the long journey I had ahead. However, I was glad to be in touch with the right people. Having Connect-123 to rely on was fundamental for me to make new friends, share experiences with a group of interns from all around the world, and feel at home in Buenos Aires. During my internship, the NGO I worked with gave me the opportunity to learn about its microcredit programs, which assisted low-income families in the greater Buenos Aires area. My workmates were very kind, patient and welcoming, and some of my duties included interviewing women interested in applying for microloans; offering assistance during training sessions; and discussing investment strategies with local entrepreneurs. I also had to communicate exclusively in Spanish, which turned out to be a fun and rewarding experience. Argentina gave me the chance to learn much about myself and my role as a professional and a global citizen, and these are lessons I will never forget. As I look back, I feel grateful for everything I learned over the past summer and better prepared to build on my knowledge about economic development as a set of tools used to fight poverty.
Internships in Buenos Aires
Mike Sit
My experience to Cape Town was absolutely amazing. I was able to gain experience in the microfinance industry, indulge myself in culture, and gain new perspectives through the relationships I developed. At the company I volunteered with, I was given the opportunity to help host workshops at townships, review business plans for potential microfinance institutions (MFI), research potential sources of funding, and talk to a plethora of amazing individuals that have contributed to the MFI industry. These experiences not only engaged and challenged me, but I had to adapt and expand my current perception. Throughout my time I engaged in many Connect-123 organized activities that ranged from drinks nights and cultural outings, to outdoor activities. With the unheralded amounts of activities, it was difficult in deciding what I wanted to do within my short 3 month term. The friends and relationships I developed in Cape Town are lifelong, and the experience is beyond words. Through my experience I would recommend and encourage others to take the opportunity to travel and learn, especially with the supportive staff Connect-123 offers.
Internships in Cape Town
