Reviews

Martin Iroche

Doing an internship this summer in Cape Town was one of the best decisions I have ever made.  More specifically, doing this internship through Connect-123 was the perfect way for me to experience all that Cape Town has offer and at the same time complete an internship that will hold me in good stead for the future. The Connect-123 staff was always very helpful and were ready to offer advice or just have a casual chat with you whenever you stopped by at the office. I spent my summer working at a Non- Governmental organisation not too far from where I lived. Admittedly, it was a bit slow to start, but after about a week, I got into the flow of things and started to thoroughly enjoy working there. I worked with a diverse group of people, which added to the great experience as I headed a number of projects, set up various meetings and visited local townships as part of the internship. The people at the office were very friendly and helpful which made working there all the better. Cape Town is a beautiful city and there is always something to do, as there is an activity for everyone. If you are into food, the arts, drama, sports or just relaxing and having drinks with friends then Cape Town has all that covered. I was never bored during my stay in Cape Town as the Connect-123 team were constantly organising different activities that we could partake in. I would definitely recommend doing an internship in Cape Town through Connect-123 as it was an interesting and beneficial experience that will only enhance ones chances it today’s tough job market.

Sam Goldberg

My time in Cape Town for two months was one that I will never forget. The city is so diverse ranging from areas like the Waterfront, Long Street, and Table Mountain. It has all of the resources of a city, everything that you could ever want, and is small enough that you see locals that you know walking past you on the streets. I played tennis, went to see movies, went to the beach etc., and every day was an excursion. The best part by far regarding my time in Cape Town however was the people who I met, locals including, but especially the other Connect-123 interns. We still keep in touch and plan to keep in touch for years to come. These are some of the best and most friendly people I have ever met, and we did everything together, not because we needed to, but because we truly wanted to. Connect-123 did a very good job getting all of the interns together, picking us up from the airport, and setting up weekly events. Without that pickup from the airport, I am not sure I would have been able to find my way to the apartment complex. They set up weekly events comprising of a drinks night to hang out and get to know other Connect-123 interns, and weekend excursions that were fun and exciting. Without Connect-123 putting together these trips such as the one all the way to the Cape of Good Hope, I don’t think I would have gone, despite it being something that I have always wanted to do. My internship this summer was an amazing experience and really gave me an understanding of what a true business environment is all about.  Despite long hours, every day was different, and I got valuable experience in my field. The bosses were really nice, wrote a recommendation even after I left Cape Town, and really made sure that we were never bored. They were flexible, good at what they did, and taught us how to do our job as interns effectively, which provided good experience for the future.

Daniela Juzl

Interning in Cape Town was definitely the best decision I have ever made! It was a life changing experience, not only did I learn at my internship and strengthen my professional resume, but I also enjoyed a cosmopolitan and multicultural experience offered by this amazing city! Through Connect-123 I was able to secure a great internship in an organization of my choosing, which helped me gain hands on experience in a career in my professional field. I worked at an organization that worked with refugees from all over Africa, which was a very enriching experience. Connect-123 was very helpful throughout the whole process, from helping me choose an organization to intern at, all the way to making sure that I was enjoying and making the most of my work abroad. Making the decision to go to Cape Town was easy, because I knew that I had people that I could count on for the duration of my trip! The people at Connect-123 were not only friendly, helpful and reliable, but they also gave great advice on what to do while we were there! Besides giving us accommodation with other students our age, Connect-123 also organized various excursions and activities, which allowed everyone on the trip to view more of this magnificent country, experience local wonders, and make lasting friendships with fellow Connecters. I would definitely recommend Connect-123 for anyone looking to find a professional internship abroad, as well as an amazing experience in a foreign country.

Zephia Ovia

My Cape Town experience was definitely the highlight of my summer! Leaving my comfort zone and taking the adventurous risk to live in a different country where the culture is somewhat different from what I am used to was worth it. Connect-123 helped in bringing young vibrant people together to have a summer experience like never before. From hosting various activities such as a wine tasting and karaoke nights to hiking up table mountain. I also managed to establish the most amazing friendships with people from different places. Connect-123 also gave me the opportunity to engage with the local Cape Tonians and not just others on the programme through the various recommended trips. Two places in Cape Town that I will recommend to future interns has to be the Old Biscuit Mill, which is a food market open every Saturday, and Mzolis which is a Braai (BBQ) hosted in the Guguletu township every Sunday. You get to see another side of Cape Town and experience the oh-so-glorious beef and house music. The most important aspect of the Connect-123 experience is the internship programme. The Connect-123 team was helpful in placing me in an organization which mirrored what I was interested in and helped me gain more insight into what the working world is like. This was such an exciting opportunity as I got to work with other international people as well as the local South Africans. I worked for an organization which monitored Parliamentary meetings. I typed up the minutes of these meetings and through this experience I was able to network with many different Parliamentary members, for me this was very vital as such connections go a long way in the future. The Connect-123 team were able to make each and every one of us feel at home. I can confidently say I am more street wise. Most importantly if there were any problems, someone on the Connect-123 team was always willing to help to make my experience worthwhile. Cape Town is a place that everyone must experience and of course you have the awesome Connect-123 team to guide you every step of the way.

Zach Bennett

Connect-123 made my two-month experience in Dublin very easy. They found me an internship that fit both my schedule and needs. The internship at a public health research centre is already helping me in my career. Connect-123 also found me affordable housing very close to my work and checked in often to see how things were going from both a tourist and intern perspective. I have heard that traveling abroad can be difficult because of the need to organize everything in advance. Connect-123 took care of all that and made my trip a wonderful one.

Emma Rackstraw

My experience in Cape Town was incredible. It's the most welcoming, beautiful city I've ever been to, and I felt immediately at home. It was wonderful to live with other Connect-123 program participants and to have an immediate group of friends to explore the city with. Perspectives is located in a wonderful area at the center of the city and is close to Parliament, Greenmarket Square, Long Street, and the V&A Waterfront. My program coordinator, Simone, took me to work on my first day, which greatly eased my anxiety. I was happy to discover that the internship I had been placed in was exactly what I was looking for-- the right combination of interesting data work and interaction with coworkers and people involved in the organization's various studies. I highly recommend Cape Town to anyone interested in travel, even if it is their first time doing so alone. I also highly recommend Simone, who was extremely helpful-- she even helped me plan a trip after my internship ended, which I also recommend leaving time for!

Emily Bunn

It is difficult to compare Cape Town to any other city on earth. The dynamics of the city are so captivating that there was never once a dull moment. The city has so much to offer. It is adventurous with its mountains and excursions, low key and relaxing with its beaches, winelands, and the Waterfront. If you are looking for a night out on the town, Long Street is always a good time.

Overall I was very impressed with the sincere kindness and gratitude offered from both Connect-123 and my host organization during my stay in Cape Town. It was comforting to know I had people I could trust and rely on when I was in a foreign country. I learned a great deal from my internship, where I worked as an event management planner. My job placement was on point and I have Connect-123 to thank for that.

I feel so fortunate that I was able to fulfill my dreams of traveling to South Africa. I could not be more pleased with the experience in Cape Town and would highly recommend Connect-123. Upon my return to the States I am pleased to have made both friendly and professional connections with people in the Connect-123 program, in South Africa, and all over the world.

Melissa Carr

My recent trip to Cape Town was definitely a trip to remember! Thanks to Connect-123, I was able to live with other students my age, and had a great time getting to know them by living together as well as through events organized by Connect-123. They put together some awesome activities to complement bi-weekly drinks nights, such as wine tasting, hiking, a trip to cape point and kayaking among other things. If we didn’t fancy any of the activities or trips that Connect-123 offered, they also provided suggestions and links with companies that provided various tours. It was extremely useful because it helped point us to the best that Cape Town has to offer! Connect-123 also helped place me in a great internship position! Through my internship, I was really able to get involved in local organisations and learn about Cape Town and South African culture in a way that many tourists are not able to. Not only did I get to experience life in the city, but also life in the townships and various other suburbs of Cape Town. Everyone at work was very excited to have an intern from abroad and they embraced me with open arms. Overall my experience was amazing and I will always look back on my time with Connect-123 and the city of Cape Town with fond memories. It was baie lekker!

Stephen Gildea

I really enjoyed my time in Cape Town, the city is vibrant and exciting and the surrounding area is beautiful with endless things to see and do. The most striking thing about Cape Town is how imposing Table Mountain is, it is literally in the city! Table Mountain is definitely worth climbing and the Robben Island tour is not to be missed. I am studying economics at university and it was important for me to find an internship that would allow me to apply some of the skills and knowledge I have acquired at university. The internship Connect-123 found me was amazing, from day one I was involved in working on real projects and given real responsibility. I had been concerned that companies would use interns as free labour and I would end up doing filing and photocopying etc. but thankfully that could not be further from the truth. I would recommend Connect-123 and Cape Town to anyone looking for internship that will be interesting and rewarding and truly further their career prospects.

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.

Ioana Moraru

The work experience I have chosen for this summer was premised upon working for an Argentinian NGO specialized in human rights, which was established as a direct result of the disheartening situation and vulnerable state that immigrants and refugees were exposed to in the country. The main reason why I decided to apply for this internship was animated by my strong desire, as an International Relations student, to enhance the essential qualities required in the career in human rights that I would like to pursue and to improve my command of Spanish. With the help of Connect-123, I had the opportunity to spend two of the most amazing months of my life in Buenos Aires and to grow tremendously both socially and professionally. From a professional point of view, my job has mostly encompassed offering any kind of assistance to immigrants and refugees who were facing serious protection and safety challenges within their communities and providing them with the necessary advice and help that they required, especially if they have suffered violations of their human rights or were confronting hardships in any sense. What I mostly enjoyed about my work was without any doubt the multicultural environment that I had the chance to be in on a daily basis. I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to interact with numerous people from a wide range of countries and to learn so much from their experiences and cultures. Also, I did not have a fixed set of responsibilities and my everyday tasks were very engaging: this freedom to act and do what I think is appropriate has made me genuinely confident in my own abilities and judgement and have made my work very rewarding. Additionally, the opportunities that my internship has inherently entailed- for example, visits to embassies, going to different talks and events- have been a tremendous accomplishment for me, as an International Relations student, as I got a deeper insight into a wide range of contemporary issues that are of high interest to me. With regard to the social aspect of my experience, not only did Connect-123 organize truly entertaining and engaging activities, but they also brought us, all the program participants, together. This was one of the highlights of my stay. In my two months in Buenos Aires, I got the chance to meet so many interesting and outgoing people and to make friends from all over the world. The city was one of the best cities I have ever visited, incredibly vibrant and cosmopolitan with a great nightlife, beautiful people and impressive architecture. Also, after I completed my internship, I went on a trip to Iguazu Falls and Brazil, which was the perfect way of ending my stay on the continent. All these astonishing experiences would not have happened without Connect-123. They have been more than helpful and professional by creating this unique opportunity for me in accordance with my requirements and by generally helping me in every respect: with the accommodation, organizing social events, airport transfers and etc. To conclude, I was highly pleased with Connect-123 and I truly recommend their services to anyone who wants to do an internship tailored to their needs and to also have fun in the insanely beautiful Buenos Aires.

Miriam Rodriguez

When most people think of Buenos Aires they think of tango, meat, and soccer. After spending almost six months in Buenos Aires I think of drinking mate with the families in the barrio, strikes almost everyday, and café con leche with medialunas. After having such a good experience using Connect-123 for an internship I did in Cape Town two years ago it was an easy decision to use them again and this time to go to Buenos Aires. Coming to Buenos Aires with Connect-123 has been such a great experience.  From the start they did everything they could to help me find the right placement. With the laid back culture that is Argentina, Connect-123 had their hands full with me, an organized person, who likes to have things planned weeks ahead of time.  Connect-123 was there for me every step of the way until they found me a great internship. I worked in an organization that offers families who live in substandard or poverty housing the opportunities to work towards solving their own housing problems by working together. When I found out that I would be working for this organization, I was thrilled as it was just what I wanted. The best part of being a volunteer was that I was able to see and live every reality that Argentina has to offer. Buenos Aires is a modern, metropolitan city; however the Buenos Aires that I fell in love with was the one of the barrio. Families of six living in one room, streets made of dirt, families graciously inviting the architects I work with, who are there to give them free advice on how to better their homes, with open arms and a hot mate. To the rest of the world these people may look like they have nothing but to me they have all the strength and warmth in the world. These are the people who will do anything for their family, to better not only their situation but also to change the world for those around them. My experience has been everything that I asked for and more. I am grateful for Connect-123 for being there and answering every question I had, and for placing me in the internship that made my time in Buenos Aires the best it could be.

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.

Inez Sumadi

My experience these last 4 months in Shanghai has been extremely awesome (and I don't think hyperboles exist in this description)! A huge thank you to the Connect-123 team, Lea, Sherilyn and Jimmy for helping from the beginning to the end, from offering so many options of internships that fitted into my unique needs, to finding the housing and creating social events and support! This internship experience really helped me to explore and gain experience in the work field and it was really valuable for my future career! Also through this internship, I have expanded on my network and made life-time friends. Thank you so much Connect-123!

Brittany Foerg

The two months I spent in Dublin completing a research internship were nothing short of exciting, eventful, and inspiring. I gained an extraordinary amount of knowledge and experience relevant to my future career as an optometrist, and I absolutely loved all that there was to do and see in and around Dublin. I really enjoyed getting to know the people while I was there, and many of the relationships I made will continue. Connect-123 did a fantastic job of finding me an internship that was perfectly tailored to my interests - despite their uniqueness. Connect-123 was always providing helpful insight and guidance before, during, and even after my internship. I would recommend Connect-123 to anyone who wants to gain career experience in another country and would benefit from the fantastic structure and support they provide.  

Sophie Green

I worked with an NGO in Buenos Aires that specialized in Corporate Social Responsibility. The knowledge and experience that I gained during my internship was completely invaluable. The city itself was incredible. The nightlife, cafes and cultural activities including salsa and winetasting really added to my experience. But more than anything the people that I met really made my time in Buenos Aires.

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.

Victoria Parker

I really enjoyed my trip to Cape Town and can say that it was one of the most inspiring, educational and life learning experiences that I have ever had. The country is beautiful in every way; the mountains, beaches and bay, people, culture, food and way of life. Beauty at its best is an understatement.

I would suggest any student to look into interning or volunteering through Connect 1-2-3 if they were given the chance, Connect-123 really helps to open the door for a whole new experience. This experience has added so much value in my hopes of eventually earning a Ph.D in Psychology.

Jillian Yeo

I recently went through Connect-123 to secure an internship opportunity with a well known university in Dublin. It was an excellent opportunity to gain further insight into the pharmaceutical research sector. Not only was Connect-123 great at finding an internship suited to my needs, they were continuously checking on my progress and how I was adapting to the new surroundings. Personally, I felt that it was thoughtful. An overseas internship has provided me with a completely different learning experience.  Not only do you learn the skills of the trade, you also get to learn about the working culture, traditions and lifestyle of locals.  New friendships that were formed during this period are also greatly treasured. I would recommend anyone to give Connect-123 a go should you want to step out of your comfort zone, or to give yourself a rewarding summer!

Nick Boccardi

I could not have been more satisfied with my abroad experience.  When I reflect on everything I’ve accomplished in just two months, it is amazing how much I’ve grown personally and professionally through the Connect-123 program.

What sold me on Connect-123 was the flexibility of their program.  They truly build the experience from the ground up around your needs.  I knew my needs and desires were very specific: I wanted to intern only for June and July while testing my Spanish abilities in a practical environment rather than a classroom setting.  Other companies I considered made me feel like I had to sacrifice something, but with Connect-123 I didn’t have to sacrifice anything. I was very honest with the staff about what I wanted to get out of the experience, and the staff made a genuine effort to get to know me and my needs.  As a result, I was placed with both a homestay family and internship that fit my needs perfectly and made me feel right at home.  The family I stayed with adopted me as one of their own and included me in their social plans.

In Buenos Aires, I worked with a venture capital firm doing marketing research and competitive analyses on new markets.  Because the office was intimate, I never felt out of place, and if I ever had questions, I was never afraid to ask.  My coworkers were friendly, patient, and willing to teach me anything they could about the industry and what they did within the company.  Not only did I learn so much from my coworkers, but I also felt the impact of my day to day work contribution, within the company.

Interacting with other program participants is another highlight of the program.  Connect-123 participants are diverse in every sense of the word, and it was a pleasure to spend two months with them.  I’ve made new friends from all over the world, all of whom had different reasons for being in Buenos Aires.  Everyone took advantage of the city however they wanted.  I’ve met people who were pursing undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and were in between jobs and traveling, and there was so much to learn from all of them.

The Connect-123 support system is very strong.  After my initial phone call with Katie, I felt like she understood me well and that I was in good hands.  She walked me through every step of the process and made planning my trip very easy.  During the trip, I asked Paula for recommendations on how to plan my trips to Iguazu Falls and Colonia, Uruguay.  With the information she gave me, the trips basically planned themselves (thanks, Paula!! =D).  Weekly Connect-123 events also help bring program participants together while getting to know the city and Argentine culture.  The program is very well organized and is very open to feedback and suggestions.

Just want to give a special thanks to Katie, Paula, and Vanessa for all of their help in making my abroad experience better than I could have ever imagined!