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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Destination

Opportunity

David Switzer

Entrepreneurship Intern | Cape Town
Boston University, Graduate
15 December 2010

It would be impossible for me to describe my time in Cape Town in a few sentences because the memories could fill a book, but I will try. I worked for a technology start up organization. The company had just transitioned from a non-profit to commercial in nature. The company had just moved into some nice new offices, and my bosses brought me out for a beer to just shoot the breeze for the first afternoon to get to know me better. I worked directly for the directors of the organization which gave me an excellent opportunity to brainstorm with them some ideas about the company should go forward. My bosses were really great guys. One of them had over 20 years experience as an entrepreneur and he is smart as hell. The company’s president was a young guy in his early thirties and we really hit it off and got along great. We would bounce ideas off each other a few times a week to make sure that we were all on the same page. Going to work was a pleasure. The hours were flexible but consistent, and they gave me some time off to travel and see some of South Africa’s beauty outside of Cape Town. Specifically, I had an opportunity to work with the company at a time when it was growing really fast. While the directors were taking care of the wheeling and dealing I basically just helped them with all the nitty gritty stuff they didn’t have time to do. It was a really excellent way to put my business/ entrepreneurship degree to practice. I collaborated with the company’s president and developed the company’s marketing strategy. I also completed financial projections and wrote a comprehensive business plan for the company. In addition, I helped them to rewrite the website. The company was open to flexibility and new ideas, creativity and efficient research were helpful skills. The other people in the office were really nice and the atmosphere was relaxed. I had a blast and I would recommend the job to anybody. OK, so now the really fun stuff. CAPE TOWN IS AMAZING. I have been lucky enough to travel to every continent except Antarctica, and Cape Town is the only place I have ever travelled to that I did not want to leave and I felt I could live there forever. I fell in love with Cape Town and Africa. the people are amazing (all of them). The nightlife is great, the food is great, the booze is cheap, the people are beautiful, and the city is stunning. If you like doing stuff outside, Cape Town is for you. That’s all. If you want to work for the company I did and you have any questions get my contact info from Connect-123 and I will get back to you. Connect-123 was a great help. Eimear helped me get the perfect internship for me. They hooked me up with a great place to stay and some really awesome roommates. They organize some really fun social events that were some of the highlights of the trip. The Connect-123 crew is really cool and helpful in general, and I would definitely recommend it to anybody! Cheers!

Internships in Cape Town

Cat Boland

Child Life Intern
Appalachian State University
14 December 2010

How do you begin to describe an experience that has changed your life forever? To say that my experience in Cape Town was “life changing” doesn’t really even begin to scrape the surface. There are simply no words to describe the beauty of the city of Cape Town or the beauty and love that seeps through every wall of the Red Cross Hospital. I have never in my life worked with such a committed team of people as the faculty, volunteers and Child Life Specialists I had the opportunity to work with during my time at the Red Cross. The never ending dedication to advocacy and the care of the child as a whole was inspiring to say the very least. These women will continue to shape my life both professionally and personally long after my departure from Cape Town. Often in my life I have found that the days seem to march by so quickly without my notice or reverence to the date or time or day of the week that they are gone long before we have the chance to stop to say hello. Looking back on my time in Cape Town I wonder what happened to the last three months, how did they disappear so quickly? The weeks on my calendar seemed to fly by so fast that I could never seem to keep up! Yet each day brought something new into my life; be it a new challenge, a new lesson, a new friend, or a new adventure, my life was constantly filled with moments that taught me more about myself and my field of study than I could have ever imagined. I cannot even begin to attempt to regurgitate all of the lessons I have learned in the last few months here and now…. but one goal I work towards daily is to slow down more often, to take a deep breath in and remember what a blessing each day truly is. Today, I force myself to pause and take a long deep breath…remembering the moment, remembering the day, remembering the date. During my time at the hospital I was reminded on a daily basis to pause more often in my life and give thanks. I try to remember to take the time to breathe in the beauty of each day no matter where I might find myself, be it South Africa or the US. During my time in Cape Town I was given the opportunity to attend a bereavement conference where I had the opportunity to listen to Durban born local poet Malika Ndlova perform one of her pieces. Every word she spoke held such strength and gravity that I could almost see it dripping out of her mouth, slowly falling down and out into the space around her like water flowing from a faucet. The poem began with a description of the human form that held such strength and power for me: we are light beings.  Malika slapped her chest, her legs, her head, and her arms and stated, “We are so much more than this… this body, this life, is simply a veil… we are born to bring light… we are light beings, portals of love, makers of peace, creators of beauty…” Every day at the hospital was filled with new challenges and new struggles for me, some days were harder than I could have ever imagined. The first day I stepped into the treatment room on the Burns Ward was one of those days but within minutes the children on the ward changed everything. Even the hardest of days were often coupled with joy and light in some way even if it was just taking a moment aside to hold and sing to a child. It is in those moments that I was reminded of the power we have to make a difference (in whatever we do) in just one moment, in just one hour, in just one day. The children that I had the opportunity to work with at the Red Cross have and will continue to be little portals of love in my life. They brought so much light and beauty into my life that I am forever grateful to each and every one of them. My time at the Red Cross was an experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. More than anything, working at the Red Cross confirmed for me that the path I have chosen for myself is without a doubt the right one. My life in Cape Town can be summed up with one word, love. Love for the people, love for the place. The country of South Africa and the city of Cape Town are so alive that it is impossible not to find something to do be it hiking or simply sitting on the roof of Perspectives watching the sunset with good friends.  All I can say in the end is thank you to everyone that I had the opportunity to spend the last three months of my life with; you have made my life richer in more ways than you can ever imagine. See you next time Cape Town!

Amy Caporello

Nursing Intern | Cape Town
Northeastern University
14 December 2010

Working at a Salvation Army hospital in Cape Town was an amazing experience! From the minute I walked onto the floors of the hospital, I felt welcomed and trusted. As a nursing student I was able to work alongside staff and be a part of the team caring for a variety of patients in rehabilitation. I learned about the differences in international healthcare and also spent a lot of time talking to and comforting the patients, along with getting to know the staff that I worked with there. The hospital is Nurse-led and focuses on creating a plan of care for each individual patient, regarding realistic goals and abilities in order for them to be strong enough to go home. I helped the Nurses and staff with dressing changes, morning care, feeding, occupational therapy, physical therapy and transport. I knew after a couple days that this was not your average internship; this was a chance to care for others and to learn from them as much as they learned from me. Not only did I enjoy experiencing the medical aspect of the hospital, and the different cultures in the area, but I also made a lot of friends there, and fell in love with the kindness and generosity demonstrated by the people I worked with. It is here that I learned the meaning of Nursing, and the compassion and intelligence needed to truly care for someone. In addition to such a wonderful internship, the city of CapeTown is thriving with culture! There is so much to do and see, and Connect-123 made it easy by organizing events and gatherings to not only meet other interns and students, but to get involved and out of your shell. I met many friends, and used my free time to explore, have fun, travel the area and learn about an amazing country. I will be graduating this spring from Nursing School, and am so glad that I took the opportunity to do something so different and exciting! I hope to one day work internationally again, and if I had it my way, I’d go back to Cape Town in a heart beat.

Internships in Cape Town

Lawrence Barchok

Economic Policy Intern
Harvard University
7 December 2010

I think trying to summarize my time in Cape Town in a few paragraphs, would only do some injustice to the incredible, rewarding and memorable experience that I had. But I don’t have any other option. It all started out in January this year when I was trying to figure out what I was going to do over the summer. A career officer at my school led me to Connect 123 website. I was impressed from the start by Connect’s array of internship opportunities, and also the idea of having all-intern activities for the interns to get to know Cape Town. Through Connect, I was able to secure an internship at an NGO that focused on research on socio-economic policies. This was a perfect opportunity for me, considering that I am an economics major, with a strong interest in international development. Coming to South Africa in early June, Connect helped me settle quickly, and in a few days I had started on my internship. My internship entailed collection and analysis of information on social protection policies in African, Latin America, Asia and East European countries. I was also involved in liaising with research groups and collecting and interpreting data for a model used to estimate the costs of implementing social protection policies in developing nations around the world. In addition to gaining a better understanding on poverty, and how to tackle it, I also did learn some statistical analysis methods and econometrics. I was also privileged to be part of a group that visited the South Africa Parliament (based in Cape Town). I remember having insightful and quite memorable conversations with some MP’s on challenges facing South Africa, including poverty and inequality, and also on what World Cup meant to them as a country. Connect complemented the internship with frequent outings around Western Cape. From a wine-tasting weekend at Robertson Winery to a day trip to Cape Point, Connect ensured that we had the time of our lives, as well as get to know as much as possible about Cape Town and its environs. Through Connect, I was also able to meet and make friends with wonderful people from different parts of the world. With my roommates, we got to hike up Table Mt. (over 1000m), visit couple of museums including Robben island, bungee jump, go to a world cup game among other activities. Cape Town is a beautiful cosmopolitan city. One gets to be exposed to a multitude of cultures. With the World Cup going on at that time, the atmosphere was even more exciting. The experience in Cape Town has had a profound effect on my personal, academic and professional goals. I have now a better understanding of what I want to do in the future. The experience served to consolidate my interest in policymaking, in tackling socio-economic problems like poverty, unemployment etc.

Annie Berger

Medical Internship | Cape Town
Gustavus Adolphus College, Graduate
7 December 2010

My first day at a leading children’s hospital in Cape Town marked the true beginning of my push towards a career in medicine. While I already had a bachelor’s degree under my belt and had been accepted to a Physician Assistant program back home, I lacked the experience that was necessary to succeed in the healthcare field. When I stepped into the operating theatre on my first day, the attending anesthesiologist waved me over and instructed me to assist in holding the child’s mask in order to administer the initial anesthetic. 5 minutes later, I was inserting an artificial airway. Throughout the day, I ended up doing a few more of the same, along with some attempts at endotracheal intubations. While I wasn’t immediately successful performing the procedure, the doctors had enough patience and trust in me by the end of my time at the hospital for me to complete an intubation successfully on my last day. Throughout my time there, I was able to stand immediately next to the operating table to watch procedures such as liver transplants, resection of tuberculomas from the brain, and open-heart surgeries. More importantly, I was able to complete hands-on research regarding communication between consent-givers and their providers, as well as help change hospital protocol regarding their pre-operative fasting policies. It is now one year later. In one month, I will begin my clinical year of PA school. Had I not gone to Cape Town and worked in such a phenomenal teaching hospital, I would not feel nearly as prepared for my rotations. The doctors and nurses in Cape Town helped me feel more comfortable with procedures, equipment, and seeing blood and guts day in and day out. They helped me realize the value of patients as people and not just diseases. They fostered an attitude of 'see one, do one, teach one' and truly inspired me to make the most out of my experience at their facility. With the experiences I had in Cape Town under my belt, I now have the confidence to enter my clinical rotations and to get the most out of each day that I am in a hospital or clinic here in the US. I know that I wouldn’t feel this prepared had I not worked in Cape Town, and I am excited to complete my training so I can someday go back to practice medicine where it all began.

Internships in Cape Town

Katie Strauss

Child Life Volunteer
University of Rhode Island, Graduate
3 December 2010

Trying to sum up my journey to South Africa in a small couple of paragraphs has not been an easy task for me. I could say, “My trip was great!” or, “This trip changed my life.” or possibly, “My trip was something I will never forget.” But words can’t even begin to describe the time I spent in South Africa. And never has 3 months flown by so fast!!! Being a Child Life Specialist at the Red Cross Hospital has changed the way I will view my work forever. My career will always have started in South Africa and the children I worked with. I carry them in my heart every day. I am definitely a more confident and competent Child Life Specialist because of my time spent at Red Cross. The faculty I had the opportunity to work with are the most fascinating people and they spend their time all advocating for what they believe in, and changing the way children experience health care in South Africa. To say it is an inspiring environment is the understatement of the century. The children were amazing and have taught me so much about life, love, and happiness, and I still wonder which of us who got more out of our time together. The hospital was not the only reason I loved my time in South Africa so much. It was the beautiful country and the amazing people I met during my time there. The wonderful people, and MOST inspiring Child Life Specialists I met truly made my experience an unforgettable one. Cape Town gave me fantastic career experience, some breathtaking pictures, amazing new friends, but most of all…an INCREDIBLE sense of accomplishment! South Africa truly did steal my heart. It was more than I could have ever imagined it would be. I will be eternally grateful to everyone who helped make this possible. I can’t help but SMILE when I reflect on my time in South Africa and at Red Cross Hospital. WAKA WAKA!

Tyler Maiers

Medical Internship | Cape Town
Iowa State University
2 December 2010

My summer medical internship at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital was simply amazing.  With the help of Gabby, a very helpful member of the Connect-123 staff, I was able to find an internship as part of the largest tuberculosis diagnostic study ever conducted.  Workdays typically involved seeing patients alongside my supervisor and aiding with the collection of sputum and blood samples from patients that were suspected of having tuberculosis.  I travelled between two different hospitals throughout the week and was able to learn about measles, HIV/AIDS, and drug-resistant tuberculosis by actually seeing patients with these diseases.   By merely asking questions about how to get more involved and taking advantage of every opportunity, my single internship evolved into three as I began to spend three days each week at Red Cross, one day at a Doctors Without Borders clinic in a nearby township called Khayelitsha, and one day at diagnostic microbiology lab at Groote Schuur Hospital. In addition to my internship, Connect-123 did an incredible job of organizing large group activities on weekends, and I especially liked the Wacky Wine Festival in June.  Most other students were also very motivated to plan weekend trips, so shark cage diving, safaris, bungee jumping, wine tasting tours, and trips to nearby suburbs were all possibilities as each weekend approached.  Cape Town also has such a vibrant nightlife that any night of the week can be exciting, and like many others, I took full advantage of this during my stay.  The Connect-123 staff was also knowledgeable enough to help me and were very comforting when I came to ask for help after failing to make my flight home on time.  All in all, I enjoyed my Cape Town experience so much and met so many friendly and passionate people while there that I am hoping to return next summer to find medically-related work for a year before entering medical school.  This was truly a life-changing experience and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great alternative to a traditional study abroad while also enjoying every moment of being in one of the world’s most beautiful and multicultural cities.

Internships in Cape Town

Mike Sit

Microfinance Intern | Cape Town
University of Lethbridge
1 December 2010

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

Sophie Bluhm

Business Consulting Intern | Cape Town
Gonzaga University
30 November 2010

When first applying to Connect-123 I had no idea what I wanted to do.  But as a business major in school, I knew that I wanted to try and use this experience to figure out where in the business world I would best fit in.  Luckily, I was able to find an internship with a small company that was still in the early stages in development.  In my internship I was able to see and get a feel for almost every facet of the business world.  I met with the Loan Advisor at the bank to discuss what was necessary to secure a small business loan, I helped develop a mission statement and business objectives.  I was even able to pretend to be a client for a day to see how the services offered worked and what the outcome was.   I learned about how all aspects played a role in developing a business and what was necessary in making a business successful. As much as I loved my internship, I can’t say enough good things about Cape Town either.  Between the weather, the people, the friends I made, and the Connect-123 staff I couldn’t have asked for a better time abroad.  What started out as an impulsive decision to go to Cape Town turned into one of the best experiences of my life (and some may say an obsession).   I can’t wait to go back and go out on Long Street, ride ostriches in Ooudsthorn, have a milkshake at Royale, explore the market at the Biscuit Mill on Saturdays and have picnics in Kirstenbosch.  On top of all the fabulous things there are to do in Cape Town, the activities arranged by Connect-123 helped me go outside of the everyday activities  and experience South African living on a greater scale and allowed me to do things that one might not find in a guide book.  I am so glad I got to participate in the events and they were a great way to meet people. I wouldn’t trade my experience and time in Cape Town for anything.  Connect-123 was so helpful and played a huge role is making my time in Cape Town so special.   From the internship, to the people, to the setting, it was all amazing and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Internships in Cape Town

Sara Reed

Non-Profit Marketing Intern | Cape Town
Michigan State University, Graduate
29 November 2010

It didn't matter how many people from my school arrived with me.  I was still on this adventure by myself, to learn, grow, and explore this new place. It was intimidating at first, to realize I would be commuting to work independently, but after days of finally finding my routine and becoming familiar with the way the city worked, it gave me such confidence in myself that I could achieve anything and make it anywhere. The organization I worked for was an exemplary NGO and I feel so honored to have been a part of it, and I feel great knowing that I made a difference there and in people's lives in the surrounding communities.  The staff at Connect-123, and even the staff at Perspectives genuinely cared for and looked after us on a daily basis.  After a while it’s almost like you’re part of a family.  There are so many opporunities to meet the other students that come from around the world, thanks to the weekly evenings at all the Cape Town hot spots that Connect-123 always had planned.  It takes a lot of work orchestrating those kinds of events, especially the weekend excursions to all the major attractions within and outside the city.  The people at Connect-123 really showed me what the city was about.  Without them I would have never seen Cape Town like I do now.

Internships in Cape Town

Rebecca Sloan

| Cape Town
Refugee Rights Intern
25 November 2010

My name is Rebecca Sloan and I was in Cape Town with Connect from the beginning of May to the end of August 2010.  It was an amazing experience that I will never forget.  I met some incredible people and saw things that I couldn’t even imagine.  Cape Town is the city with endless possibilities and things to do.  You definitely have to go to Camps Bay, drive the coast, do as much traveling as possible and meet as many people as you can.  Connect 123 was a great program to go through because it made meeting people easy and the transition into a whole new world seamless.  I definitely recommend Connect and Cape Town for the experience of a lifetime.

Internships in Cape Town

Zach Halfmann

Entrepreneurship Intern | Cape Town
Michigan State University
24 November 2010

My three-month stay in Cape Town was one of the most transformative experiences of my life.  Not only did the Connect-123 staff find me the perfect internship prior to my arrival, they also made sure that my stay in South Africa was filled with exciting opportunities.  From the weekend trips, social events in the city, and volunteer offerings, the Connect-123 staff was there for every step of the way. While in Cape Town, I interned with an NGO that specialized in promoting entrepreneurship and economic development in the city of Cape Town and surrounding Western Cape region.  When I first arrived I didn’t really know what to expect.  However, within the first week I had become accepted as one of the team members and had taken on a role to assist with the complete redevelopment of the business model and strategy for the organization.   The chance to take on such an important task that contained real world implications was a rewarding opportunity that I had not expected out of the internship.  Under this project I had regular meetings and phone/email conversations with executive council members who were based in Johannesburg. My time with this organization allowed me to grow professionally in ways that I had not anticipated.  I am now able to transfer the skills I learned during my time in Cape Town to future projects in my professional and academic career.  I can’t thank Eimear and the Connect-123 staff enough for working with me to find the placement that best matched my interests and skills, all their work definitely paid off! I encourage everyone to take part in an international experience and there is no better company to do that with than Connect-123!

Internships in Cape Town

Jackie Laplant

Medical Volunteer | Buenos Aires
Tulane University, Graduate
23 November 2010

Volunteering in Buenos Aires through Connect-123 not only provided me with one of the best experiences of my life but also confirmed my passion for medicine. My internship was with a non profit HIV/AIDS foundation where I was given the opportunity to volunteer in the Infectious Diseases Department of the hospital, as well as a Children’s Home. I primarily assisted with organizing medical histories, distribution of HIV/AIDS supplies and any other needs of the department to ensure that each day ran smoothly. Observing and participating in a medical environment in another country served to further enhance my desire to enter the medical profession and serve a diverse community in the future. Outside of work I was able to immerse myself in a new and vibrant culture. Connect-123 helped to organize events throughout the month including bike rides, futbol games and tango lessons. This was extremely helpful in the transition to such a large city and allowed program participants to meet each other and discuss their placements. From the outrageous futbol fans to the wonderful meals I feel as though Buenos Aires has become a part of me. I recommend to anyone interested in medicine or exploring a new culture to do an internship in Buenos Aires through Connect-123. I already know that I will be returning to Buenos Aires in the near future.

Internships in Buenos Aires

Elysia Wong

Education Volunteer | Cape Town
Deakin University, Graduate
23 November 2010

My experience in Cape Town was nothing short of amazing. Connect-123 made both me and my sister feel warmly welcomed and well taken care of. They found us quality volunteer placements, a great place to live, ensured we knew how to get around with ease, recommended places to go and organized social activities. They placed me in two non profit organizations, where I volunteered working with kids and these fantastic organizations that I got to work with gave me so much, it made me grow as a person. The kids I got to work with absolutely made my days that much brighter. I couldn’t be more appreciative of the wonderful 8 weeks experience I had in Cape Town. The people – some of the warmest and friendliest in the world. The atmosphere – Fantastic and relaxed. The place – Amazing landscapes and there is always something to do, somewhere to go, something to see.  Absolutely Incredible experience.

Internships in Cape Town

Shelby Pals

Business Consulting Intern | Buenos Aires
Southern Illinois-Carbonale University
23 November 2010

I interned through Connect-123 in Buenos Aires, Argentina for two months. It truly was one of the best experiences of my life. Buenos Aires is one of the most vibrant cities I have ever lived in. It seems a bit intimidating at first, but after the initial shock the city welcomes you as part of itself. All the advisors at Connect-123 were very helpful and always wanted you to experience all that you could while living in Buenos Aires. They provide everything that you may need while abroad such as maps, phones, and most importantly advice and guidance. Everyone is warm and friendly and are always just a phone call away. They truly care about their students and interns and I believe with Connect-123 you are in good hands. My internship was a great working experience. They placed me with a Spanish school and it was a perfect match. The people, environment, and job itself were just what I was looking for in an internship. I would gladly and strongly recommend Connect-123 for anyone looking for a great cultural experience.

Internships in Buenos Aires

Daniel Aversa

Architecture Intern
University of Toronto
23 November 2010

Architecture is, and always has been, one of my foremost passions. As my undergraduate studies were coming to a close in the spring in 2009, I struggled with the decision of whether or not to postpone graduate school for real-life work experience. In the midst of my growing indecision, it was perhaps fate that led me to Connect-123’s website late one sleepless night in studio, as I randomly searched the terms “architecture” and “internship.” After visiting the Connect website repeatedly over the course of the next week, my indecision fell victim to a growing sense of excitement as I imagined my life on the Mother continent. And the rest, as they say, is history. For eight months, I interned with an architecture firm in the heart of Cape Town’s city bowl, a stone’s throw from my comfortable apartment in Perspectives. The firm specialized in ecological design – specifically, ecologically friendly green building with a focus on the use of local, natural, non-toxic and recycled building materials. I was exposed to numerous alternative building methods: straw-bale, thatch, sand bag, and compressed-earth building systems. The principal architect of the firm, a recipient of numerous accolades from both North American and South African design institutions, took me under his wing for the duration of my internship and made me feel as though I was a valued member of the design team. I was given real responsibility in my day-to-day work and had the opportunity to accompany my fellow colleagues to site inspections, client meetings, lectures, tours and building sites, not only in Cape Town, but also in various locales across the Western and Northern Cape provinces. Outside of my rewarding internship experience, I was able to experience the best of the Western Cape’s natural beauty, stunning landscapes and vibrant cultural scene: hikes up Table Mountain and Lion’s Head; tours of the picturesque winelands of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek; day-trips to Cape Point, Fish Hoek, Muizenberg, Kalk Bay and outlying townships; nights out experiencing Cape Town’s vibrant club and bar scene; multiple road trips with my fellow interns to a weekend music festival (Rocking the Daisies) and a five-day excursion along the breathtakingly beautiful Garden Route… my list of experiences is infinite! I was also fortunate enough to venture off to a few far-flung locations: a rafting trip on the Orange River in Namibia; a weekend in Zimbabwe and Zambia sleeping on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River; a safari in Kruger National Park; and weekends in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Durban (where I caught my first wave!) To anyone considering an internship through Connect-123, I highly recommend it. You will meet people from all walks of life and all corners of the globe who will make lasting, lifelong impressions on your life. Go forth and explore all this world has to offer!

Molly Fogel

Social Work Intern | Cape Town
New York University, Graduate
22 November 2010

There are a lot of reasons why people get away and make the choice to head to a foreign country to volunteer.  Although I was looking for further professional development, I was also looking to revive my passion for the field of social work, and the good work that can be done within this discipline. In the fast pace life of New York City, faces become blurred and clients can become numbers, I needed a change and Connect-123 helped with that.  I was fortunate enough to be placed with a refugee project, working with adolescent refugees from Zimbabwe. I was met as a peer, not an intern, and allowed to utilize my professional skills and get back to the values that are inherent to social work. I worked with incredible social workers, who broke down barriers, putting their blood, sweat, and tears into what they believed.  With little funding, fuelled more by passion and willingness to make a difference, these women embodied social work and change.  I am so happy I was able to be a part of it, even if it was for a short time.  Connect-123 and my involvement in this incredible project created a fire inside of me.  It revived my desire, allowed me to feel free, giving me the strength to continue to make a difference. I sought out Connect-123 to assist me in making some changes in my life, reconnect with myself, personally and professionally.  It worked!  Not enough people take the time out of their professional lives to do something like this.  I took a risk, and realize that it was one of the best decisions I could have ever made.

Internships in Cape Town

Elizabeth Tswana

Gender Rights Intern | Cape Town
University of Zimbabwe, Graduate
22 November 2010

My time at a gender advocacy organisation was amazing because I sharpened my research, communication and networking skills. I really wish I could have extended my stay because there was so much to learn. The staff were very friendly and the Connect-123 team were always ready to help. I personally volunteered soon after graduating because I wanted to gain relevant working experience in something I am passionate about. If you want to volunteer in the best city in South Africa with the best entertainment and great people, Connect-123 can make it happen!

Internships in Cape Town

Jen Jones

Entrepreneurship Intern | Cape Town
Westminster College
18 November 2010

I arrived in Cape Town late at night, and was welcomed to an empty apartment when I crashed from 2 days of non-stop traveling. The next day I made countless new friends, and by the next week I had started my internship at a small tertiary institution 15 minutes out of town. Over the next three months I would learn more and grow more than I had thought possible. At my internship I mentored entrepreneurs from the surrounding communities in various business concepts like marketing and finance. I also created a user-friendly financial administration template and quote/invoice template using Excel, and was able to teach entrepreneurs how to use these templates to keep track of their company’s finances. At my internship I cultivated relationships with my coworkers and the people we mentored, and those friendships have continued to this day. My internship was the most meaningful work I’ve ever done and I looked forward to every day I spent working there. Outside of work a different adventure was planned every weekend. Whether it was taking a cab to Long Street, having drinks in Camps Bay, experiencing the Khayelitsha and Langa townships, planning a road trip to go bungy jumping, walking to the stadium to see a World Cup game, bartering for souvenirs at Greenmarket square, eating baguettes and Belgium waffles at the Neighbourgoods Market, getting up at 5AM to go cage diving with great white sharks, being chased by squirrels at the Company’s Gardens, watching the sunset at Chapman’s Peak, dodging baboons at the Cape of Good Hope, hiking Table Mountain (and taking the cable car down when you’re too tired to hike more), talking to locals on the train to Muizenberg, figuring out which minibus taxi will take you to Bellville, enjoying boerewors at countless braais, cleaning every Pick n Pay in Cape Town out of canned clams to make clam chowder, checking out the many museums near the apartment, learning how to pronounce words in Xhosa (clicking and all), learning to greet your coworkers in Afrikaans, seeing Nelson Mandela’s cell on Robben Island, enjoying giant avocados for 3 Rand, or simply going down to Mugged and talking with Eugene over a beer or coffee, every day was sure to be a new experience. I looked for an internship in South Africa to have a taste of what it would be like to work in a developing country. I’m preparing to leave for Western Africa soon for the Peace Corps, and my internship in Cape Town gave me great experience for my future volunteer position as a business advisor. Thank you Connect-123 and Eimear for giving me the experience of a lifetime, I can’t wait to come back to South Africa someday!

Internships in Cape Town

Lorraine Chilimanzi

Social Entrepreneurship Student | Cape Town
Hampshire College
17 November 2010

The Social Entrepreneurship program was an amazing experience for me. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in issues of entrepreneurship and community led development. Not only did I get to learn some pretty amazing concepts in class and meet some real entrepreneurs and learn from them, but I was also able to get my hands into some live projects that, for me, really cemented what I was learning. I worked with the City of Cape Town government and with an NGO called Southern Africa Sustainable Development Initiative to come up with a model for building very innovative orphanages around the Western Cape (and maybe even the country!). I thoroughly enjoyed my experience – I worked hard, played hard and loved the outcome. Unlike other study abroad opportunities where you just attend classes the Social Entrepreneurship program ensures that the work you do will be meaningful and having lasting impact on the communities you work within. I fell in love with the city and the people and cannot wait to go back to visit….or even live there! Yep, that’s how much I loved it!

Internships in Cape Town
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