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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Naledi Makhene
I had an amazing time in Cape Town! My family is South African, so I’ve been to Cape Town before and was unsure if I wanted to go back there or experience a different city for my internship. I’m so happy that I decided to return, because I got to experience Cape Town in a different way. It is such a beautiful city that is rich in culture with lots of things to do. The people and the atmosphere are extremely inviting, which made the transition to living in a new place easier. My internship experience was phenomenal, and I hope to work there again when I earn my Master’s in Public Health. I reminisce on my trip literally almost everyday and I can’t wait to go back! Three months was too short.
Internships in Cape Town
Amirul Aniza
It is no doubt that Cape Town is one of the most beautiful places on this planet. I fell in love with the place at first sight and was truly lucky to have been given the opportunity to intern in the city itself! My program coordinator was very efficient in securing an internship position for me, with a leading university, as a research intern. She also assisted in administrative tasks which allowed me to adapt to the beautiful city smoothly. I was lucky that my internship position had flexible working hours and I was also allowed to do work from my apartment. Hence, I would make full use of the flexibility to arrange trips with my friends to explore the city. After work, we would head out to Camps Bay or Waterfront to enjoy the evening scenes. Living near the other interns facilitated mingling amongst ourselves and we will look out for each other, easing the feeling of homesickness. Interning in Cape Town is undoubtedly one of the best decision I have ever made!
Internships in Cape Town
Samantha Warwar
Sitting down to write one paragraph about my experience in Cape town is one of the hardest things I've had to do. There are not enough words and definitely not enough space to capture everything I want to tell you about this trip. So I'll try my best to keep it concise (and not to cry) as I recall all of the amazing things about this internship. The summer after my first year in medical school, I went to Cape Town to intern with Connect-123 in the Public Health program. I spent 4 weeks interning in a hospital where I observed surgeries, rounded with some of Cape Town's most prestigious doctors, and helped care for the most memorable patients. If you are considering a field in medicine this is the best opportunity because you are a part of a care team managing some of the most sick patients in the world. You will see and do things that you once thought you would only read about in textbooks. As for the rest of the trip, me and a group of girls and guys became friends instantly. This is the kind of friendship that you dream about developing on a trip like this. We were from all over the world and I learned about the world from their stories in a way that I have never experienced before. We all fell in love with Cape town together, it is impossible not to if you go. Cape town is home to the most genuine people I have ever met, some of the best food I have ever tasted, and this little town stole a piece of my heart. I cannot wait to go back and hike Lions Head, breathe in the fresh air, and take in the most beautiful sights this world has to offer.
Internships in Cape Town
Grace Severance
I spent 3 months of the fall semester of my senior year of university working as an intern in a surgical unit at a hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. Working with both the surgeons and registrars was a unique experience - I got to observe how the medical staff diagnosed, treated, and cared for patient on a daily basis. My relationship with the physicians was friendly and professional, and they were always helpful in explaining all the medical terminology and diagnostic reasoning to me. I also had opportunities to observe a public clinic an hour from Cape Town and see how healthcare was delivered on a local scale. I can highly recommend Connect-123 for anyone interested in doing an internship in Cape Town. The staff was prompt, professional, and always looking to help the interns in whatever way they could. I was able to learn a lot about South African culture and they, in turn, were interested in learning about American culture. Connect-123 is a dependable organization whose primary goal is to optimize the experiences of its participants. I would recommend this specific internship to any student interested in medicine, pre-PA, and nursing.
Internships in Cape Town
Yana Martysevich
I've had a wonderful stay in Cape Town, South Africa. It is an amazing city! Connect-123 went above and beyond to get me this internship and without exaggerating, it has been one of the best experiences in my life! My program coordinator is absolutely wonderful and she will tell you everything you need to know about Cape town! If you're looking for a great way to live abroad, gain unmatched work experience, and have the time of your life, this program is for you.
Internships in Cape Town
Kaleigh Keown
The five weeks I spent in Cape Town, South Africa, were five weeks I will never forget. Although I was over 7,000 miles away from a single person I knew, I felt completely prepared thanks to Connect-123. I began my internship at a hospital in the city and when that experience did not exactly go as planned, Connect-123 was quick to change my setting and give me the most out of my time in Cape Town. I was not only able to experience the South African healthcare culture through my internship, but staying in the city allowed me to absorb as much of the Cape Town atmosphere as possible. During my trip, I experienced hiking, shark cage diving, rugby games, surfing, winery tours, a Robben Island tour, a Langa Township tour, a trip to Boulder’s Beach organized by Connect-123, among many others. I only wish that I would have stayed longer than five weeks!
Internships in Cape Town
Isaac Rooney
Cape Town gave me without a doubt, the most educational, eye-opening, and exploration-filled two months of my life. The experience my internship gave me was unlike any I could’ve imagined. Working in a hospital in South Africa exposed me to more than I ever could have been exposed to in the U.S. and has given me both a unique and favorable addition to my resume. Since getting home, I’ve been telling friends that Cape Town is the one place in the world where you can truly do anything. One day you could be hiking table mountain, the next you could be surfing, and the next you could be shark cage diving or visiting Kirstenbosch, the massive botanical garden. Going into my internship in South Africa, I was very unsure, as I’m sure mostly everyone was. Having returned home, I can confidently say I made the best possible choice on where to spend my two month internship. I felt as though Sough Africa wasn’t a place I would get another chance to visit and having taken the opportunity, I couldn’t be happier with my decision.
Internships in Cape Town
Adriana De Lucio
At the end of 2015, I accepted the exciting opportunity to do an internship abroad at a nonprofit geared towards promoting women’s rights in an unfamiliar location—Cape Town, South Africa. While I was a little nervous about traveling outside of my comfort zone, I knew this would be an unforgettable experience; so, in late January of 2016, I left my home in Washington, D.C. for the Mother City. For five months, I worked at a three-stage shelter for destitute, abused, and disadvantaged women and their children. On top of providing temporary shelter, the organization also provides its female residents with legal counseling, skills classes and workshops, and access to a child’s daycare center and preschool. During my time there, I not only worked on meaningful projects like creating a residential database and an online fundraising campaign, but I met and worked with inspirational women and children that have further motivated me to become a strong proponent of social change through their own passion for fighting injustices and personal stories. In addition to learning outside of the university classroom about the nonprofit sector, I gained knowledge about my host country through exploring it with my new friends. I went bungee jumping in Bloukrans, shark-cage diving in Gainbaai, wine-tasting in Franschhoek, on a safari trip in Kruger National Park, and sandboarding in Atlantis. Inside the city, I tried foreign Cape-Malay cuisine, watched a play about apartheid, spectated a Springboks rugby match, and hiked the iconic Table Mountain. My overall experience in Cape Town allowed me to learn more about my area of academic interest and myself as a person. The five months I spent in Cape Town were truly transformative and I’m grateful to Connect-123 for the memorable adventure.
Internships in Cape Town
Jesse Endert
This opportunity gave me the drive I had been searching for to reach for my dreams. This was my first time being in a different country, but it was as if I was meant to be there. The moment you drive to the city center from the airport you see the diversity Cape Town has to offer. This city has its challenges with poverty, but the people are what made me look beyond what can be seen. I had to step out of my comfort zone because there were cultural differences, but I had a life changing experience and became more independent. I discovered where my passion lies. I figured out who I am as a person. I spent three months working for an NGO against illegal wildlife trade based in Cape Town. My boss was passionate about what he worked for and that enthusiasm was contagious. He made sure that I got the most out of my internship and the most out of my time in Cape Town. My own research had been used in scientific working group meetings and I later coauthored a published document with my boss. This was my first experience in a work setting where I felt I belonged. My experiences on a safari, viewing the city from the top of Table Mountain, and kayaking in the ocean cannot be described with words. I would not have had the same experience without Connect-123. My internship coordinator made sure that I had everything I needed and continues to be a great friend even after I left Cape Town. I can say the same about everyone I met through Connect-123. Interning through Connect-123 prepared me for my dreams of living abroad. In fact, I will soon be independently returning to Cape Town to continue my internship, but for an extended period of 5 to 6 months. I could not be more thankful for this opportunity and I highly recommend that you try it too.
Internships in Cape Town
Samantha Telgkamp
While in class studying to become a child life specialist, I am taught over and over that play is the universal language of childhood. It was not until I immersed myself in a whole new culture across the world, when I realized the truth to this statement. Having the opportunity to work with so many different children, in all sorts of settings, speaking many of the different languages native to South Africa was incredible. Recognizing how play is a language we all can "speak" and understand and its importance to a child is a lesson whose impact goes much further than the classroom. While I sit in class or am talking with my friends, I am always finding myself relating whatever the discussion is to my experience in Cape Town. I miss it so much, and could never thank Connect-123 enough for all you did to make my experience greater than anything I imagined.
Internships in Cape Town
Kristine Wright
During my time in Cape Town I was based in a fantastic government hospital and got to work with some incredible doctors and nurses. I observed open heart surgeries, organ donation surgeries and transplants. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Cape Town and Langebaan in particular was awesome! I took a kite boarding course and spent most of my free time surfing and kite boarding! I found Cape Town to be very laid back and a great place to visit and hike!
Internships in Cape Town
Christine Oswald
The summer I spent in Cape Town was a life changing experience. I made life-long friends and grew so much as a person. I was able to intern with a fantastic organization that does aid work in townships throughout South Africa. Not only did my coworkers treat me like family but the internship allowed me to see a side of Cape Town that a typical tourist would not have been exposed to. Connect-123 was incredibly helpful in helping me adjust to the city and plan events with other interns. Along with organized outings, the Connect staff lent me several books to help with planning a road trip and even helped me find a hotel for my mom when she visited. I would recommend this program to anyone who is a little unsure about traveling to a new place completely by yourself. Connect-123 provides a solid support system while giving you enough space to explore and learn how to navigate a foreign country on your own. The skills and experiences I have taken away from Cape Town will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Internships in Cape Town
Isabella Alvarez
I interned in Cape Town the summer after I graduated from college, and I could not be happier about my decision of going to South Africa, and postponing the job hunting. While I was in Cape Town, I learned more about myself, became friends with people from all over the world, and immersed myself in a country with a complex history -- an experience I believe everyone should have before jumping into a full-time job. To put things in perspective, I befriended a local family who taught me the ins and outs of Cape Town, and who provided me with a firsthand perspective of South Africa's history and culture. Two of my closest friends there also happened to be British, allowing me to better understand the culture of the UK without having to go there. While in South Africa, I abseiled down Table Mountain and traveled through its Garden Route where we took part in an elephant encounter and crept through some caves. I went on a safari in Kruger, and even had the opportunity of exploring the country's neighbor, Namibia. In all, I had an amazing time and feel fortunate to have such good memories of the summer after I graduated from university. Connect-123 is unique because you also gain a unique outlook in regards to the country's work culture. I interned at a startup, an experience I absolutely loved! My supervisor allowed me to take plenty of initiative, and I found myself creating a variety of projects for them. During my interviews today, this experience is always a talking point, and I feel better prepared to take on a full time job. Before deciding on going, I constantly thought about how I should have already gone abroad, and about how I was pushing back on two months in which I could already be working. I took a step back though, and realized that in the scheme of things, two months is really not a lot -- especially since those two months would provide me with memories and lessons that would last me a lifetime. If you are having these same kinds of doubts, my advice to you is to just go. You'll be glad you did.
Internships in Cape Town
Carly Henderson
My internship in Cape Town was an unforgettable experience. Connect-123 did a great job of matching me to an internship which suited my skills and interests which helped me slot in straight away with my co-workers. I attended weekly antibiotic stewardship ward rounds in adult burns, medical and surgical ICU and also paediatric ICU and had a number of projects to work on keeping me busy during my internship. The experience has helped me realise that whilst there are often financial constraints associated with healthcare, I have witnessed first-hand, that the right attitude goes a long way towards safeguarding the patients, even in low resource settings. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and feel inspired to seek improvements through innovation however small they may seem. The team and other participants at Connect-123 are extremely sociable and which really made sure I got the most out of my internship, both at work and in my spare time. Cape Town completely took me by surprise and exceeded all expectations with its beauty, adventure and culture. There are countless fun things to do, whatever your interests or budget. The more I learned about the city, the more I fell in love with it and the experience will stay with me forever.
Internships in Cape Town
Lucy Morton
It’s difficult to sum up my two month experience in Cape Town without using the typical words amazing and unforgettable. Seriously, Cape Town is a beauty! As part of my 3 year scientist training programme in the UK, I was required to undertake a placement within a different field of healthcare in order to gain experience in a new environment. I love travelling and living abroad, and have always wanted to visit South Africa. Connect-123 provided an easy way for me to find an internship programme to fulfill the requirements of my training programme back home. Right from my initial enquiries they were so helpful and willing to find the perfect internship for me. They were able to match me to a placement focused upon infectious disease management and control, which was perfectly suited to my interests. Throughout my time they ensured that everything was going to plan and that I was enjoying it. Plus, they are all so friendly and helpful about the best things to do in the city! Although it’s possible to find an internship independently, Connect-123 allows you to meet and live with other interns, which is the best part about it! I have so many amazing memories from Cape Town and met a brilliant group of people to share my experiences with. I was able to go on insane adventures that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do if I completed an internship in the UK – e.g. shark cage diving, safari in Kruger National Park, abseiling Table Mountain! Cape Town is seriously the perfect place to intern – so many things to see/do, amazing food and of course so many wineries to visit!
Internships in Cape Town
Maureen Carney
My time in Cape Town, South Africa was absolutely indescribable. From the incredible people we met, to the breathtaking view of the mountain we woke up to every morning, Cape Town showed us its many treasures we were so fortunate to experience. The Connect-123 program allowed us to further these experiences through the support and guidance they dedicated to us throughout our time there. We were able to maintain a balance of excursions throughout the city and volunteering/service learning within health care settings and schools. Each and every day brought new learning curves and challenges, but also gave me valuable learning experiences that I will hold with me forever. I grew so much, personally and professionally, and I was able to expand my horizons beyond what I had already learned in the field of child life. I will never forget the children, families, and the people I met in Cape Town. I am honored to have been able to participate in this trip, and I am confident that I will be returning to Cape Town again one day!
Internships in Cape Town
Conor Byrne
I went into this experience unaware of what living in Cape Town would entail. I assumed it would be a good time, as did my roommates and other friends I met along the way, but I don’t think any of us had a clear idea of what to expect when travelling to South Africa. Despite this, working and living in Cape Town turned out to be two of the most adventurous and rewarding months of my life. And that is not just a personal memoir, but also a repeated statement one hears from nearly everyone they meet while being a member of Connect-123. In a single ambitious day, we could take surfing lessons at the beach, hike Table Mountain, and scarf down a bacon, cheese and avocado burger at Royale Eatery. As aforementioned, that would be an ambitious day, but it is not an impossible one. The point being, think of something you would like to do tomorrow, and Cape Town can provide it. As for the internship itself, I could not be happier with my placement. I was fortunate enough to be given rewarding work, and I was given great exposure into my field of interest. Additionally, I will genuinely miss the coworkers I have had the pleasure of getting to know over these past couple of months. As for other aspiring interns, there is a great range of internship openings that Connect-123 can coordinate for you in Cape Town that will bed tailored to your desired experience. All together, Cape Town has an abundant number of opportunities for the people who are willing to try them. To people who are up for the fun, Connect-123 offers you the chance to both find work that is beneficial and travel with the comfort of knowing you won’t be alone in a new place. The Cape Town coordinators are always happy to help should a problem arise, and they plan events to help you bond with your fellow Connect participants. Fellow friends, I should mention, who are always up for an adventure and a good time. I would advise any and all to live in Cape Town when they have the chance, and Connect-123 is a wonderful group to help you achieve this.
Internships in Cape Town
Roobini Daley
My internship in Cape Town was definitely a unique experience that required me to step out of my comfort zones. The pick-up, welcome pack and orientation really helped me get settled into the different environment. The teaching internship was really different when I was paired with an organization to tutor Grade 2 and 3 students but it was a little too short and quick for me. I had ended my day at 12.30pm everyday and only started at 9.30am. I volunteered myself to teach Mathematics to students and was assigned to teach grade 6 mathematics while shadowing a teacher. After volunteering I felt more productive and had learnt more than I could imagine as compared to just the 3 hours of teaching. The monthly outings really helped to bring all the interns together and allowed us to mingle and at the same time learn more about Cape Town's rich history and culture. Overall I think that my internship experience has been really good and I am really happy to have been able to experience it with the help of the Connect-123 staff.
Volunteer in Cape Town
Ainsleigh Toth
Cape Town is one of those amazing places that you will never quite fully understand until you live in it. It is a surprising city, from mountain side to beach sunsets to city lights, it really has anything you could want to do. Cape Town definitely is a raw metropolitan, so you must be willing to explore life outside of your comfort zone. Connect-123 provided phenomenal support leading up to my arrival, and then continued to answer any questions or concerns that I had throughout my time in Cape Town. If you want support along with individual freedom, then Connect-123 is definitely the program for you. Doing a social work internship in an orphanage and townships, it certainly gave me eye opening insight to the social situations in South Africa. Being one of the most amazing places to live, its astonishing to witness the extreme flaws of the social arrangement. I had the chance to do two different internships in two months and with that came amazing opportunities to experience many diverse situations. Each experience gave me a different chance to obtain knowledge about things that wouldn’t even be imaginable at home. I am so happy I chose Connect-123 to organize my summer plans!
Internships in Cape Town
Christine De’Antonis
I couldn’t have asked for a better experience during my four months in Cape Town. I gained professional experience through my internship at the Groote Schuur Hospital as well as increased cultural awareness through my everyday social encounters. I had a lot of fun both during my job, interacting with patients and coworkers, and outside of work exploring the city and South Africa as a whole. I gained a well-rounded experience through Connect-123 achieving job exposure as well as enjoyment. My internship in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at Groote Schuur definitely provided me with medical exposure that I would have had difficulty finding in the United States. My primary responsibility was to work on a clinical trial research project that compared two different types of mechanical valves used in valve replacement surgeries. On top of this I was able to interact with patients, attend ward rounds, observe both cardiac and thoracic surgeries and assist with some responsibilities within the ward. My coworkers were all extremely friendly which made going to work enjoyable, and all of the consultants, registrars, and medical students were more than willing to teach us each day, which allowed me to learn so much about cardiothoracics and medical practice as a whole. Upon entering this internship, I hadn’t quite had my mind made up about whether or not I wanted to pursue a career in medicine, but after this experience I now know that this is what I want to do in life. On top of this, my time spent outside of my internship was wonderful. I made so many new friends from all over the world and I felt that I was able to fully immerse myself in the culture of Cape Town. Connect-123 set up numerous social events that made meeting other interns very easy, and they made sure that no one ever felt lonely in the foreign city. Over the four months I was able to do everything from bungee jumping in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, to hiking numerous mountains surrounding Cape Town, to wine tasting in the vineyards, and so much more. I had the experience of a lifetime through this program and I am so grateful to have received this opportunity.
Internships in Cape Town
