Reviews

Ima B

Reflecting on my time in Cape Town and the amazing opportunities that Connect-123 provided, I can proudly say that coming here has been the best decision I have made during my time at Penn State. From the instant I set foot in this amazing country, every single person has made me feel welcomed and loved! Regarding my internship, my placement was an absolute game-changer. Not only for my personal growth but also because I was able to work alongside talented and passionate people who pushed me to become a better version of myself! Beyond the professional aspect, the trips and activities sponsored by Connect-123 have been nothing but exceptional. From having the time of our life at Food Jams with our program coordinator, Carla, to having a breathtaking safari through the Garden Route. Overall, this has been an unforgettable journey and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity. This has been a wild experience and Connect-123 and this place will always hold a special place in my life!

Sam G

Alex Woodward

My time in Cape Town has been incredible. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the events and excursions put on by Connect-123, as well as the independent exploration I have been able to do. Life has such ease in Cape Town. My internship was incredible and I have come to love all of my co-workers. I highly suggest stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things. From foods or activities to your future internship placement, try something outside of your comfort zone. Cape Town is one of the most culturally diverse places on the globe, experience it. When in Cape Town make sure to visit the places recommended by Connect-123 and also discover your own places. My friends and I rarely frequented the same place more than twice. My time was so enriching and I feel like I have gained an irreplaceable experience. My internship helped me to grow my knowledge of the inner workings of small non-profits. I have worked in so many different areas and the organizational focus on women has inspired and assured me that marginalized groups are being seen and assisted. Connect-123 did an amazing job connecting and facilitating my internship. They are so accommodating and professional. I highly suggest Connect-123 to anyone looking for a global experience!

Emily Heiser

I will always look back on my time in Cape Town as a very special time in my life, and I owe it all to Connect-123! I had just graduated and wanted to travel abroad somewhere for a while but also build up my experience in my studied field. I heard good things about Connect-123 from my friend and decided to apply. The people at Connect-123 were very responsive during the whole process of applying and finding me an internship. They couldn’t have picked a better placement for me! My internship gave me real-life experience that will help me in future jobs and just in life in general. Connect-123 also held very fun and exciting events for the other interns which gave us all a chance to get to know each other and explore other things in South Africa. The people in this program have become some of my very best friends. I treasure the people I have met through Connect-123 and my internship.

Allysa Miller

After graduating I wanted to travel and explore the world while gaining experience in my field of psychology. I decided the best way to do so was through an internship. After doing extensive research I found Connect-123 and they helped link me with the perfect internship opportunity working for an NPO in Cape Town. I worked with refugees, asylum seekers, and South African citizens helping them find job opportunities and build professional skills. I loved every minute of my time in Cape Town. I was able to gain so much experience in my field while obtaining life experiences that I only dreamt of having. I don’t believe words can express the love I have gained for South Africa. It is my home away from home and I am determined to return to Cape Town again one day. I believe Connect-123 was the ultimate reason that my experience was so amazing. Because of this program, I have made life-long friends through the interns that were also on the Connect-123 program, as well as members in the Cape Town community. Thank you to Carla, Robyn, Saskia, and Kate for giving me the best experience of my life!

Mallory Slavin

I spent three months interning in Cape Town, South Africa, and it will forever be some of the best months of my life. I gained valuable experience in my field while working for a human rights organization and in the South African Parliament, all while experiencing the unique culture of South Africa and making lifelong friends! Looking for internships is hard, and I didn’t even know where to start after deciding on Cape Town. Thankfully, Connect-123 was there throughout the entire process! Robyn and the crew at Connect-123 helped me find the perfect internship. They also set up my housing before I arrived and met with me when I got to Cape Town to ensure I was settling in! They were always just a call away if I needed anything, and while I never had a single issue during my three months in Cape Town, knowing that they were there if anything should go wrong was reassuring. Connect-123 also set up different events and excursions for all of the interns which was a great way to experience new and unique things that South Africa had to offer. I wouldn’t trade my months in Cape Town for anything, and I’m glad I now have a home away from home in my favorite city in the world!

Austen Zoutewelle

Three themes emerged in my life while in South Africa: embracing adventure, exploring culture, and absorbing information. First and foremost, living in such a naturally beautiful place provided a playground in my backyard. Each day I could find a novel, fun experience, like hiking Lion's Head to see the sunrise, choosing whether to run along the Indian or Atlantic Ocean or taking a drive out to Chapman's Peak. Intentionally capitalizing on the opportunities to fall further in love with our extraordinary world was a high priority for me. Second, my focus while living in a new place is to immerse myself in the local culture. In Cape Town, incredible opportunities abound to engage with many diverse cultures. People prioritize relationships in South Africa and my favorite moments were spent talking with others about their beliefs and backgrounds over coffee or delicious Cape Malay meals. People's most valuable gift is a narration of their stories and the people in South Africa that I encountered were gracious in taking time to talk with me and share their experiences. Finally, as a graduate student in Texas completing my final internship abroad, my time in South Africa focused on cross-cultural learning. I wanted to better understand how another culture approaches similar, global issues. One of the projects I completed for my degree was researching disaster preparedness in South Africa and the United States, specifically focusing on the drought in sub-Saharan Africa and Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Similarly, my internship was spent working at an organization that addresses violence against people with sexual and gender minority status in the Western Cape. I was working on compiling research that informed the organization's positions on relevant policy issues in Parliament, which was extremely similar to my work in Texas. In both contexts, I was able to see how different countries respond to and prevent problems that arise across the world. Cape Town, for me, is a 'thin place,' meaning the line between heaven and earth is extremely thin. People make the place what it is and I am grateful to the people of South Africa who let me walk alongside them experiencing the adventure, appreciating the diversity, and learning how to create universal opportunities for growth.

Sophia Nelson

Maggie Crowell

Picture this: a stunning, palm-lined coastal city that bustles in the shadow of Table Mountain -- a city filled with diverse culture and friendly people. Then, add a knowledgeable team of individuals dedicated to assisting you with everything, from finding the perfect weekend brunch spot to sourcing the best guide for a Cape of Good Hope tour with penguins. You're looking at an internship in Cape Town with Connect-123, and if your experience is anything like mine was, you'll never look back! During my time in South Africa, I was fortunate enough to intern in a local human rights organization, which helped me realize my passion for social justice and human rights issues. In addition to great experiences through my job, I was able to participate in some fantastic weekend activities such as cage diving, paragliding, and feeding elephants on safari. Connect-123 helped make this one of the best and most memorable summers of my life, and I would recommend this program to anyone looking for adventure, learning, and a whole lot of excitement!

Maria Spano

I came to South Africa, Cape Town more specifically, to have a direct vision of the reality of a country which underwent recent internal struggle. Being interested in political risk and emergency and conflict situations, I decided that a country like South Africa was the place for me to be in. I wanted to have an unbiased view of the everyday life of the population, their way of thinking and their interesting culture. Thanks to my internship with Connect-123 at a leading human rights organization, working for both the Legal and Advocacy Departments, I managed to have exactly the insight I first aimed at, and more. For instance, I was able with my internship to consult with people from various backgrounds about their human rights abuses and to help the planning of in-loco interventions in different locations aimed at, more generally, increasing awareness of human rights. This internship showed me that there are people who work hard to improve the lives of others and that the ignorance on the knowledge of human rights is still very present, which makes these jobs even more essential. I would have never imagined how much I would have ended up getting involved in all of it: the country, the culture, the people and the issues regarding human rights. This involvement was also helped by the side activities organized by Connect-123 with their impeccable organization and personal involvement, and by the events present in such a beautiful city full of history. For instance, if you ever have the chance don’t miss the lecture on South Africa’s history and culture at UCT, the Township Tour, and the Mandela’s Day Walk for Freedom. Finally, the only negative point is the time length: two months is too short. This is why, if the opportunity presents itself again, I wouldn’t miss the chance of coming back here for longer.

Emily Mayfield

My three months in Cape Town were the best of my life thus far. As a transfer student taking a gap year, I wanted a rewarding internship experience overseas where I would not only learn a lot about the culture of the country I was living in, but also about myself. Connect-123 set me up with a fantastic internship at an LGBTI non-governmental organization. There, I conducted research on hate crimes legislation and post-rape care and learned about the South African government and how NGOs play an important role in getting legislation passed. I became more educated on South African politics and was even given the opportunity to attend a meeting at Parliament. My coworkers were great, and I became good friends with the other intern I worked with. When I was not working, I was soaking in all the amazing activities Cape Town has to offer. During my three months there, I sky-dived, bungee jumped off the highest bungee bridge in the world, snorkeled with seals, went surfing in the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, went paragliding, hiked mountains, canoed through a national park, went zip-lining, explored the beautiful Garden Route, went on safaris, relaxed on the beach, went on wine tours, and had a blast at several concerts. Connect-123 also organized events, including going to a rugby game, cooking a meal with other interns, eating at a restaurant in Bo-Kaap, taking a sunset cruise, and volunteering at a soup kitchen. Connect-123 did a great job checking in to make sure I was happy at my internship and in Cape Town. They were always there if I had a question or needed something in my apartment fixed. They also made great recommendations for things to do in South Africa and they really helped me make the most of my time there. The other interns with Connect-123 were some of the coolest people I’ve ever met. I definitely developed lifelong friendships and I am already planning future trips with my Connect-123 friends. If you are looking for a meaningful internship experience in one of the greatest cities in the world, I highly recommend looking into Connect-123’s Cape Town program. You will not regret it!

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.

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.

Tess Freydberg

After graduating college, I knew that I wanted to travel and gain more life and work experience before finding a full time job. I’ve done a lot of traveling but chose Cape Town because it seemed so different from everywhere else I’ve been. Connect-123 helped set me up with the perfect internship and made sure I felt comfortable while I was here. I worked at a Women’s Education and Training Trust and it completely opened my eyes to the struggles that many women in Cape Town face. I got to see and learn so much and am forever grateful for the experience! When I wasn’t working I was always busy! Connect-123 plans a lot of excursions and you can meet a lot of people if you want to. I never felt bored or lonely! Cape Town is an amazing city with such a different culture than anywhere I’ve visited. I love that there was so much to do; hike the mountains, relax by the beaches, shop, eat great food, go clubbing, endless excursions, etc. You will not get bored! I will definitely miss Cape Town and everyone I have met!

Andre Hage

It is not an exaggeration to say that spending time in Cape Town was one of the best decisions that I have ever made. I could never have imagined the amount of perspective that I would gain in my two and a half months in South Africa. In addition to being a fantastic chance to meet new people and friends, it was also a humbling experience, as my internship in Khayelitsha township forced me to confront my own privilege. Overall Connect-123 was a fantastic service. I always felt that the staff members were taking their jobs extremely seriously in order to make my experience in Cape Town as memorable as possible. I would definitely recommend Connect-123 to anyone who is interested in doing an internship abroad.

Tory Scordato

Interning in Cape Town through Connect-123’s program has been absolutely wonderful! After interning through Connect in Dublin and having a great time, Connect-123 was the first program I looked at for an internship this summer. All the Connect staff I’ve worked with have been so friendly and have always gone above and beyond to help me with anything I need, from local restaurant suggestions all the way to fixing the TV in my apartment. They placed me at a great internship where I’ve been able to really get hands on experience in the non-profit sector. My coworkers were excited to have me join them and want me to get the most out of my time here, so right from the start I’ve been able to do meaningful work.

The program Connect-123 offers, where you get to spend more time in a city than just a normal vacation, is truly one of a kind. Living abroad has taught me so much about myself and I’ve gotten to see and do some amazing things that I might not have gotten the opportunity to otherwise. There is so much more to do here in Cape Town than I expected, from hiking and museums to wine tours and safaris. I’ve met some incredible people here in Cape Town, including locals, other students in the Connect program and people from all over the world also enjoying everything Cape Town has to offer.

James Sapali

My name is James Sapali, a student of Masters Programme in International Migration and Ethnic Relations at the Malmö University in Sweden. Actually I have acquired different philosophies and theories about the current international developments, the effect of globalisation and human mobility, issues of inclusion and exclusion of immigrants, majority-minority relations in diverse and complex society. It was my dream to do an internship during my third semester and the city of Cape Town was my choice. I decided to involve Connect-123 to find the perfect organisation where I can gain practical experience. I am very grateful to Connect -123 for attaching me with a refugee centre where I spent five months sharpening my skills. Living in Cape Town is an experience of itself, by adding an internship to this experience one can get one of the most rewarding experiences a student could have during his/hers' study period. You cannot have a better taste of multiculturalism and diversity in any other city than Cape Town. Here I learned more than during my whole studies. I was able to work with refugees and asylum seekers who would like to receive a small businesses grants, evaluating application forms and interviews, whether over the phone or face to face, and the most difficult thing- taking decisions. All of this helped me to put my theoretical knowledge into practice and realize what from my knowledge is important and useful and what is not. This internship taught me more then I expected. Not only in my field of studies, but it also developed my personality. At a university everybody is on his own. You study for yourself, do exams for yourself, the responsibility is only on yourself. Here I realized that whatever I do, I am responsible not only for my work but also for the whole team. I learned how to organize my work, how to deal with variety of situations and I improved my communication skills. Generally, this internship was the best choice ever. I got new friends and most important experiencing the beauty of Cape Town. Thank you very much Connect-123 staff to let my dream come true. Special thanks to Claudette (Connect-123 Coordinator). Her kindness and tireless support to the interns are really worth acknowledging.  

Taylor Nelson

I knew I wanted to come to Cape Town a year and half before I started my internship. I came across Connect when I was searching for a study abroad program. Connect-123 was the only organization I found that seemed like it'd work out for me. I knew I wanted to go into the field of human rights and I knew that I couldn’t spend a lot of money. Also it seemed so perfect to doing human rights work in a nation with so much social justice history and not to mention the most forward human rights constitution in the world. Before I came to South Africa I mentally prepared myself that this trip was about work and not fun. I told myself that this trip would help me get serious about my career and that would be my number one focus. I could not have been more wrong. Not only did I get a lot out of my internship working with refugees but I also made life long friends. I did things I never thought I would ever do such as jump out of an airplane and off the highest bungee in the world. I went to my first musical festival and experienced an authentic South African Braai. My trip was more than just about my work but it was about the experiences I had and the people that I met along the way. Not just people from Connect or from work but locals I met on the train, at a park, or out on Long st. My internship was really hard seeing people who have experienced the worst in life: homelessness, war, and genocide, but it gave an insight and appreciation for life after seeing it in their eyes. It is going to be really hard to leave Cape Town but I will never forget it and I will definitely be back.

Anna Lim

Choosing Cape Town for my overseas internship was the best decision I’ve made. I was filled with trepidation before arriving, mostly because of the impression of South Africa as somewhat unsafe and dangerous. Yet Cape Town exceeded my expectations by a mile. This is a place with a rich culture, breathtaking scenery, friendly locals and much more. Connect-123 did a good job arranging my internship, accommodation and facilitating my stay here. Because of their tremendous help, I faced little hassle in settling down and making Cape Town my home for 5 months. The coordinators are always there to fix any problems promptly and efficiently. Also, they are very friendly and willing to help any time. I’ve also forged valuable friendships here with the other interns, despite coming from different countries with cultural differences. The smooth transition from Singapore to Cape Town and my fellow interns definitely contributed to the amazing experience I’ve had here. I worked in a non-profit which focuses on refugees’ rights, and I have learnt a lot from it. I familiarized myself with South Africa’s human rights law and refugee law, which demonstrated the gap between theory and reality. My internship exposed me to the injustices that many refugees faced, and it was a harsh reminder that human rights progress is still far from maturity in South Africa. Also, I was thrown many challenging tasks – such as going for a business trip to Johannesburg and attending meetings alone, presenting on my organization’s operations, and attending a parliament session. They are stressful, but I treat them as opportunities to grow, and I did. The internship allowed me to translate things I’ve learnt in my Political Science modules to real life, and I’ve gained a clearer perspective on human rights issues and an edge over other students; because I had a first-hand experience that others lacked. The internship caused me to reflect on what I want to achieve in the future, and I can say that working here in Cape Town has helped me find my goal in life. Besides the internship, Cape Town as a whole is amazing. The experience here will not be complete without hiking up the many mountains this place got to offer, as well as exploring the Cape Malay quarters in Bo-Kaap, the bustling nightlife in Long Street, the scenic route from Muizenberg to Simon’s Town, and most importantly, interacting with the friendly locals. The garden route and the west coast are beautiful places to venture to, and Stellenbosch also offers the luxury to indulge in great wines coupled with lush scenery. The best part is, Connect-123 arranges many tours to the various attractions, thus making it more convenient for those who prefer to experience everything without the hassle of planning them. I will definitely miss my time here in Cape Town, and I have no regrets choosing this city for my internship!  

Falihah Anisah

Spending my first overseas internship in Cape Town for three months was amazing, and honestly I couldn't have chosen a better place. Cape Town, or South Africa generally, is rich with culture and diversity and had so much to offer to the interns. It was undoubtedly the best environment to grow personally and professionally. The process prior to this was straightforward and simple, and Connect-123 facilitated everything very well, being there for me whenever I needed any form of assistance. Work-wise, it has certainly been fulfilling. Being keen on migrant rights back in Singapore and currently studying on War and Security, Connect-123 hooked me up with an NGO refugee centre who was an implementing partner of UNHCR. This was a phenomenal experience - one that I wouldn't get elsewhere - because it provided a raw insight into the lives led by refugees from all over Africa, who are often shunned and discriminated against, and allowed me an opportunity to interact and serve the needs of asylum seekers and refugees directly, whether it was determination of their refugee status or short-term assistance. It was incredible to see my efforts translate into direct impacts on their lives, and I was blessed to work with truly knowledgable and wise co-workers with the years of experience under their belt with regards to refugees, and who taught me so much about the situation with immigration policies in South Africa. Such a job scope can be heavy and challenging at times, but this experience helped me grow as a person, putting things in perspective for me. I was fortunate enough to also be part of a fashion show held on World Refugees' Day, empowering both South African and refugee designers. Outside the office, the people I've met, both locals and Connectors, have made my stay even more unforgettable, and it's easy to underestimate the kind of friendships you forge over such a short period of time. Cape Town is truly a beautiful and dynamic city with so many things to do, from hiking at the various mountains to the nightlife at Long Street, and it never really stopped being beautiful. Having stayed in Cape Town for about 3 months gave me plenty of time to explore the city and even outside it as well through road trips with friends. If you ever do get lazy to plan your weekend, Connect's always there to plan group outings as well. It was difficult to leave and I'm pretty sure I left a part of me there, so I'll definitely be coming back!