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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Allen Hu
The month I spent in Cape Town really was the time of my life. The city and the surrounding environment was absolutely beautiful, the food was delicious (also cheap), and the South African people were so kind and friendly! I woke up every day excited to explore the city and learn something new about South Africa's history and culture. In addition, my internship was so eye-opening, because I got to go out into the townships every day and see a different way of life, as well as the challenges of providing healthcare to impoverished areas. That's not something very many people get to do, and I consider myself so lucky to have been able to go to Cape Town for an internship. I'm so grateful for all the people I met and all the experiences I had. If you're having trouble deciding whether or not you should go abroad for an internship with Connect-123, let me just say: take the leap. Just go for it. You absolutely won't regret it. I certainly didn't!
Internships in Cape Town
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!
Internships in Cape Town
Drew Peth
It’s amazing what can happen in just a short month, and it would not have been possible without Connect-123. This became evident from our very first meeting, and I knew I had made the best decision to spend my summer with them. Their grasp on Cape Town life and connections around the city are unparalleled. We were connected with some of the best doctors and mentors in Cape Town. Rotating through a community day clinic, secondary hospital, pediatric care center, and touring a first tier government hospital, where the first heart transplant took place, as well as a private hospital, we gained well-rounded insight into the healthcare of Cape Town. Connect-123 made sure we not only had an incredible internship experience, but also amazing opportunities to see the beauty of Cape Town. They gave fantastic recommendations, listened to what we wanted to do, and took the stress of planning, scheduling, and arranging accommodation away, allowing us to more fully enjoy ourselves. The staff at Connect-123 go above and beyond to not only ensure you have an excellent experience, but also work to foster a relationship with you. I can honestly say Connect-123 shaped my time in Cape Town, and for that I am forever grateful. My only regret is that I didn’t stay longer! Thanks again for everything!
Internships in Cape Town
Samantha Minnette
The three months that I spent in Buenos Aires were amazing, as I spent them improving my Spanish, exploring a culturally rich city, and meeting new and exciting people every day! I came to this internship with the goal of improving my ability to speak Spanish and I can say confidently that I have accomplished my goal. Working in a small office really helped me connect with the language and with the people I worked with, allowing me to form strong connections and friendships. Working in my internship really impacted the way that I look at my degree and the future that I want to pursue! In addition to this, Buenos Aires and Argentina in general is a beautiful and fascinating part of the world to explore and live in! From the North to the South my travels really opened my eyes to the beauty of this country. I cannot wait to return some day! Thank you Connect-123 for such a great experience!
Internships in Buenos Aires
Calum Ahmed
Having not had the opportunity to travel much, I jumped head first at the chance to take advantage of an internship program in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I didnʼt have much prior knowledge of the country, so I didnʼt really know what to expect. Shortly after touching down, any prior concerns or hesitancy were put to rest. What youʼll immediately notice is how helpful and understanding the locals are and Connect-123ʼs ability to seamlessly integrate each and every one of us. As far as my internship, it was everything I could have asked for. Right off the bat, I was made aware that the company was truly counting on me and that I was now apart of their family. The country itself is absolutely stunning. If you ever want to escape the city (which is unlikely), surreal locations and natural wonders are easy trips from the capital. All in all, the memories made and experiences had in these few short months have been among the best Iʼve had in my life and I canʼt wait to come back.
Internships in Buenos Aires
Chelsey Daval
While doing my Child Life Practicum at a children's hospital in Cape Town, South Africa I gained once in a lifetime experiences far different than anything at home. My time in Cape Town and at the hospital helped me learn more about myself as a person but also about my chosen profession. I always knew that I wanted to travel around the world in my chosen profession, doing the internship in Cape Town gave me a glimpse into what that would be like and only made me want to do it more. The staff who work for Connect-123 were amazing. They went out of their way to assist the connectors in anything and everything that came up and always had a smile on their faces and a kind thing to say. In addition to always being there to help the Connectors with anything, the staff of Connect-123 also went out of their way to help us Connectors get to know each other and never feel alone. The Connect-123 international programs are wonderful, once in a lifetime experiences that I am ecstatic that I took the chance to experience. Thank you to the staff at Connect-123 for helping make my experience what it was!
Internships in Cape Town
Becky Franklin
During my time in Dublin, I interned at a non-profit organisation, which aided migrant and refugee families in gaining their Irish citizenship. I really enjoyed my time at the company and felt it has greatly benefitted me for my future career. It taught me a lot of skills that are invaluable and really gave me the confidence that I was lacking. If you are looking for a historic and vibrant city to live in, Dublin is definitely the place! There are so many wonderful things to see and do all around Ireland; you’ll never be bored! I would say that visiting Galway and the west coast was just magical. The scenery all around is incredible and just feels like you’re in your favourite Irish movie! I enjoyed my time so much that I have decided to pursue my Masters degree at Trinity College Dublin. I cannot wait to be back in September!
Internships in Dublin
Lory Wong
Through my university’s partnership with Connect-123 I was able to intern in Cape Town for two months. I interned at an afterschool care organisation based in schools in underprivileged areas. As some days were spent in the office and others, at the school, I was able to understand the processes and policies involved within the NGO, as well as gain first-hand experience teaching the charity’s learners and organising holiday programmes for the youths involved. At the office, I wrote fundraising proposals for the charity, planned the annual general meeting and its report, wrote ideas and articles for the charity’s website, edited policies, completed general administration tasks, observed some social auxiliary worker training, and helped screen potential workers in interviews. At the schools, I was able to lead a cooking programme, facilitate a leadership one, and observed and evaluated the charity’s ‘Big History Programme’. My time in Cape Town, and at my internship, enabled me to experience what it would be like working in the education sector, the challenges involved when dealing with youths from disadvantaged areas, and more importantly, what we can do to combat this. I would like to thank Connect-123 for giving me this opportunity and being so welcoming during my stay at Cape Town.
Internships in Cape Town
Miranda Davis
My summer internship with Connect-123 changed my life. As an intern at my host organization, a foundation dedicated to the welfare of animals, I was able to accomplish many feats in my personal level, veterinary knowledge, and wildlife care. I was able to work with several exotic wildlife species like Foxes, Pine Martins, Buzzards, Otters, Jackdaws, and several others. The exposure to handling, feeding, and care procedures helped my zoological knowledge grow. In the United States veterinary and animal internship are normally limited to small animals and lack exotic species. So working with Ireland's wildlife was a once in a lifetime opportunity and tremendous award. As someone who aspires to be a zoological veterinarian there was no better place for me to intern. Furthermore the veterinary schools I applied to loved the placement of my internship. Not only was the internship wonderful for academic purposes, yet also great for myself. The foundation's staff was beyond nice. Their friendliness and kindness was superb and helped me become more self-assured. I could not think of a better place to intern. Likewise, I am also thankful for Connect-123 for their summer activities. I met several amazing people over the summer from some of Connect-123's events. During my stay in Dublin I was able to forge life long friendships with other interns. Living in Dublin was a dream come true. The city was lively and friendly. I am truly thankful for Connect-123's involvement and placement.
Internships in Dublin
Alba Semidei
Traveling and interning in Buenos Aires has been a dream come true! I wanted to work with or in a Latin American country and Connect-123 gave me the opportunity to achieve my goal! Connect-123 found me the perfect internship where I was able to grow and improve my professional skills. Connect-123 did a wonderful job to create a community where all of their participants get a chance to come together to explore the city and understand Argentine culture. Everyone here is super nice and extremely helpful and by the end of the trip you're going to feel like one big Connect family! Connect-123, thank you for this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity and ciao Buenos Aires!
Internships in Buenos Aires
Eli Quirk
Dublin was a learning opportunity for me in so many ways. Before moving to Ireland for a few months to intern at a non-profit organization working with homelessness, I had only lived in my small-town community. I went from knowing everyone on my street and saying hello to all my friends, family and neighbours in the grocery store to not even knowing one person on that side of the Atlantic. To say it was a drastic change would be an understatement! Luckily for me I had plenty of support from Connect-123 throughout the entire process. I left Ireland knowing that a piece of my heart will always be there. My host family made me feel welcomed and valued and became my Irish family. In my internship, I had plenty of support from the hard working folks there and I linked in with people from all different backgrounds and places. Dublin gave me the space to explore and to be myself. I am certain that without the support of the Connect-123 program throughout the entirety of my experience I would not have made such progress in my future and in myself.
Internships in Dublin
Maria Taylor
My experience here in Buenos Aires has definitely been a memorable and unforgettable experience. Coming from the suburban life in Connecticut to big city living was a huge adjustment for me and probably the most challenging as well. I have never lived in a city before and it taught me how to be resilient, and forced me to be fully independent. I volunteered at a wonderful organization where I had the opportunity to work with younger children ages 15 months to 2 years in an orphanage. The contrast between this organization and my school in the United States is drastically different, and it makes you appreciate everything around you that much more. The workers were very inviting and accepting of me. The language barrier was sometimes difficult, but they would do their best to help me understand the task at hand. I had a wonderful experience being a part of Connect-123 and it is something I will always remember! Thank you for this opportunity.
Volunteer in Buenos Aires
Spencer Minnich
As a Public Health intern at a community healthcare clinic in Cape Town, South Africa, I was able to grow tremendously as a student, a public health professional, and a person. It is all thanks to the Connect-123 program. As a MPH student, I knew I wanted to travel abroad to complete my practicum requirement, but I never imagined walking away from Cape Town wanting to work there full time. Not only was I able to work on multiple public health projects including increasing contraceptive services and Pap smear screenings, the clinic also trusted my opinion and insight on existing programs to make the clinic as efficient as possible. Throughout my journey, the Connect-123 staff was always right by my side and advocated for me every step of the way. I never once felt alone because I knew the Connect-123 team would make sure everything was going to work out. My advice to you, as a future Connector, is to go for it. Take the chance and see the world because we grow the most when we step outside our comfort zone. Thank you Connect-123 for the once in a lifetime opportunity and I hope I will be integrated into South Africa's health system one day as a full fledged staff member!
Internships in Cape Town
Dan Venker
My summer internship in Shanghai was an absolutely incredible experience and it would not have been possible without Connect-123! They were with me every step of the way to ensure that my summer abroad went as smoothly as possible. This being my first time outside of the United States, Connect-123 put everything in place for me to enjoy my time in China. One of the great perks was having a local representative to help you settle in as well as organizing events throughout the summer. Connect-123 set up trips to tourist sites, dinners, and even a Chinese cooking class! Finding me an internship on the other half of the world is amazing on its own, but Connect-123 is much, much more than that. When looking for possible positions, Connect-123 took into account all of my interests and let me decide what was best. I ended up taking a position at a local financial consulting firm that works with international companies. My role was to jump start their effort to gain more American clients who are operating, or want to operate, in China. As a part of my eight-week internship, I talked with a person at the US Consulate General in Shanghai and also attended a meeting with the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. In addition, I also interacted with the Australian and British Chambers in Shanghai to truly gain exposure to the world of international business. My internship gave me meaningful and important work that I enjoyed doing and I also felt that I was able to make a difference while I was there. Outside of my internship, I was able to travel to eight different cities throughout China. While Shanghai and other large cities have a more westernized feel in some sections, seeing and participating in Chinese culture for an extended period of time is an experience I will never forget. I absolutely recommend Connect-123 to anyone interested in traveling or working internationally. You get the great combination of experiencing a new culture while also differentiating your resume. I cannot thank Connect-123 enough for their service and making my experience possible!
Internships in Shanghai
Jenn Calaway
As a non-traditional student studying on the GI Bill after six years as a journalist in the Marine Corps, I certainly did not envision myself eligible for an internship abroad. However, my initial Skype interview with one of my program coordinators filled me with an excitement I hadn't felt in years. When the cards began to fall into place in support of an eight-week internship in Barcelona, Spain, I found myself with a mix of emotions as the last time I had been overseas was a combat tour to Afghanistan with the Marines. Ultimately I found myself thrilled at the opportunity to create a new set of experiences abroad. My initial concerns that I wouldn't be able to relate to my much younger comrades interning with Connect-123 were quickly eradicated on our first group outing. Connect-123 personnel were organized, inclusive and cultivated an easy, relaxed atmosphere. The program coordinators generously introduced us each to the city complete with a personal tour of the train system underlying the city. The group activities Connect-123 creates are the perfect blend of tourist and local in flavor—many activities like paddle boarding and paella cooking classes were things I would love to do on my own but perhaps might have missed without the organization from the Connect-123 team. I loved being thrust out of my comfort zone and all the challenges and satisfactions that come with living in a completely foreign country. I stayed in a local host woman's home and am proud to report that 71 year old Begoña has become someone I will truly love and cherish forever. All in all, this internship experience has taught me that I am never too old to learn, take risks and move boldly in the direction of my dreams. I cannot recommend Connect-123 highly enough, they facilitated a most magical experience.
Internships in Barcelona
Madeline Sanchez
I wasn't nervous to study abroad. I've traveled alone before and feel pretty comfortable wherever I go—so my biggest fear of coming to Buenos Aires was that the experience wouldn't live up to my previous ones. When I arrived in Buenos Aires, I was lucky enough to have two incredibly kind and hilarious host sisters that happened to be the same age as me. They immediately welcomed me into their circle of friends and always pretended to understand my Spanish. Looking back, I can't even compare this experience to my others. I may have only been here for 3 months, but they truly feel like sisters to me. My internship with Connect-123 gave me a unique perspective of Argentina, because I was able to work outside of the "bubble" that is Buenos Aires. I didn't want an internship where I would be stuck in an office each day, and Connect-123 somehow found the perfect opportunity for me. A few days each week, I was able to work in Tigre and the poorer neighborhoods north of the city, helping out in my nonprofit's financial literacy and business development classes. The best part about Connect-123 is that I didn't have to sacrifice anything—a good host family, time to travel around Argentina, local friends, a relevant internship—somehow I got all four.
Internships in Buenos Aires
Cassidy Lawrence
From before we even arrived in Cape Town up until we left for the journey home, the Connect-123 staff was extremely accommodating, supportive, and communicable. I am sure that without the hard working and knowledgeable staff we would not have had even half the experience during our month in Cape Town. They planned many excursions for us, taking a huge burden off us by contacting companies and setting up transportation and meals. In addition, they arranged beneficial experiences based on our professional interests and organized fulfilling community service days throughout our trip. One of the most impressive things about the Connect-123 staff is their genuine passion and care for all their students. They truly wanted us all to have the best trip possible and were always open to feedback on how they could make that happen. I would absolutely recommend Connect-123 to any student looking for a great experience in Cape Town!
Internships in Cape Town
Mary Abella
Studying abroad has always been something I've wanted to do, but as a pre-health major, it can be hard fitting it into my schedule and degree plan. When I came across Connect-123, I was intrigued. It was the perfect opportunity to travel abroad while interning in a field that actually pertained to my future career. Armed with minimal Spanish abilities, I made my way to Buenos Aires. Connect-123 helped me settle in and adjust to the different culture. The support from staff allowed me to take Spanish classes, make lifelong friends, and experience the city without feeling completely alone. My internship was exactly what I wanted, and I learned so much about myself and physical therapy. The language immersion improved my Spanish exponentially and allowed me to fall in love with the city and the wide variety of people that inhabit it. Overall, this is an experience that I will never forget!
Internships in Buenos Aires
Myranda Castanon
Cape Town is a very special place. There is a beautiful beach, a lively city/night life, and mountains that offer some really spectacular hiking routes. It is a city with much diversity and rich history. I worked for a social enterprise, and it was a place that began to feel like home to me. The tasks were challenging at times but they also provided the freedom to design and create in my own way. I was able to set up a crowd-funding video and create new catalogue layouts for their wholesale and retail items. This internship experience showed me that I'm going into the right field of work, and I am very grateful for that because some of us often feel unsure about it. Overall, I am beyond satisfied with the whole experience Connect-123 has provided - a lovely foundation of friends and extremely dependable advisors who always show that they are there for us.
Internships in Cape Town
Maeve McDonald
When it came to making plans for my summer, I knew that I wanted an internship and I knew that I wanted the experience of travelling abroad. Connect-123 provided the perfect combination of both. Not only did I learn a lot from my work experience, but I had the best 2 months spent making friends and using every spare moment to explore Dublin city and the entire country of Ireland. Connect-123 organized events to meet new people and explore the city as well as tips on surviving a new internship in a foreign country. I can’t help but feel like I’ll be leaving a piece of myself in Dublin, and am already planning on when I can come back. Thanks to Connect-123, I was able to have one of the best summers yet!
Internships in Dublin
