Connect-123
Programs and Reviews
Connect-123 develops and administers internship programs in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cape Town, South Africa; Shanghai, China; Dublin, Ireland; and Barcelona, Spain. In all countries, internship opportunities are hosted by local companies, non-profit organizations, schools, research institutes and health care clinics. In South Africa, study abroad programs are offered through the University of Cape Town.
Programs Abroad
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Reviews
90%Overall
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80%Overall
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My time here in Cape Town was so life changing and incredible. I met so many great new friends and was able to explore such a beautiful and diverse city. On the flip side, you are so overcharged for rent (about $525 for a double!), and the program administration fee. What exactly is the $1495 going to? They help you find your internship which is nice, but you could easily walk two blocks and find several organizations who would love to have you help out and work for free. So essentially you are paying someone to apply for you, to work for free. That fee doesn't include the activities they set up, transportation, the wi-fi or the electricity. Electricity is expensive and to have good wi-fi you pay at least $35 a month. There is no gym upstairs (it is one working bike) and the apartment location is in a sketchy area as well. If you have the means to do so, find a cheaper living alternative and look for an organization yourself. Again, why pay $1495 for them to do it. When you go talk to them about internship problems, they tell you to stick it out because their relationship with the organizations are more important than your happiness and money that you paid to come here. The only good part is you live with other interns through the program...
Connect-123's Response to Anonymous:
It's great to hear that your time in Cape Town was so life changing and incredible. In response to your feedback, we agree with you: students who can arrange internships on their own and who would not benefit from advice or being part of a community upon arrival, will of course receive less value from an internship program.
Regarding housing, all participants can opt to stay with other C123 program participants in our recommended housing, which is in a safe, centrally located building with 24-hour security, or they can opt for any other housing that suits their budget. While we believe we've developed the best housing model for safety and for being able to quickly make great new friends, arranging housing through us is not a requirement.
Regarding changing internships, since you've posted anonymously, we're of course not certain regarding the full story, however we are certain of this: our mission is to create internship experiences that provide equal value for program participants and the organizations where they work. We care deeply for both our partner organizations in each of our destinations as well as for the screened students who we accept onto our programs. We develop individual internship programs for over 400 students each year, and based on the feedback that we receive from both students and local organizations, we're thrilled that we get it right most of the time. However, these are "real world" experiences and sometimes things don't go as planned. For example, we're less likely to find another internship for students who often missed work, did not show initiative or received extremely negative feedback from their host organizations. We of course look at each situation on a case by case basis.
We're sorry that the internship experience did not meet your expectations and we wish you the best of luck in the future.
100%Overall
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Discovering Connect 123 was the best thing that could have happened to me! I wanted to come to Barcelona for 3 months and gain some cool abroad work experiences in advertising and copywriting that I could add to my resume and portfolio. I did that and so much more. I was really picky with what type of internship I wanted to do but the staff and program director were always readily available and willing to go beyond their call of duty to make sure I was satisfied and happy. Finally, I landed the job of my dreams! I did SO much more than what I could have asked for and now my portfolio looks amazing with real life work that the company uses.
I came to Spain by myself (and 0 spanish speaking skills), and I can now get by on conversations and can't count the number of foreign friends I now have! The Connect team (and other interns who come to the same city around the same time) are wonderful! We went out for drinks and had a great bond. Wish I had more time to see them! I'm so sad that I have to be leaving. Barcelona is so amazing and so different than back home. I had a blast with all their little random festivals. The fire festival in Valencia, paint fight, carnival in sitges, and so much more) Life is so calm here but at the same time, the work load for my internship I had was heavy (which I asked for, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Critical Feedback:
Maybe have housing that was connected to the program and wasn't so expensive
100%Overall
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Enrolling the Connect-123 internship program was probably one of the best decisions I took lately in both professional and personal aspect of the experience. I am completely satisfied with all what Connect-123 team provided me though all stages of the program.
Connect-123 is doesn't only look for an internship but also with all the organization around the stay which I think is as important as the internship itself. They indeed provided a lot of support with arrival, housing, cultural immersion documentations. At the very beginning I was concerned about going to Beijing rather than Shanghai, and have not contact person there but Jimmy did a great job by providing me all the help I needed: Special thanks to him helping me at any time dealing with my housing agent.
Lea totally understood what kind of internship I was looking for and found the perfect match. My internship was in an environmental consulting company in Beijing. I had the chance to follow project from the beginning I did learn a lot from this internship about environment in China and about China itself. It gave me the opportunity to have a valuable professional experience.
After spending 3 months I am even more convinced that China is the place to be if you want to contribute improving the environment. Because my Chinese experience is that positive, I am extending it for 3 more months and considering staying a few years.
90%Overall
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Allow me to start by stating simply that Connect-123 has been one of the best organisations I have had the pleasure of working with. From my very first e-mail, to the interview and their subsequent meticulous follow-up, the sheer effervescence of everybody involved made the application process an exciting, rather than overwhelming, experience. I knew if I sent an e-mail I would have a response the next day, and usually within the next hour, even though being Australian I live in one of the world's most inconvenient time zones. It's that kind of customer service that would bring me back, without hesitation, to Connect-123 again.
I worked (the use of the word "intern" is actively discouraged in my organisation) for a boutique management consultancy. That they are a small organisation means I had plenty of opportunity to get actively involved simultaneously in any number of projects, ensuring that I was learning new things all the time. The work they do is incredibly diverse, and saw us doing research for a global cable news channel one day, and helping plan an MBA seminar series the next. There is a real focus on professional development too, and my supervisor was very careful to ensure that I returned home having gained genuine value from the experience.
Alumni Interviews
Staff Interview
Go Overseas recently caught up with Connect-123 Program Director, Steven Levy. Steven, an energetic, slightly over-caffeinated American who moved to Cape Town in 2002 with his South African wife and Russian cat, launched Connect-123 in South Africa after ten years of starting and running various businesses in Moscow, London and San Francisco.
While working in finance and venture capital in Cape Town, Steven realized that thousands of local organizations could use the help of skilled, international students and that thousands of students and professionals could benefit from real, hands-on, international work experience. Together with Lea, he developed Connect-123's experiential learning programs to help students build their international work experience while simultaneously earning university credit. Steven, who now lives in Barcelona, holds a BA in Political Science from Cornell University and an MBA from London Business School.
Go Overseas: What position do you hold at Connect-123? What has your career path been like so far?
Steven: I co-founded Connect-123 together with my wife, Lea, in 2005. After I graduated from Cornell in 1991, I worked in Moscow as a photojournalist (my first internship!), and later set up a few companies there. After completing my MBA at London Business School, I then worked in finance and venture capital in Cape Town. While I was working in VC, helping local entrepreneurs and other organizations, Lea and I had the idea to launch an international network, linking students looking for career-related work to local projects.Go Overseas: What are the core principles that Connect-123 strives to achieve?
Steven: Set expectations. From the moment a student contacts us, clear communication is key.
Provide exceptional support. Students select our programs not only for a great internship or volunteer placement, but also for the expert, on-the-ground support they receive in each of our program destinations.
Create value. We're return-on-investment focused and measure our impact based on feedback from local organizations and program participants. An international internship -- set up well -- creates extraordinary, lifelong returns for students, in terms of career-progression and personal development.
Go Overseas: What separates Connect-123 from other internship providers?
Steven: Flexibility. Start dates are flexible and, depending on the project, durations typically range from one to six months. Since we customize all programs according to an applicant's schedule, both shorter and longer durations are possible.
Value for money. We've designed our programs to keep costs low; for example, we recommend housing options but do not require participants to stay in our housing.
Expertise. Connect-123 staff are on the ground, year-round, in each program location. From the moment you contact us, you'll be put in touch with an expert Program Coordinator, who can explain the types of opportunities available specifically related to your skills, interests and experience in each location and coach you through the various options.
Alumni network. We link current applicants to our strong alumni network via LinkedIn -- where they can ask questions about other's experiences -- and keep in touch with participants long after departure, providing reference letters for job or grad school applications as well as career advice.
Go Overseas: What country do you think is an underrated internship destination?
Steven: China. There are so many exciting, career-related opportunities for native English speakers across many fields, such as business consulting, finance, architecture, health care and journalism.
Go Overseas: What does the future hold for Connect-123?
Steven: Connect-123 now links international students to local companies, non-profit organizations, hospitals and schools in 5 cities -- Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Dublin and Shanghai -- and we look forward to building our international partner network and to helping more and more students have life-changing experiences! This year, we plan to work with over 350 students from over 150 universities.
Go Overseas: Famous last words?
Steven: Things will start to settle down soon!
If you're reading this and considering doing an internship with Connect123 in Cape Town...definitely do it! I had an amazing and unforgettable experience in Cape Town, both from a personal and professional perspective.
I worked at a human rights law firm that specialized in refugee law, constitutional issues, gender violence and land law to name a few areas. Tasks I helped with included client intake and interviews, research, drafting legal documents, negotiations with Government departments and the police, as well as attending court hearings. The team I worked with was supportive, fun and absolutely inspiring. I was given real work and responsibility from literally Day 1! Overall, the work experience I obtained was more than I had hoped for and completely relevant to my future aspirations.
The team at Connect123 were amazing! Their help before and during my time in Cape Town allowed me to make the most of my internship opportunity. They offered a placement that suited my needs, organized logistics prior to my arrival, prepared great social events, provided support as well as an instant network of friends and activities to take part in.
Cape Town is a beautiful city and I encourage everyone to visit. There are so many incredible things to do - hiking, beaches, safari and shark-cage diving just to name a few! I met some amazing, fun and incredible people and together we fully immersed ourselves in the beautiful culture and lifestyle of South Africa by trying something new almost everyday. You will not be bored while in Cape Town!
I strongly recommend the Connect-123 program to anyone who would like to experience more than just an internship. I had an unforgettable international internship experience that opened doors for my professional future and also allowed me to personally grow as a person. As they say: "I came here to change Cape Town, but Cape Town changed me".