Connect-123 Cape Town Internships

Name: Connect-123 Cape Town Internships
Brand: Connect-123
SKU: 17574
Rating: 4.83 (30 reviews)

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4.83 Rating

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Location

South Africa
- Cape Town

Industry

Advertising Animal Science Architecture Biology Business Communications Computer Science Conservation and Preservation Design Engineering Film Healthcare Journalism Law Marine Biology Nursing Photography Social Work Startups Sustainable Development Technology Tourism Wildlife Sciences +13

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Program Details

Compensation

Unpaid

Timeframe

Academic Year Fall J-Term Maymester Spring Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round

Housing

Apartment

Language

English

Pricing

Price Details

Contact Connect-123 for Cost Details

What's Included

Some Activities SIM cards

Last Updated: Feb 17, 2024

Last Reviewed: Feb 09, 2024

Wish List

65 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Our Cape Town internship program offers an astonishing variety of international internship opportunities against the backdrop of one of the most beautiful cities in the world! This is your chance to live and work in one of the world's top-ranked destinations.

The Connect-123 internship program offers you the opportunity to participate in a variety internships in Cape Town. Some popular internship fields in Cape Town include business and entrepreneurship, medical and health care, engineering, human rights and social work, among others.

Connect-123 offers custom internship opportunities suited to your interest and skills. Our program durations and start and end dates are flexible to fit your needs. Our local staff provide on-the-ground support before, during, and after your internship including housing assistance, in-depth orientation, social events, cultural activities, as well as career support and guidance.

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Video and Photos

Visit leading tourist attractions such as Cape Point

Take epic selfies while hiking in and around Cape Town

Intern in local clinics, hospitals and therapy centres

Explore one of the world's most beautiful places

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Program Highlights

Tailored placements! Connect-123’s experienced team finds unique, best-fit opportunities for you, related to your interests, goals and requirements.
Extensive Network! Connect-123’s partner network includes entrepreneurs, human rights organizations, engineering firms, advertising agencies and many more options!
Flexibility! Choose your arrival and departure dates, based on your schedule.
Service! From pre-departure to in-country support to post internship assistance, Connect-123 provides you with all the support you need!
Memories! Meet new friends from all over the world and make memories to last a lifetime!

Popular Programs

Summer Internships Abroad

Have the best summer of your life while gaining international work experience that will accelerate your career. Make your resume stand out from the rest with an internship abroad!

Medical & Health Care Internships

Whether you’re undergraduate or in graduate school, and no matter what aspect of the healthcare field you’re interested in, we can help you find an internship that matches your interests, experience, and career goals.

Environment & Sustainable Development Internships

There is an increasing emphasis on the environment and sustainability around the world. Whether you choose to work in a developed or a developing country, many of the challenges are the same.

Engineering Internships

Whether you study biomedical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, software engineering, chemical engineering, or environmental engineering, we will find an internship to suit you.

Program Reviews

4.83 Rating

based on 30 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Intern

5 rating 86.67%
4 rating 10%
3 rating 3.33%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Growth 4.7
Support 4.6
Fun 4.75
Housing 4.8
Safety 4.5

Good for Students, Building your resume, Adventure travelers

Showing 25 - 30 of 30 reviews

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”.

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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...

Response from Connect-123

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.

By Connect-123 on May 24, 2013

I interned with a non-profit organization called Hoops 4 Hope and Soccer 4 Hope for three months in Cape Town. This experience was by far one of the most amazing things I have ever gone through. I worked with young children in the townships surrounding Cape Town providing them with basic life skills, while also providing them with opportunities to learn and play the great game of soccer. Some of my other day to day duties were organizing a 15-year celebration fundraising event for Soccer 4 Hope and also organizing soccer tournaments for the children in the townships.

Not only did I work for a great organization, but I met some amazing friends along the way. You get to live, travel, and explore with people from all around the world, what more could you ask for? Some of the things I did while I wasn't working included: bungie-jumping, shark cage diving, going on a safari, exploring the wine lands, climbing table mountain, kloofing, and going to some amazing bars/restaurants.

This was truly an amazing experience and I would recommend it to anyone that wants to have the time of their life.

What would you improve about this program?

I honestly wouldn't changed anything about the program. I thought it was very well organized and managed. The housing was great, the travel opportunities were awesome, and the company I was placed with was amazing.

Connect-123 provided helpful and friendly guidance throughout my entire two and a half month experience. After a survey of my interests and professional goals, I was placed at small event planning and marketing agency. Helping to ease any nerves, the staff at Connect-123 made sure to accompany me on my first day of work. Each of the Connect-123 staff members shares a genuine concern for the well being of all program participants.

In addition to advice, Connect-123 also organized social events and weekend trips for participants. These events and trips allow you to truly experience the city of Cape Town and its surrounding area. Cape Town and its residents will always hold a place in my heart. Not only did I gain professional experience, but I gained lifelong friends as well. I will always be thankful that Connect-123 allowed me to have the experience of a lifetime!

I knew going into my senior year I wanted to do an internship abroad to gain experience in the human rights sector. Choosing to go with Connect-123 to Cape Town, South Africa, as a human rights intern for two months made this decision easily the best I have ever made.

I can’t say enough good things about my experience working towards and in Cape Town. Connect-123 made the pre-trip process quite easy. They were extremely helpful in understanding the type of internship that I wanted to have and how to get me there in the most effective way.

The experience in Cape Town is beyond anything I can explain. Work was extremely interesting. I always felt a part of the team when working with my NGO whether I was doing research, doing interviews at service centres or going into the townships to run educational workshops. What I quickly realized was that while I had gone to Cape Town for work experience the whole living experience was incredible.

There is never a dull moment in Cape Town and the surrounding areas. Connect-123 was great at planning fun activities for us including but not limited to wine tours, township tours and kayaking with the whales. All of this while gaining valuable work experience. Other activities I did on my own and with friends that I met in Cape Town (some of which will most definitely be life long friends) were bungee jumping, safaris, many beach visits, restaurant tourism (amazing seafood!), climbing mountains, shark cage diving and so much more! Even the small things make you smile on a daily basis. Walking home from work, no matter how busy or hectic my day was, walking home with a beautiful mountain staring at you just puts you to peace. The scenery and lifestyle on a daily basis is just a pleasure! There is a lot of work to be done in Cape Town to improve the living conditions of many and with Connect-123 you can help make a difference in any way you find most interesting and really gain experience in every facet of life while doing it.

I will always look back fondly with at my time in Cape Town and Connect-123 was a huge part of making it happen. Saying thank you could never encompass it properly but, THANK YOU!

Everything about my experience in Cape Town, South Africa has been amazing and ideal except for the services provided by Connect 123. I felt I was decieved about my living accomodations, my internship placement, and various other activities held by the program. I would recommend interning in Cape Town to anyone, but I would not recommend doing so through Connect 123. They do not cater your internship to your interests but rather their needs and are unsupportive of your concerns/requests.

Response from Connect-123

We're very sorry to hear that you weren't happy with your experience. We certainly try to communicate clearly with regard to all elements of our program, including providing detailed information about your placement options to you as part of the application process. We also often encourage you to discuss the placement with your future internship supervisor, so that you can learn more about the opportunity and if it's the right fit for you, prior to accepting their offer.

Our office in Cape Town is based in same building as your accommodation and, as you'll recall, we're therefore very accessible and there to address any concerns. Ensuring that you have a great experience, from internship to housing to social events, is of course extremely important to us and we care deeply about getting this right for each participant.

Again, we apologize if we've let you down and appreciate your feedback.

By Connect-123 on December 5, 2012

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Male Headshot

Describe your favorite must-have food that you tried abroad.

Josh: Magwinya is a must have South African delight. What's in it? Meat. If you need more detail, I'd guess liver. It was like a (insert favorite fast food dish) on a croissant. Some people called them fat cakes, and I called them lunch. It was cheap, local and a nice way to relate with people.

I would walk down the same road in a township named Gugulethu most days for lunch in the basking heat of the African sun. Children would be riding their bikes past me and the line to eat grew from outside of the little hut that served everyone. In the same town that had the fat cakes was a restaurant named Mzoli's, which for any meat lover, is a paradise. The basic premise is as follows: 1. Go to the raw meat bar and choose from different cuts of sausage, lamb, beef. 2. Hang out in a giant block party-like atmosphere while it cooks. 3. Receive the incredibly cooked meat on a platter and chow down without utensils.

Describe your program socially and academically.

Josh: The social aspect of the program was a huge boon to my overall experience. I was paired with a random roommate who was also interning/studying in Cape Town. We could not have been more different, but to this day we remain good friends.

There were events organized by Connect-123 - like a gathering at the local vineyard, volunteering in both natural and humanitarian settings, happy hours and a housing situation which led to all of us interacting on a daily basis. It was like a luxury dorm apartment with a gym on the roof and full amenities. I felt as if I always had an incredibly safe home to return to and it was close to grocery stores and local transportation.

Mzoli's

Why did you decide to go abroad with your provider?

Josh: I found Connect-123 online by typing something generic like "work abroad." I came to Connect-123 and saw that they paired applicants with jobs based on specific qualifications.

As a Drexel Co-op, who needed prior approval, it was imperative that my school approved any job I chose through an independent search. I gave them qualifications based on my major and personal goals and they matched me with an internship.

I could not have asked for a better job. I helped coach soccer and basketball during the evenings and implemented a short message system mechanism through another partner that helped the organization monitor the progress of the organization for potential and past donors. I worked hard, but it barely felt like work.

Tell us about an experience you could not have had at home.

Josh: I can't remember where I was headed, but I was lost. I stopped in to one of the local fast food restaurants and asked a man who was sweeping the floor for directions. He put his head down in a bashful manner and told me he did not know and that I should ask someone who was white.

Baboons

These words will always haunt me. The indoctrination of the apartheid was so severe that over a decade after it's own collapse, some victims still believed in their own inferiority, despite its baseless nature. The apartheid was a shameful chapter in the era of South Africa and the world as a whole. To see the ripple effects of a devastating mental warfare on a class of people is a reminder to all that societal progress can sometimes lag laws. The South African constitution is one of the most progressive pieces of legislation ever written and still society struggles to adopt its code.

South Africa is full of so much beauty - both physically and through its people. South Africa is a place to expand one's horizons, learn on a daily basis and help to make sure something like the apartheid never happens again.

Mary Reed

2013 Alum

Sangeeta Sharmin

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Saskia, an award-winning film producer, has worked in production for many years — on television shows and feature films ranging from documentaries to Mad Max: Fury Road. After completing her studies, she set out on a career that has led her to work with Hollywood stars and studios, on smaller independent films of her own, crossing the country in search of that perfect location for that perfect shot.

Saskia is an avid traveller and adventure-seeker, and recently completed the Camino de Santiago, a 775km trek, on foot, across Spain. She is happy to bring her energy, creativity and love of South Africa to C-123!

What is your favorite travel memory?

I recently completed the Camino de Santiago, a 775km trek on foot across Northern Spain. It was the toughest thing I've ever done, and so the most rewarding! Its hard to single out just one moment from the journey, but if I had to, it would be my second night.

I stayed in a hostel, in the middle of nowhere, above the clouds in the Pyrenees mountains. That evening, everyone gathered for the most delicious home cooked meal. The host asked us to briefly introduce ourselves to the group - where we were from, where we were going, and why we were there.

With every single continent represented, we talked and laughed the night away, the twin Italians even bursting into spontaneous Opera, someone else started a traditional dance and so it carried on. The energy was just incredible.

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Although we were all from such different places and backgrounds, and taking on this journey for various reasons, we had the love of travel and adventure in common. That night I made several friends, friendships which traverse all boundaries of language and cultures, and which I will cherish for a lifetime.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Joining Connect-123 was a big career change for me and I’ve loved every second of it. Everyday, I get to work with incredible students from all over the world, each with their unique interests and talents. Their passion is so inspiring and the work and projects they do here, continues to amaze me.

Seeing the country I love so much through their experiences, also teaches me new things about the city I live in. Plus they always discover the newest hang out spots and end up giving me tips on where to go! There’s always something new to discover - there’s never a dull moment!

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

We’ve recently had two participants come back to Cape Town after having completed their programs, and make the city their new home. It's so great to see how they have fallen in love with the city, the culture and the people here. The experience really leaves a lasting impression. Every person who joins us, comes away with so much personal growth, cool stories and envious Instagram pics!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

That’s so hard to choose! I’ve had the privilege of visiting both Buenos Aires and Barcelona before, and although I would never turn down an invitation for tapas and sangria, I would probably want to go somewhere new.

Shanghai would be exciting as I’ve never been to Asia and would love to experience a world and culture so vastly different from mine. But I’ve always wanted to go to Dublin, explore the castles and do a real pub crawl! Or wait, there’s Sydney too with its beautiful beaches and foodie heaven! So many great options!

What makes your company unique?

Everything we do is so personal, and that’s what makes it so great. As a team, not just in Cape Town, but across the world, we work very closely together. We take time to get to know every participant and love it when we put together a project which we know would be the perfect match for each applicant.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

We pride ourselves in being efficient and thorough, but still very personable, and that’s what makes our offering unique. The programs are all customized to match each applicants own goals and interests. We offer support for each person, from application, pre-trip, on the ground whilst in-country and afterwards as well.

Location

Location:

Cape Town

Currency:

South African Rand

Weather:

Jan-Mar

79 F / 57 F

Apr-Jun

73 F / 46 F

Jul-Sep

66 F / 45 F

Oct-Dec

77 F / 52 F

Airports:

Cape Town International

( CPT )

Cape Town is a port city, the legislative capital of South Africa, the most southern city in all of Africa, and referred to as the "Mother City". It is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, reflecting its role as a major destination for immigrants and expatriates to South Africa.

About Connect-123

Connect-123 develops and administers internship programs in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cape Town, South Africa; Shanghai, China; Dublin, Ireland; Sydney, Australia; and Barcelona, Spain. In all countries, internship opportunities are hosted by local companies, non-profit organizations, schools, research institutes and health care clinics.

Program Details

Pricing

Program Highlights

Summer Internships Abroad 

Medical & Health Care Internships 

Environment & Sustainable Development Internships 

Engineering Internships 

Response from Connect-123

Response from Connect-123

Alumni Interviews

Joshua Kohler

Describe your favorite must-have food that you tried abroad.

Describe your program socially and academically.

Why did you decide to go abroad with your provider?

Tell us about an experience you could not have had at home.

Mary Reed

Sangeeta Sharmin

Staff Interviews

Saskia Schiel

What is your favorite travel memory?

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

What makes your company unique?

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

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Summer Internships Abroad

Medical & Health Care Internships

Environment & Sustainable Development Internships

Engineering Internships