Connect-123 Cape Town Internships

Visiting South Africa for the summer, as a medical student was an amazing experience! With the help of Connect-123, I was able to transition into my clinical experiences with no issues. While maintaining a good balance on tourist fun! Their organized events were some of the best parts of my trip! Their suggestions of local events made me love the culture even more. The people of South Africa were very welcoming and kind to me throughout my whole experience. Their rich and diverse culture, allowed me to learn both in clinic and on excursions. I will definitely be returning one day!

Cape Town was a great opportunity for me to become more culturally competent in healthcare, and Connect-123 provided a fantastic opportunity and location for me to learn from. They provided excellent recommendations for education and entertainment as I became a local and embraced South African culture! This was a great step in medical journey to understand the societal effects of medicine and how it affected the communities. It was great to hear patient stories about their experience growing up there as well as their opinion of the Western World.

This child life practicum experience was such an amazing opportunity. I was able to see the world while also learning about child life and how to be a better professional. The instructors made sure I was on the right track while also bringing fun into the experience. I grew not only in my knowledge and understanding of my field but also in my personal life. I was able to embrace a different culture and see the world through my own experiences. This experience helped me gain a better understanding of myself and just how AWSOME our creator is. None of this would be possible without him.

Choosing to complete my Child Life Practicum in Cape Town was by far the best decision I could have made. The practicum is a play-based learning experience and gave me real hands-on opportunities to work with children in the hospital environment. Working through a group practicum was amazing as well because I was able to observe others in the field and we could learn from each other. Not only was I able to learn about the field of Child Life but I was also able to see Cape Town and experience things that are not only beautiful but a learning opportunity as well. This was truly a life-changing experience, and I would recommend it to anyone!

This experience with Connect-123 was amazing and was everything that I hoped for. I was nervous about the internship placement at first however, my final internship placement was amazing and I loved the organization and their work. The tourist events that Connect-123 planned were also incredible; the variety of restaurants, the safari tour, and extra excursions we could sign up for. I enjoyed everything and I will add that I loved having my own space, as I got an Airbnb. However, Connect-123 and Carla really made this dream come through and made it easier than I could imagine!!

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 done during my time at Penn State. From the instant I set a 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 that 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 specially place in my life!

I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to travel to Cape Town, South Africa through Connect123 and gain valuable skills to shape me for my future in Child Life. This program was extremely well organized and gave a well rounded experience both in and out of the hospital. This practicum experience allowed me to work with so many different age groups and diagnoses, and even learn to navigate between language barriers. We got to learn hands-on in various units such as orthopedic, oncology, clinical settings, and inpatient pediatrics. The different hospitals we visited gave me a holistic view of different lifestyles, socioeconomic levels, and hospital dynamics.

Beyond the hospital I was able to immerse myself into all Cape Town has to offer through activities such as sandboarding, paragliding, hiking, safari rides, trying local cuisine, and so much more.

I can confidently say that traveling to South Africa for my practicum is the single best decision I have ever made, and the people I met and the experience I had in the hospitals will forever have an impact on me. I will carry the skills I learned with me for the rest of my life.

For those who don't know, child life bridges the communication gap between patients, their families, and medical professionals by using language that is developmentally appropriate. We can minimize medical trauma through play by offering support prior to, during, and following procedures. To emphasize family-centered treatment, we also offer support for siblings and parents. During my international practicum, I worked in a variety of settings including inpatient oncology, inpatient orthopedics, a general inpatient ward, an HIV clinic, and a behavioral/developmental health clinic in three different pediatric hospitals. These environments gave me the chance to develop better rapport-building skills, support developmentally appropriate medical play, prioritize care, promote child directed play, offer normalization and peer oriented activities, and collaborate with a team on care. The practicum provided me with the skills I needed to be successful in my future work as a child life specialist, and I had the chance to interact with a diverse range of patients on several wards. During my time in Cape Town, I was undoubtedly pushed but also developed a ton of confidence. I built ties with patients and their families and seen the challenges they face every day. While in Cape Town, I gained a lot of knowledge about the child life field and myself, as well as made incredible friends that I will always treasure. Thank you!!