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Connect-123

Why choose 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.

Reviews

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Brooklyn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A piece of my heart will always be in Dublin!

I would highly suggest interning abroad. It was an amazing experience filled with so much knowledge. I learned more than I could've imagined during this time. At first, it may seem challenging but trust in yourself and the people around you. It will be okay! Connect-123 did an amazing job providing us all with everything we needed. They also did a great job at planning and coordinating activities. I appreciate all their help throughout this program. If you are thinking of going abroad I suggest you do it!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
The most nerve-racking moment was leaving and I was filled with so many unknowns. I had never been out of the country before. I had no idea what to expect from the people I'd meet, or what my internship would be like. I felt like although I was nervous about a lot, instead of framing all my unknowns into fear, I framed them into things to be excited about!
Pros
  • Exploring a new country!
  • Ease of Transportation!
  • Safety and care!
Cons
  • Honestly couldn't really think of many cons.
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Ingrid
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Once-in-lifetime

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!

What was your funniest moment?
Hiking up to the cape point lighthouse in the rain!
Pros
  • Friendly locals
  • Fresh food
  • Geography
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Amelia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Dublin internship!

I really enjoyed this experience overall. The Connect 123 program was really helpful and organized throughout the whole experience. The day trips we did were good to learn more about the culture we were entering. The people who were in charge of it all were also helpful and always available to us to reach out if anything was going wrong. In terms of my internship at a creative center for people with disabilities, I cannot give them enough praise. Not only was I completely involved in everything at the organization, they cared about my performance and were wanting to teach me as much as possible. I really enjoyed my coworkers and overall I loved the type of work I did there.

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Jessica
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An unforgettable and life changing experience!

My experience of living and interning in Dublin for 2 months was something that I will never forget for the rest of my life. It was a transformational period in my life that shaped who I am both personally and professionally. The tools and techniques that I learned while completing my Social Work internship at a therapeutic community programme will forever stay with me, and I can not wait to bring some of these practices along with me to wherever life takes me next. The beautiful places that I got to see, along with the many amazing people that I met along the way have given me memories that will have an eternal impact on my life. To those who are considering traveling abroad for an internship experience, I would say DO IT! Do not hesitate if this opportunity presents itself for you, as you will inevitably grow as a person and undoubtedly have a life changing experience. Ireland is a beautiful country, with so many amazing places to see and explore, as well as people to meet.

What was your funniest moment?
Learning to use the Dublin bus system and having to ask so many different locals where I was going- and being laughed with when pronouncing locations so terribly wrong!
Pros
  • Experiencing new culture
  • Meeting new people
  • Gaining new sense of independence
Cons
  • None
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Linda
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Abroad program Review

My experience in Dublin as an intern was both challenging and rewarding. It provided me with invaluable insights into the field of social inclusion and allowed me to develop a global mindset. The cultural exchange, the support provided, and the lessons learned will stay with me forever. If you are considering an internship abroad, I would recommend considering opportunities in Dublin, Ireland. It has many cool places to explore and is an ideal place to start an internship abroad for the first time.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Working at my internship because I didn't know what to do or how to do anything but I always asked questions and the staff was helpful and nice to me.
Pros
  • Housing
  • Transportation
  • Friendship
Cons
  • Some internship works
  • Not getting enough significant tasks at work

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

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

Josh is a Senior at CU Boulder studying International Affairs, Spanish, and Russian. This past semester he completed an internship in Buenos Aires with the Provincial Government working with the Department of Sustainability and Social Responsibility.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose this program because I didn't want to just study abroad. I wanted to do something more. More involved, more intense, and more rewarding (in my opinion that is). And really I wanted to experience working abroad, in a foreign language (my internship was 100% in Spanish). And Connect-123 provides that infrastructure does just that.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

My university didn't assist with anything. So everything was dealt with by me and the program provider (Connect-123). Connect helped secure housing, and also put me in contact with various host organizations from which point I interviewed directly with them, and then selected my internship from there. I organized travel to and from Buenos Aires, and all the travel I did within Argentina was organized by me as well. Connect organizes weekly social events, and also organizes airport transport to your housing when you arrive, which is a great help.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Be prepared for anything! Keeping an open mind and having little to no expectations is the best advice I can give. Because by doing this, you aren't limiting yourself to anything, and instead keeping the experience wide open. Because the odds are that most things won't be exactly how you imagined them, and that is A-ok. That is part of the richness of working/studying abroad, is that you experience things you never anticipated!

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Because of the fact that almost every participant has a different internship, there really isn't any such things as an average day. For me personally an average day was getting to the office at 10 am, working until 2 or 3, then a lunch break, then back to work until 6 or even as late as 9 pm before heading home on the metro (subte). Some days I would travel to La Plata (the capital city of the province of Buenos Aires) for meetings. I worked this schedule Monday thru Friday.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear coming into the experience was that my internship wouldn't be a good fit, and I wouldn't gain the valuable professional experience that I was looking for. It turns out, this fear was realized! My first internship was not a good fit, and was not going to be an environment in which I could thrive and do that type of work I was interested in.

Instead of sitting idly by and waiting for the semester to end, or waiting for an internship miracle of some kind, I decided to change my situation. Connect-123 helped me find a new host organization, and ultimately I ended up working with the Province of Buenos Aires. Which turned out to be the best internship I could have imagined! Moral of the story is, yes sometimes (often times) things do not go as we have planned them to. That is ok, because amazing things can come from challenging and difficult situations, and make us more resilient in the process!

Is Buenos Aires dangerous?

This is a question that I hear and receive a lot. My answer would be no, it is not more or less dangerous than any major city around the world. It is good always be aware and cognizant of your surroundings, but I personally never had any issues with safety. If this is your main concern for participating in this program, I would say that yes Buenos Aires is a big city, but it should not stop you from coming and enjoying all that it has to offer!

Staff Interviews

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

Nikki Madden

Job Title
Dublin Program Coordinator
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Nikki joined Connect-123 after years of adventures, teaching, and projects abroad. After finding a job that helped other people to navigate new adventures, travels, and dreams, she willingly hung up her boots to help others experience the magic that is Ireland!

What is your favorite travel memory?

This is a toughie! Just one?!

Baby turtles hatching on the beach in India. Baby seals playing in rock pools in New Zealand. 36-hour train journeys in India. Amazing hikes in Nepal. Learning to sail in Australia. Tuk tuk journeys in Thailand. I've also had some great memories from teaching abroad! Some of the best times of my life!

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

This role has allowed me to develop my leadership and mentorship skills in a much stronger way. It has given me a chance to use my abilities and experiences to help navigate others and be a support in their own development.

I'm also constantly learning through my students about new and exciting things as well as developing how we work with students, companies, and events.

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

I hear great stories all the time. I'm very proud of all the students here. Whenever I worry about the state of things in the world, I think about all our students who were always aiming for great things!

Recently, one of our students told me she got accepted into NASA, which was a massive dream of hers, just a few short months after they went home from Ireland! Massively proud as punch!

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

I would love to go to South Africa as I've never been anywhere that looks like it. I'd want to do all those adventure activities –rock climbing, shark diving, trekking, go on Safari, see Table Mountain, sunshine, and get to Stellenbosch for some wine tasting!!

We've also got some amazing connect people there, and some really exciting projects! Ah bliss, it looks amazing!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

For me, Connect-123 is a very special company. From the word go, they were supportive, nurturing and caring, and they built a fantastic environment and atmosphere for our team globally.

This feeling is what I think is passed on with us! We may be many kilometers apart, but we all get the sense that we are a team working towards a common goal.

When we all get together, it's lots of fun! I'm very happy and proud to be part of this family!

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

I think the biggest factor in a successful company is passion, and loving what you do! I also think that as a company, we thrive on helping young people do amazing things in their lives, and to show them what is possible!

The youth of today are looking for experiences that help them see a better world. I like to think that our company is successful because we want to help empower these visions!