Program Reviews

My internship in Barcelona and experience with Connect-123 has been amazing! They helped place me into a biomedical research lab studying liver transplantation outcomes and I had amazing coworkers and a lovely time working there. I have gained many valuable skills here-from co-authoring a review paper to learning various types of histological and immunological analyses, which will assist me in future research I pursue. Connect-123 has been supportive and helpful every step of the way in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. These past few months have taught me important professional and personal skills, especially regarding cultural humility and adjusting to life in a new country. Overall, my experience in the research lab has strengthened my desire to pursue a career in medical and clinical research while also expanding both my academic and personal horizons. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and would highly recommend it to anyone seeking meaningful research and cultural experiences abroad.

My time in Dublin was incredible! The people were warm and welcoming, always open to conversation. I loved my internship experience as well—the coworkers were amazing, and the overall environment was fantastic. Exploring Dublin and its surrounding cities was such a highlight, from sightseeing with friends to discovering new spots every weekend. Thank you Connect-123!

I'm more than happy with my internship experience in Dublin, and I'm incredibly grateful for Connect-123 for finding the perfect placement for me. Working at an addiction recovery center gave me valuable insight into the field and allowed me to learn so much about the challenges and rewards of this important work. I also feel that I grew significantly as a person through this experience. I truly appreciate the support that Connect-123 offered during the preparation phase and throughout the entire internship. Thank you Connect-123!

With the help of Connect-123, I spent my summer interning in Barcelona with an organization whose mission is to turn peace into a tangible, shared economic benefit for people living in conflict-affected regions. I worked closely with the incubation team, and by the midpoint of my internship, they trusted me to build out my own project. Over the following weeks, I developed a detailed budget, outlined a peacebuilding business model, and prepared concept notes to present to donors. I also conducted research on market entry strategies for shea butter in Europe and assessed alignment with funders like Cartier Philanthropy. However, none of this would have been possible without the support I received from Connect-123. They handled so much of the heavy lifting from finding me an internship whose mission aligned with my core interests and convictions, to managing my housing and logistics. They were especially helpful during a heatwave that knocked out our AC unit, quickly finding a safe alternative apartment that very same day. This wasn’t some résumé-polishing summer abroad. It was long hours, rewrites, humid bus commutes, and moments of real, hard‑earned clarity. It was a summer of learning what it means to try something difficult in a place that stirs your imagination. Thanks to Connect-123, I got to experience the ineffable magic that floats through the summer air in Barcelona. Cheers!

During my four-week live-on-site practicum in Cape Town, South Africa, I experienced significant personal and professional growth. The practicum challenged me to be flexible and constantly be thinking.

I observed a certified child life specialist (CCLS) educating children and families about medical procedures, providing trauma-informed care, and offering preparation and support for procedures. The CCLS guided post-procedural play in both outpatient and multiple inpatient settings in a developmentally appropriate and trauma-informed manner. When appropriate, I supported children and families through caregiver respite, normalization play, and post-procedural play.

I learned and practiced communicating with children and families from diverse backgrounds, which led me to examine my biases, identify areas for growth, and establish personal and professional boundaries. I learned to grow from feedback, be flexible, and approach new situations with respect and confidence.

Our group of 18 started out as strangers, but we left with lifelong friends with many shared experiences.

I had a great time last summer! I got to shadow doctors and learn about cancer care and data. I also met amazing people who roomed with me and who I am visiting during my breaks! I would definitely recommend this to any students looking to get some experience in while not studying abroad for a full semester. I am truly missing it so much and will never forget the experiences and people I met while over there. Everyone in the administration was very helpful and readily available to answer any questions.

Connect 123 really helped me to have the best experience possible for my international internship. I had a minor health issue while abroad a couple times and connect was so amazing about making sure I was comfortable in my place of living as well as being amazing with the actual hospital selection and just being present if I needed them. The entire team at connect was awesome and willing to help with absolutely anything I might've needed. I made amazing friends who I still talk to and were always planning trips to see each other more! I had a truly amazing experience and that Is all because of this company.

Cape Town! Cape Town! What can I say, such a beautiful and wonderful experience overall. So many fun adventures with friends and outings on my own. I was hugged by the tastes and music of South African delicacies and culture, overall, an incredible opportunity. At my internship, I worked in the psychosocial department as a counselor, and I have gained so much experience and wise advice from colleagues and supervisors. I created a family in such little time. Thank you Connect-123 and thank you Carla for being so reliable, kind, and respectful, always being there when I had questions and giving me support when I got sick, needed cellular data, to learn about cool places to visit, and the list never ends. Much love from me Fernie :)

Finding an internship as an international student is very tough. Especially when you don’t really have experience related to your field, but Connect-123 made it possible for me to learn and gain experience. It was overall very enjoyable and I am glad to have undergone such. Now I have gained some understanding about working in a company to some extent and not to mention, there are also many soft skills which I feel like have improved ever since. I am very grateful for Connect-123 for conmecting me with the host organization and for the wonderful opportunity!

I have had an amazing time during the virtual internship and have learned a lot of new technical and soft skills. I thought doing an internship virtually would be difficult because of the lack of in-person contact, but the process was smooth, and I got into the rhythm of things very quickly. I ended up really enjoying the remote aspect of the internship because I was able to manage my own schedule. I was also lucky to have a supervisor that supported my experience and quickly answered any questions I had. He gave helpful feedback and encouraged me to complete tasks at my own pace, preferring thoroughness over rushed work.