Program Reviews

There were three great gains I experience from this trip with Connect-123 that I would not have had if I had not traveled to Argentina. I discovered my future profession, Dentistry, by being able to shadow a very friendly dental staff. Additionally, I still keep in touch with people from my internship simply because we got a long so well. And finally I want to mention how greatly my Spanish developed: the people I came in contact with were understanding as I tried to discuss complex topics in Spanish.

While in class studying to become a child life specialist, I am taught over and over that play is the universal language of childhood. It was not until I immersed myself in a whole new culture across the world, when I realized the truth to this statement. Having the opportunity to work with so many different children, in all sorts of settings, speaking many of the different languages native to South Africa was incredible. Recognizing how play is a language we all can "speak" and understand and its importance to a child is a lesson whose impact goes much further than the classroom.

The people that I worked with in Barcelona were so welcoming and genuinely cared that I was enjoying myself in the city. They were so supportive and they helped me out so much when I was getting acclimated to the city but when I was acclimated they let me explore and travel to other countries in Europe on my own. They planned so many fun and different events for us to come with and they are great event to see all the little things that Barcelona has to offer.

I did my internship with Connect 123 at the University of Cape Town for close to 3 months as a research engineer intern. It was nothing short of amazing!

My decision to join the program in Cape Town was almost an impulsive one, so I did not manage to plan sufficiently prior to the trip. However, the staff from Connect 123, particularly Caitlin and Lucie, were very helpful in advising on what to bring and prepare for! Over in Cape Town, they organised social nights for us to be connected with other interns from different countries that are doing various other internship programmes! This helped to ease the homesickness as we had our own family there! Our development and safety was their priority as they would send in emails every now and then to get updates on our progress and well being. They really had our welfare at heart!

All in all, joining the internship programme with Connect 123 was one of the best university decisions I have ever made! Best hospitality, best location, best experience!

as nothing short of amazing!!! My initial expectation was to gain an internship but, I left with so much more. Connect 123 not only guided me to the internship of my dreams but they also connected me to a new found family. I built lasting relationships with employers, made life-long friendships, and found my home away from home. Every day I worked alongside colleagues, reviewed analytics reports, and worked on currents projects. Interning not only confirmed my classroom knowledge but, it gave me a platform to develop new marketing skills. Connect 123 is an experience that will challenge you, connect you, and propel your professional career. They give you the tools necessary to succeed, so get ready you will leave better than you came.

When it came to making plans for my summer, I knew that I wanted an internship and I knew that I wanted the experience of travelling abroad. Connect-123 provided the perfect combination of both. Not only did I learn a lot from my work experience, but I had the best 2 months spent making friends and using every spare moment to explore Dublin city and the entire country of Ireland. Connect-123 organized events to meet new people and explore the city as well as tips on surviving a new internship in a foreign country. I can’t help but feel like I’ll be leaving a piece of myself in Dublin, and am already planning on when I can come back. Thanks to Connect-123, I was able to have one of the best summers yet!

Connect-123 is a program that offers one of the most accommodating, life-changing experiences for anyone looking to explore another lifestyle and culture, while still hoping to gain professional skills in their field of study. For me, it was like a dream come true because they have so many different internship opportunities across the globe, in fields like architecture, marketing, writing, and even if you don't have a set career path, I met students in Barcelona who were doing an internship simply for the educational value of working in that diverse, professional setting.

From the start of the trip, months before I even touched ground in Barca, the Connect team was already making the most of my journey, being that they asked where I'd prefer to stay, what type of living space would suit me best, the cheapest ways to get from the airport to the city, it was the little things that made me realise this was the best choice I've made thus far. The Connect-123 coordinators truly want you to have the time of your life, and what better way to learn the ins and outs of Barcelona than from the people who live there and want to pass this knowledge on in the most fun and refreshing way. They take you to get the best tapas in town, you'll do bike tours for little to no cost, and most of all, they are there for you if you have any questions or concerns about your internship, your accommodations, or anything, really. Plus, one of their team members will meet with you before your internship begins so that your transition down this new path is an easy one.

And aside from their 24-hour services, they introduce you to other students from the program and because of that, I've personally made friends from all over the world, some who even live a state or two away from me back at home. So not only was I able to explore the beautiful city with new friends, I also improved my writing and communication skills in ways that encouraged me to branch out in ways I haven't done before. I really can't thank the Connect-123 program enough for the whole experience in becoming the writer and traveller I've been searching for.

My experience in Cape Town from start to finish was amazing. From the first day I was welcomed with such warmth all the connect 123 staff were so kind and helpful. From organising great events and activities to being a constant line of support and advice. Yet most importantly my internship was valuable and I really appreciated connect finding me a great internship with a very well respected architect like Andy Horn who was a great mentor. Overall I loved every second of my time in Cape. Town and would like to say cheers to all the people who made it so special.

I've had a wonderful stay in Cape Town, South Africa. It is an amazing city!! Connect-123 went above and beyond to get me this internship and without exaggerating, it has been one of the best experiences in my life! Robyn, who was my coordinator, is absolutely wonderful and she will tell you everything you need to know about Cape town! If you're looking for a great way to live abroad, gain unmatched work experience, and have the time of your life, this program is for you.

I knew I needed medical research experience for the field I want to go into, but I also have quite the travel bug. I did a lot of research trying to find out who could give me exactly what I wanted. Honestly, most of my time was spent figuring out which company was the most credible. I stumbled upon Connect 123 and contacted them right away. After a few conversations, I knew that they were the right choice. From there the process was so simple. They found me a healthcare research position and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I’ve never been afraid to go somewhere far on my own, so I didn’t have any initial reservations. I arrived in Dublin and felt right at home. Within an hour of being there, my program coordinator, Nikki, was at my doorstep and welcomed me with open arms. I think that made the transition easier than expected. She checked in with me every few weeks to make sure things were going smoothly and even arranged trips and meet-ups for everyone to get to know each other. My boss and coworkers were the greatest, most helpful people I probably could’ve worked with. They taught me so much about everything that goes into medical research and included me in everything they did. I was always made to feel like I was a part of the team, despite the fact that I was only going to be there for a short amount of time. Three months seems like an eternity, but even now it wasn’t enough time for me to explore the beautiful country that is Ireland. I now feel as though it is my second home. Nothing will ever compare to the time I spent living in Dublin, what I learned during my internship, and every person I met along the way.