The best summer experience!

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!