Advice for Parents

Intern abroad could possibly be one of the best, most positive and rewarding experiences for your child.

At Next Step Connections, we understand that your child’s health and safety is important to you. We also know that your concerns for your child’s health and safety increase with distance; the further away your child travels from home, the more important it is for him/her to have support services. In this time of an increased international focus on safety and security, you may feel strongly concerned about your child’s wishes to intern and travel abroad. We hope that by reading this, your concerns will be addressed. You will be able to better assist your son or daughter with participating in our programs, and with being prepared for health and safety challenges abroad.

Next Step Connections program structure

All our program participants are living in modern and fully-furnished shared apartments exclusive to NSC program participants. Our goal is to provide a home away from home for all our participants so we make sure that they have all the comfort needed at destination. Internet is included in all our apartments.
Next Step Connections has an on-site orientation designed exclusively for all its participants. Our orientation program includes providing your child with information relating to the country and culture in which he/she will be living.  Our orientation will offer your child the opportunity to not only meet other students who will be participating in the internship program, but it will also prepare him/her for the cultural changes that he/she may find while interning with us.

Financial aspect of your child’s intern abroad experience

Next Step Connections is an entirely independent education organisation which does not receive any funding from governments, religious bodies, political parties, development organisations or other sources.
Your program fee, therefore, not only covers the costs that are directly linked to your presence on the ground (housing, insurance, airport transfers, events, language) but also a share of all the other costs that setting up our high quality internship program requires. ( In-Country staff support, marketing etc..)

Medical aspect

It is recommended that you see your physician and preferably a doctor at a travel medicine clinic at least 4-6 weeks before you are scheduled to depart. There are some recommended vaccines (especially Hepatitis) and it's important that you take the necessary precautions and be up-to-date on your routine vaccines
All our participants are covered by our comprehensive travel and medical insurance.
Our team abroad stay in touch with the latest news and safety issues and are trained for any sort of emergencies. We have located the best hospitals in town and will make sure your child get the best medical care available.

Support in Asia

We have a friendly international team (USA, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, China) that understands the difficulties of adapting to a new city and will do everything they can to ensure a smooth transition.
Our teams at destination have been trained to ensure that you will be well looked after and are able to contact us 24 hours a day.
80% of our team has studied, lived, or worked abroad and, therefore, understand how you will feel going through this process.
We will give you all the resources you need to have a successful time abroad and give you as much freedom as you want so you can make this experience your own!
You will be able to keep in touch with your child directly by phone (international calling card) or Skype. Internet access is available in all our housing to make sure your child can keep in touch with home. Moreover, our team can be reached 24/7 by phone or email.

Parents say about us

"My, how time flies! I am Arabella's mother and never got to thank you for setting her internship up. She had a fantastic experience and really loved her time in SH. Thank you so much for getting that all organized! Please, let me know whether you would be able to acommodate her sister this summer! Thanks again and many warm regards from the sub-zero and snow-burried Midwest of the US of A!" Ingrid F. USA, Mother of Arabella, Shanghai Internship Program 2010.

"Jacqueline did indeed enjoy her time in Shanghai and I think she got a lot out of it. Thank you very much for that! I hope you are well and I wish you every success in developing your programmes." Hunter C. UK, Father of Jacqueline, Shanghai Internship Program 2010.