Gandhi’s House, a Tree Named Brook & Mandela Day

Today was easily the highlight of the trip so far — a beautiful, deeply interactive day that connected all 47 of us from around the world, while also letting me connect with something incredibly personal. We started our morning at Mahatma Gandhi’s house, and I can honestly say I have never been to a more peaceful museum. It was profoundly moving to see the pictures and read about his life, what he stood for, and the massive impact he made on the world. My favourite moment was taking a group photo together right there at his home.

After a much-needed rest and lunch to recharge, we headed out for an afternoon that somehow made the day even better.

We were given the incredible opportunity to visit Gathering Green to help the environment. The site already boasts 20,000 trees, and our cohort added our own. Planting trees was an activity I loved so deeply. In my application for this trip, I wrote about my cousin who passed away; she was fiercely passionate about the environment, and being out there reminded me of her so much. I felt a profound connection to her while digging into the soil, and I named my tree after her — Brook.

Following the planting, our guide took us on a nature walk. Even though the heat was intense, the trail was still amazing and peaceful. The biggest eye-opener was learning about the trees themselves — I never realised they offer so much more than oxygen. Our guide explained it beautifully: trees truly connect, communicate and talk with each other beneath the surface, keeping each other alive in ways most people never think about.

It felt fitting that today was also a celebration of Nelson Mandela Day — a beautiful opportunity to honour him, Gandhi, and all the people who have inspired our world. Our collective carbon footprint on this planet is heavy, but by planting these trees, we added to our handprint. It’s a memory our whole cohort will cherish for a long time.