This morning, we went street auditing with Reap Benefit to identify problems in the area. The trees were lush, the sun was shining, and we nearly stepped in cow dung. We found several issues the local community has grown used to — cattle in the streets, uneven footpaths, and loose wires under the streetlights. It was a reminder that anyone can make a difference through small actions, starting with simply noticing what could be improved.

We visited the Greater Bengaluru Authority and were welcomed warmly. We spoke with the commissioner, Maheshwar Rao, about the city’s most pressing issues — students like Jonas, Peerbaksh, Ziya and Akshay asked the sharpest questions. We also visited the Integrated Command and Control Centre, learning how the authority works as one unit to respond to citizens’ complaints, and toured the call centre where different departments take up different problems.

Within less than an hour, every student had contributed to improving the city.

After lunch, we gathered at VET College to tackle a question that had bothered many of us since the start of the program: how do we take meaningful action? With Reap Benefit facilitators, we reflected on our morning walk, went back onto the streets to find examples of mismanagement and negligence, and reported problems like exposed wiring to the authority using their smart-city app. The day ended with a magnificent evening in the Malbagh garden, where students and leaders shared life stories under the green canopy and the gentle light of the sunset.