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.

Today is July 20th, our first real day in Bengaluru. Although it was scheduled as a peaceful day — we’d only just landed — it was still full of experiences and educational observations. We had a delayed start to rest, and breakfast ran from 7:00 to 11:00 am; it was healthy and amazingly tasty.

Then we did an assignment reflecting on the educational observations we’d made in every city we visited, connecting two observations to two cities and two things we learned. In the afternoon, we went to a sports centre and had fun — cut short by a large downpour right in the middle of our games: volleyball, basketball, football and more.

We ended the day with dinner at an American restaurant — Pizza Hut!

Today marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter together. After arriving at the airport, we were filled with anticipation, curiosity and excitement for everything ahead. Although we were all tired from travelling, the energy of being in a new city kept our spirits high.

Our first destination was a beautiful garden house that immediately impressed us with its peaceful atmosphere and stunning greenery. The property is surrounded by a wide variety of plants and trees, creating a calm and refreshing environment. One of the most inspiring features was its rainwater harvesting system, which showed us how sustainable practices can be woven into everyday living.

I was inspired by how nature and innovation can work together to create a beautiful, eco-friendly space.

As a group, we enjoyed exploring the property, sharing our first impressions and learning more about environmental sustainability. This experience reminded us that small actions — such as conserving water — can have a meaningful impact on our communities. A memorable start to our Bengaluru chapter.

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.

Today started with a visit to Old Ahmedabad — a vibrant, colourful city full of friendly people and heritage. It welcomed us with many pillars: gates, faith and stories, each one representing a piece of the city’s past. The city is over 600 years old and still lived in by locals. One thing that surprised me was how few trees are planted — mainly because there is almost zero unpaved space. Old Ahmedabad showed me that tradition and heritage can stay alive, even as the whole world decides to become ‘modern’.

After that, we visited the India Recycling office to learn how they recycle clothes and other reusable materials. The team walked us through the complete process: how donated clothes are collected, sorted, cleaned and prepared for reuse. We learned about the importance of reducing textile waste and how recycling helps protect the environment.

The clothes were sold at nearly half the price of new items — accessible to people from low-income communities while encouraging sustainable shopping. Recycling isn’t only about reducing waste; it’s about supporting people and a more sustainable lifestyle.

Finally, we visited the Vishalla, where we saw large vessels and tools used for all kinds of purposes. What surprised me most were the water bags, carved into beautiful shapes — the ancient equivalent of today’s water bottles. Later we tried local Gujarati food, were amazed by the folk dances, and ended our day dancing along to the rhythm.