i, we’re Ari and Katie, and today was our last day in South Africa.

We gave our final presentations back at Le Pommier, the vineyard we visited on our very first night. These presentations were meant to help us collaborate with our peers and reflect on our experiences throughout this impactful trip. Each group explored different topics drawn from our time here.

Ari’s group’s presentation related the economic sanctions used in the 1980s and 90s to pressure South Africa to end apartheid to the sanctions that are proposed now in 2025 against Israel to pressure them to stop fighting Palestine.

Katie’s presentation explored the sustainability of the national unity sparked by the 1995 Rugby World Cup, questioning whether rugby alone could truly bridge South Africa’s deep societal divides and what challenges still remain.

After the presentations, we enjoyed a final group meal, shared reflections, and closed the trip with heartfelt words.