Each day on this journey continues to offer new opportunities for learning, connection, and meaningful experiences.
Today, we were honored to be invited by David Grier of Cipla to witness firsthand the impactful work they are doing in South African communities. Read more about David Grier here: https://davidgrier.co.za/
Our day began in Mfuleni Township, where—despite the week being a national holiday—community members generously opened their doors and shared their time with us. The hospitality was humbling. We toured local clinics and pharmacies embedded in the township and heard from the dedicated professionals working there, including a nurse practitioner, a pharmacy owner, and an optometrist. Each shared their role in improving healthcare access and quality for the local population, illustrating how their work is woven into the fabric of the community.
We loved this quote in the optometrist’s office which says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light”. If you look closely you can see our vision expert faculty, Dr. Barstow and Dr. Vice, taking this picture!
From there, we traveled to the rural family farm where David grew up—now home to a Cipla-supported clinic and community resource center. This was in the region of Stellenbosch. To our delight, we discovered the farm is also a vineyard, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. Behind the orchard rows, a vibrant clinic offers dental and nursing care, a community room for educational programming, and a safe space for children to play. Programs like sex education and parenting classes are also held here, reinforcing a holistic approach to health and well-being.
After touring the clinic, we were treated to a walk through the winery Villiera, where we learned about the wine-making process. One wine, named dakwijn—meaning “roof rain”—is made from grapes dried on the rooftop and holds a special place in the heart of the vineyard’s story. Impressively, the winery operates primarily on solar energy, reflecting Villiera’s commitment not only to people but also to the environment.
Just when we thought the day couldn’t hold more, David surprised us with a final stop: a game reserve. Surrounded by freely roaming springbok, giraffes, and zebras, we walked together, took in the landscape, and allowed ourselves a moment to reflect. The beauty of the land, the generosity of the people, and the intentionality of the work we witnessed moved many of us to tears.
While walking the game reserve, a student found a cervical vertebrae. So of course, an impromptu anatomy lesson was taught by Dr. Vice. The students may have thought they didn’t have Dr. Vice’s class today but you can’t escape science!
On the ride back, we debriefed as a group—processing what we had seen and discussing how these experiences connect to the field of occupational therapy. The students offered thoughtful reflections on how OT could complement and expand the community health work being done in Mfuleni and Stellenbosch. One takeaway we hope will resonate with them long after this trip: challenges become opportunities when met with creativity, collaboration, science, and a deep investment in community.
