Clara Schulze Roussel, 18 years old, Germany. ESC Short term volunteer in mushrooms at IDC and Café Vert.
I’m Clara, I’m 18 years old and I’m from Germany. After graduating high school this year I didn’t want to start university immediately because I had no idea what I wanted to do in the future. That’s why I decided to do a voluntary service. I wanted to take a break from studying, discover something new, and most importantly, contribute to a project that deals with issues I really care about, like sustainability and the environment.
I found the opportunity to come to Carcassonne, in the south of France, to participate in a project that combines recycling, urban cooperation, and nature. Every day I collect coffee grounds from local cafés and bring them back to our workspace. Instead of letting this waste simply be thrown away, we mix it with mycelium so that mushrooms can grow. It is a beautiful example of how something usually considered useless can be transformed into something valuable and alive.
To be honest, I am not a big fan of Carcassonne as a place to live. The city itself doesn’t appeal to me that much, and I miss the feeling of being in a big city. But at the same time, this experience has given me the chance to meet amazing people. My fellow volunteers and the local partners have shown me so much kindness and openness. We come from different countries, with different backgrounds and perspectives, but we share common goals and values. Through this, I have learned how important community is when working towards change. Even if the city is not my favorite, the people here have made this experience meaningful.
Another important part of this project is the way it makes me reflect about sustainability in everyday life. Before coming here, I already cared about environmental issues, but I did not always know how I could personally contribute. Here, I see that small actions can have an impact—like reusing coffee grounds instead of throwing them away. It is not about solving the climate crisis alone, but about building new habits, new ways of thinking, and inspiring others to see waste as a resource. These ideas will stay with me long after my service is finished.
What I also like is that this experience has given me time to think about my future. I still don’t know exactly what I want to study or which career I will choose, but I feel like I am getting closer to an answer. I am realizing that I want to keep working on projects that are connected to nature, sustainability, and the environment. This voluntary service is not only a way to help others, but also a way to learn about myself.
