I’m so grateful for the opportunity to take time in Freiburg to volunteer and help to preserve the natural environment, especially regarding the wonderful sit spot I found. I’m attaching a photo of the beautiful sunset that Freiburg gave me, right next to my sit spot, on my final night in the city. It was a truly special memory and view and it felt like it was placed there just for me!

Throughout the semester, I worked both individually, with groups and with the organization Bachpaten Freiburg to volunteer each week to help the environment. The main thing I focused on, both on my own and with the organization, was litter and preserving the nature around me. Cigarette butts were constantly left on the street and in the fields, so I spent much of my volunteer hours cleaning those up, with help from a group of friends-turned-volunteers. I also participated in environmental activism protests in Freiburg and asked locals about how they felt about Freiburg’s future as a green city, and cleaned up the riverbeds in Freiburg. The constant tie between the environment and my physical volunteer work made it really special, when the weather finally got warmer and people could enjoy the nature. I felt like I truly contributed something because cleaning the Seepark near my sit spot was both a noticeable act and an act that made me feel accomplished. I really enjoyed my time in Freiburg, the sunniest city in Germany and the green city of Germany, and volunteering and my final project made it feel so much more rewarding!