🇫🇷🍄 European Solidarity Corps Volunteering in France – Collect Coffee Waste & Grow Mushrooms in a Circular Economy Project 🌱♻️ Café Vert for Sustainable Change 🇫🇷

🌟 Opportunity Overview
This European Solidarity Corps individual volunteering opportunity is hosted by Initiative et Développement Citoyen (IDC) in Lastours, France 🇫🇷. The project Café Vert is a hands-on circular economy initiative transforming coffee waste into new life through oyster mushroom cultivation. Since 2020, ESC volunteers have been an integral part of this long-running, experimental, and impact-driven project that combines environmental action, local economy, and community awareness.

🎯 Main Activities & Responsibilities
🚲 Collect coffee waste from cafés and restaurants by bike
🍄 Mix coffee grounds with mycelium to grow oyster mushrooms
🌱 Monitor growth, harvest, and prepare mushrooms for sale
🧺 Sell products at local markets and engage with the community
🪱 Reuse post-harvest waste in an earthworm farm to create rich soil
📣 Support workshops, events, and communication in the eco-boutique
💡 Propose new ideas and creative content around sustainability and local agriculture

🏠 Accommodation, Food & Local Transport
🏡 Shared rooms (same sex) in an apartment in Carcassonne city centre
🚐 Transport related to activities (city ↔ campsite) fully covered
🧹 Shared responsibilities for cleaning, cooking, and organising the home
🛒 Food budget provided for grocery shopping
🥕 Emphasis on local, seasonal, non-industrial food — and very fresh mushrooms!

📚 Training & Learning During the Activity
🎓 Full training on mushroom production: from collection to selling
🧠 Learning how to design and communicate workshops & events
🛍️ Experience in local markets and customer interaction
🌍 Exposure to ethical, sustainable practices and circular economy models
✨ Opportunity to lead activities or propose new sustainability-focused projects

👤 Participant Profile
✔️ Highly motivated to learn mushroom growing (essential)
✔️ Comfortable with routine tasks requiring attention to detail and observation
✔️ Interested in sustainability, circular economy, and organic agriculture
✔️ Creative, proactive, and open to proposing improvements or ideas
✔️ Ready for a challenging but rewarding life experience
🗣️ French is a bonus, but not mandatory

📅 Activity Dates
06 January 2026 – 30 August 2026

⏳ Application Deadline
📅 Application Deadline: Not specified

🌍 Eligible Applicant Countries
🇦🇹 Austria, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇨🇿 Czech Republic, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇱🇹 Lithuania, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇷🇴 Romania, 🇪🇸 Spain

📩 Application Link
https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/opportunity/49213_en

⚠️ Important Notice
1️⃣ Source of Information
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💡 Final Note:
All listings are shared for informational purposes only. Please always verify details directly through the official project coordinator or programme website before applying.