Hi everyone, I'm Sebastian, a Senior Consultant at Roland Berger's Frankfurt office. Since joining in December 2022, I've worked on various operations projects in the automotive industry and co-authored the Roland Berger study "CLEANfield factory – Transforming manufacturing for a sustainable future."

When I learned about the Social Fellowship program, I was immediately drawn to the opportunity to engage in sustainability in a hands-on manner. Having explored sustainable manufacturing in the CLEANfield study, I felt it was time to transition from theory to action.

This decision led me to Gili Trawangan (Gili T), a small island in Indonesia, where I spent three months volunteering with the NGO Gili Eco Trust. Their mission is to protect and restore the local ecosystem, and I was excited to support their efforts in coral reef restoration, waste management and recycling.

The first month was dedicated to preparation. I underwent intensive training in coral reef monitoring and Biorock technology, which equipped me to assess reef health and contribute to global scientific research. Alongside other volunteers, I conducted regular reef surveys, helping to monitor coral reefs and contribute to a global coral reef health database.

One of the most rewarding experiences was building an artificial coral reef using Biorock technology. From constructing a steel structure on land to initiating coral growth underwater, I witnessed firsthand how small, focused interventions can enhance marine biodiversity.

After the initial four weeks of training, I became an integral part of Gili Eco Trust's daily operations. Beyond reef restoration, I supported long-term projects, including maintaining existing Biorock structures, organizing beach clean-ups and improving waste management systems. These efforts, ongoing since 2007, underscored the power of persistence and collaboration in driving sustainable change.

A typical day for me in Gili T started at 6:00 AM with a jog around the island, covering about 7 kilometers. After enjoying a delicious coffee and breakfast at one of Gili T's famous cafés, I would meet with the other volunteers to coordinate our daily tasks.

From 8:15 AM to 12:00 PM, my responsibilities usually focused on Biorock maintenance, diving from the shore, social media marketing, planning beach clean-ups and conducting land-based Biorock maintenance (e.g., checking the power supply).

After a shared lunch break, we continued our individual activities until 5:00 PM. This often included engaging with external parties, such as educating tourists about Gili Eco Trust and guiding eco-friendly snorkeling tours.

After a productive day, I would typically hit the gym with friends I made during the training period.

For dinner, I enjoyed a wide variety of international cuisine on Gili T, where you can expect excellent local Indonesian dishes and also discover influences from Western and Chinese cuisine, together with the other volunteers. This provided a great opportunity to reflect on the day and share experiences.

On special occasions, I joined another NGO to track turtle nests on the island. This involved walking before dawn around the islands to locate turtle tracks on the beach, especially during hatching season, as we looked for nests that would need support with hatching in the upcoming weeks.

My experience in Indonesia was incredibly valuable. It demonstrated that even with limited resources, meaningful impact is possible when you remain committed.

In my opinion, the Social Fellowship program is an incredible opportunity to make a meaningful impact while experiencing personal growth in ways you may never have anticipated. As I return to my role as a Senior Consultant at Roland Berger, I am looking forward to applying these lessons to my daily work.