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A month and a half hitchhiking, a volunteer project in Morocco, climbing Mount Toubkal, and trekking the GR20… Manon BERTSCHY, a student in the Grande École Program at IÉSEG, tells us about her gap year, marked by athletic challenges, social engagement, cultural discovery, and the beauty of human connections.

Why did you choose a gap year project that combined both social engagement and athletic challenge?

I’ve been a Girl Scout since I was little, so I’m used to creating projects within a community. On top of that, ecology and social solidarity are values close to my heart. So, together with my childhood friend Selim, who I also met in Scouts, we decided to create a project with a real environmental and social impact. Since we both love sports, we included that dimension too.

One of our first criteria for choosing a destination was, of course, to be able to get there without flying, to limit our carbon footprint. Then, we wanted to meet as many people as possible to make it a true human adventure, which led us to decide to hitchhike. Finally, the project had to have both a social and a sporting dimension.

We looked for a project that was meaningful and had a positive impact based on these criteria, and we found one in Morocco with the Tawaya association.

So you hitchhiked all the way to Morocco?

Yes, we spent a month and a half on the road, hitchhiking to Morocco. It was a real leap into the unknown for us! In France, it went very smoothly: on average, we waited between 5 and 15 minutes to get a ride. I didn’t expect it to be that easy! People were curious, kind, and we had some amazing encounters.

In Spain, cultural differences made things a bit trickier, and hitchhiking was slower. But even then, we met wonderful people who went out of their way to help us, sometimes making long detours to drop us off! Along the way, some would stop to offer us local specialties, and throughout the journey, they would tell us about the area, the landscape, and local culture.

Each day, we usually got into two to eight cars. It was an intense pace that allowed us to meet incredible people, but it was exhausting too! We had no particular expectations before leaving and were pleasantly surprised many times. Of course, there were tougher moments—like not having a place to stay when we arrived somewhere—but we always found solutions. I remember arriving in Bilbao with no accommodation… I posted on Instagram asking my network for help, and an hour later, someone had found us an apartment!

After a month and a half on the road, you finally arrived in Morocco for a volunteer project…

We joined the Tawaya association in a Berber village in the Atlas Mountains, about four hours from Marrakech, where we spent three weeks. The association works to support local development and improve living conditions, particularly through activities related to children’s education.

Our main role was tutoring primary school students, supporting what the teachers were doing, and helping children consolidate what they had learned in class. We built strong bonds with them. We also helped with small construction and development projects in the village to improve local infrastructure.

Did anything particularly strike you?

This experience was an incredible cultural immersion that allowed me to understand the different aspects of this culture. We shared daily life in the village, discovered local habits, and exchanged a lot with the residents. Even though there was sometimes a language barrier, there was always mutual curiosity and kindness.

What struck me the most was the role of women in local society: they are less visible in public spaces because they work a lot in the fields and at home. Yet, they are the leaders of the family, highly respected, listened to, and solely responsible for major decisions within the household. In fact, when we asked the boys at school what they wanted to do when they grew up, many said they didn’t know—but added, “my mom will decide.”

After volunteering in Morocco, you went to Corsica to hike the GR20?

We traveled north through southern France by bus and train. While in Morocco, we also climbed Mount Toubkal (4,167 m) in the Atlas—a difficult but extraordinary experience.

Then we went to Corsica using Sailcoop, a cooperative that offers a responsible alternative to ferries and planes. The sailboat crossing took 15 hours.

Finally, we started the GR20, a trail that is both physically and mentally demanding. But we made it to the end, pushed ourselves beyond our limits, and met wonderful people of all ages. The solidarity among hikers was remarkable.

Did you rely on sponsors to help fund the project?

Before leaving, we secured two sponsors: Pileje, for natural supplements, and French Light Outdoor, a craftsman who makes outdoor gear. They provided equipment and financial support.

Courses at IÉSEG were helpful, especially for negotiation and marketing. They gave me the skills I needed to organize our project and confidently pitch it to potential sponsors.

What do you take away from this incredible experience?

So much! I’d say it taught me to trust the unknown. Before, I was very organized and planned everything… Now, I leave room for the unexpected and trust life. I’ve learned to recharge, and also to set boundaries.

Any final words?

Anything is possible! If you have an idea, take action, set a date, and the rest will follow. It’s essential to give yourself the means to pursue your dreams. But for social projects, do your research first: contact people who have already participated, so you make the right choices!

In general, I think social engagement is extremely important. You don’t need to travel to the other side of the world to help—there are plenty of amazing associations locally that you can support.