"To Berlin, please!"

An adventurous journey, for free: sounds like (almost) every person's dream, doesn't it?

Well, all the lucky ones who were chosen to take part in the "Can you make it"-challenge will get exactly that! The goal of this challenge is to make it from a certain starting point - one of four cities in Europe - to the finish line in Berlin in a matter of seven days. 

Piece of cake, you will think - but of course there is a catch. The participants cannot use any money, including credit cards, nor can they have a personal mobile phone. They only get a few cans of energy drink which they can try to trade. They have to rely on luck, hospitality and their negotiating powers in order to get food, a place to sleep and - most importantly - a ride to their next checkpoint. The participating groups cannot just choose any route they want, but they have to pass six checkpoints on the way, where additional challenges are waiting for them. If the participants master them successfully, they earn more energy drink that can be traded for other goods.

All participants are travelling in groups of three and have to stay together at all times. There are several other rules that must be obeyed, otherwise they will be disqualified. If participants are sure that they will not reach Berlin on time, they can always give up and travel home - but seriously, who would admit defeat and not keep fighting until the very last minute?

As far as I have read from the homepage, there is not just one winner. Everyone who manages to arrive in Berlin on time is a winner, and on top of the unique experience they have had they are invited to an awesome party :-)

This year there is also a group from the University of Graz who will take part in the challenge. I am going to follow their adventures online for the next week. Their starting point will be London. I am especially curious how they are going to make it across the sea!

The application for the next challenge probably won't start until next winter, but who knows, maybe you will see me and two of my friends in next year's challenge, trying to make it from one place to another only relying on luck and our charm!