Exclusive Interview with the 4Eldorado Crew, Sponsored by Nuhanciam, February 4

As third-year medical students in Nantes, we decided this year to participate in the 4L Trophy. Our team wasn’t put together by chance—we’ve known each other since middle school! In particular, we studied for and took the first-year medical school entrance exam together… It was an intense year of hard work and emotions that really brought us closer together!

Last summer, the two of us went to Vietnam with another friend; backpacks on our backs and passports in hand, it was a great adventure! Discovering that culture made us want to go back and see even more.

Why did you decide to participate in this rally?

Two of our friends, Maïti and Martin, competed in the 4L Trophy in 2013. Following their adventure from start to finish made us want to give it a try ourselves! We wanted to have a unique experience that would be a change of pace from university life. The 4L Trophy combines learning a wide range of skills (mechanics, corporate outreach, organizing and managing a project from start to finish, and more) with an extraordinary journey that allows you to discover Morocco and meet wonderful people. This exciting project appealed to us and helped us gain many new skills. What’s more, the 4L Trophy is also a way to give back to others, as the rally partners with various organizations such as Enfants du désert, 4L Solidaire, and Rire Médecin. For our part, we chose to deliver medical supplies (first-aid kits) to Morocco.

Why and how did you choose Nuhanciam?

We heard about Nuhanciam through one of our friends who works with them. Since Nuhanciam works with Morocco, we thought a partnership with the company would be a great way to build a bridge between the two countries. Also, as an all-female team, we were able to discover a new beauty brand.

Which Nuhanciam products do you like?

After partnering with Nuhanciam, we triedCleansing Micellar Water were completely won over! We really loved how effective and refreshing this product is. In the coming months, we’d like to try the gentle cleansing foam to revitalize our skin and give it a radiant glow for spring.

How did you prepare?

The first step in the preparation process involves putting together a presentation package and handling some administrative details (forming the nonprofit, preparing budget projections, and establishing partnership agreements). We then purchased the 4L and prepared it with the help of our partner mechanic. The rally requires extensive preparation to ensure the car can withstand the sand of the Moroccan dunes. We spent a lot of time reaching out to sponsors and establishing partnerships. We are now beginning the final stage: gathering the required equipment and ironing out the last few details.

What is your goal?

Our main goal is to be as self-sufficient as possible with our car—and any mechanical issues it might have—as well as our compass. Finishing in the top 300 would be really awesome!! Some stages are restricted to the best-prepared 4Ls (and those capable of surviving the challenge of large dunes), so we’re fine-tuning our mechanics to be able to participate—since we’ve heard these stages offer some of the most beautiful scenery on the rally.

Then, of course, there’s the humanitarian goal with the “Children of the Desert” organization! We’ve partnered with a medical equipment company and have collected numerous first-aid kits that will be distributed on site.

What’s more, the 4L Trophy is giving us the chance to explore Morocco—none of us has ever had the chance to travel there before—and the desert, a vast expanse that, to us, is still just a movie set (but not for much longer)!!

What’s more, this year, 1,300 teams are expected—that’s 2,600 students—making it a great opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds who are all driven by the same desire to travel and explore… And, of course, to fill our minds with intense and unique memories.

Here's our Facebook page—follow us there to keep up with our adventures:https://www.facebook.com/Equipage4eldorado4lTrophy2014?fref=ts.