Like many college students, Elizabeth O'Neill '08 is heading to a warmer climate for spring break: Morocco. But she has not reserved tickets aboard any plane, train or bus. O'Neill, who is spending the semester studying at Cambridge University in England, will set out on foot and plans to reach Africa using only her thumb.
O'Neill will hitchhike to raise money for Link Community Development, a British nonprofit that works to improve education in Africa. Last year 676 students, mostly British, took part in the sponsored journey. The event is in its 16th year and has raised nearly 1.2 million pounds, or roughly $2.3 million, according to the organization's Web site. The organization works to improve the scope and quality of education in over 500 rural schools in Ghana, Uganda, Malawi and South Africa.
Along with her friend Matt Owens, a Cambridge first-year student, O'Neill will depart from southern England on March 26. A ferry will take them to France - from there, they will have to rely on their thumbs and other people's generosity to carry them south through Spain and into Africa. They have planned no specific route in advance.
The trip should take the pair about five days, O'Neill said, though they allowed themselves 10 days when booking the flight back to England.
O'Neill's goal is to raise 600 pounds for LCD. Through creative fundraising, she is a third of the way there.
At first, O'Neill stood out on the street asking passersby for money. But policemen soon forced her to stop because they considered her requests begging, which is illegal in Cambridge.
The only way to ask for money on the street is to "provide music or some street performance," O'Neill said, "but I can't play (an instrument) so I have to resort to poetry reading or rapping." She plans to try reading children's poetry or nursery rhymes while holding a sign that says "poetry vs. poverty."
On one occasion, she wrote a rap song to perform at a bar in Cambridge. The lyrics include "We'll sleep in a ditch/ we'll eat straight pitch/ cuz when you're hitchin/ you don't bring no kitchen," and "We need 600 pounds/ For an organization/ That's workin in Africa/ developin' nations."
"I appear just as ludicrous performing this thing as you imagine," O'Neill said.
One of O'Neill's objectives in getting involved with the hitch was "getting to know people I wouldn't meet otherwise." She said the positive response to her fundraising efforts has surprised her.
"Begging in the street has been a wonderful experience. My objective is to make people happy. They walk by and smile, say howdy, and a surprising number donate money. People have been friendly and curious, and I've met a lot of random people who are interested," she said.
LCD is not O'Neill's first exposure to community service. She has been involved with many social justice projects in the past and has traveled to New Orleans and Haiti do relief work. She heard about LCD when she saw a flyer for "the hitch" as she was looking for something to do over spring break.
"LCD has a good philosophy about social justice activities. They're committed to working with the government and communities in a long-term way. Education is an investment," O'Neill said.
Though many consider hitchhiking a dangerous activity, LCD's Web site says the 3,100 hitchhikers who have participated over 15 years have experienced no major safety concerns. An average "hitcher" needs about 15 rides to reach Morocco.
Safety precautions include a 24-hour "hitch hotline" that tracks participants and a mandatory group minimum of two travelers, one of whom must be male.
O'Neill acknowledged that "hitchhiking does have its risks. ... My main concern is the drivers we'll deal with." But, she said, "There are risks with any travel. I was going to travel Europe on my own as an alternative, so it's safer to travel with somebody."
