This green sports initiative is one for the books. In collaboration with Very Nile, the rowing school known as ScullnBlades is hosting a rowing class and Nile cleanup event in one. Yeah, it is exactly what it sounds like. Event-goers and rowers-in-progress will be able to learn the basics behind the water sport and take part in cleaning Egypt’s lifeline in one go.

The event will be held on March 7th - in honour of Women’s Day the following day - at the Maadi Sports and Yacht Club. The school joined forces with environmental cleanup group VeryNile to get the know-how and supplies to carry out their new green concept. According to Mohamed Shiba, a rowing instructor at the school, they’re even planning to permanently install a cleaning net on their boats so that they have a continued cleaning effect on the river whenever they hit the water.

ScullnBlades was founded by two professional rowers and members of the national rowing team, Asmaa Zohairy and Ali Alaa, in 2018. They’ve since been teaching Cairenes all over town how to work up a sweat using our treasured Nile waters. “I’m not just passionate about rowing as a sport, most people don’t realize that it’s also a way to see our city from a different point of view," Zohairy told us. "We have the Nile running through all of Cairo, why not see it from somewhere other than the streets?”

As a way to give back to the water that gives so much not only to our city residents, but also to rowers every day, ScullnBlades wanted to do their part to take care of our river the way it has taken care of them. If you’re interested in rowing for a cause, you can contact them at 01140637023.