It was July 2020, when I decided to join some university friends for sports sessions every weekend. Indeed, we were in Alexandria (Egypt) to study a Master in Development at Senghor University
So every weekend, me and my friends would run along the corniche in Alexandria to meet at the entrance of Montazah Park, opposite the Sheraton Hotel. So it was a weekend routine. Many people came there for various kinds of sports: walks, physical exercises, etc. One day a group of people attracted my attention
One day a group of people caught my attention. This group gathers, starts with a photo session, then stretches and warms up, then runs for about 45 minutes and finally gathers for a final photo session with their banner
It's a bit of a caricature isn't it? That's just how I can sum it up
It was like that, every time I saw this group. One day I was invited to take pictures of them at the beginning of their session as well as at the end. The first contact was thus established. Then, through my friend Johnny Asnan, we were invited to join the group for a full session: photo, warm-up and run. I discover that it is a team called MONTAZAH RUNNERS. A multicultural team that goes beyond sport to promote leadership, diversity and inclusion. I joined immediately
It’s the beginning of a beautiful adventure
MONTAZAH RUNNERS became a new family for me and allowed me to get to know Egypt in a different way: gastronomy, cities, villages, men and women from different backgrounds
MONTAZAH RUNNERS made me love running as a main sport
Although I left Egypt in December 2021 for the Ivory Coast and then Canada, I remain attached to this team of which I am one of the ambassadors. The contact is still intact through Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Strava, JustMove and Couchsurfing
"aaéch MONTAZAH RUNNERS"
