It is 12:00 at noon in June 2024, and daily labourers have spread along the Corniche main road in Aswan city; some are breaking the old pavements using their heavy hammers, while others carry the debris... everyone is trying to earn their livelihood through conducting the Corniche development works as part of the government’s plan to improve the city. All this hard work is done under the scorching sun, in the city that recorded the highest temperatures ever in the world, reaching 49.6 degrees Celsius in the shade, according to the Egyptian Meteorological Authority.
As the workers hammer and carry and simmer under the sun, pedestrians cut through them seeing to their daily errands, whereas some stand next to the workers in groups waiting to take the bus.
Everybody is knees deep in their daily lives on the Corniche pavement, while the sun’s heat adds to their burdens, here comes a young man named Mohamed Khodier Mohamed, breaking this familiar scene with a bright smile, he introduces himself to the workers and passersby, carrying cups of chilled juice and water, giving them out to everyone.
Hence Mohamed’s, known as “Al-Masry”, initiative was born; he makes it his mission to prepare and hand out chilled juice and water to passersby in many of Aswan’s streets every day, during the hot noon hours.
“Due to the nature of my work I’m able to be at the street every day giving out juice and water”, then he explains, “I do freelance jobs, besides being a member and central lecturer at the General Authority for Cultural Palaces, I’m also a vernacular poet.”
Mohamed targets many areas in Aswan, such as Corniche, Al-Siel, Matlaa Al-Sadaqa, Al-Aqqad, and the surroundings of the general hospital; his main motive is to help the elderly fight summer’s heat, especially in places of gatherings and bus stations, also daily labourers and bank and post office patrons.
Budgets and Boycotting
Commenting on the quantities Al-Masry gives out daily, he says, “I don’t have like a daily quota, it depends on the numbers of people in the streets I frequent in the day; I buy around 30 packets, with 360 bottles, which I give out in two days, more or less, my budget is probably between 600 and 1000 EGP a day.”
Of course, Al-Masry’s initiative faces many challenges, starting from him insisting on buying water bottles’ brands for companies not enlisted among those supporting the Israeli occupation forces, and at first, searching for stores that would adhere to the boycott was arduous.
“I met a big merchant who gave me an Egyptian brand water bottles, until he ran out of them. Of course, in addition to finding local brands, there is the challenge of transportation; I use my motorbike to buy water, fruits, and cups, and I am forced, after preparing the juice, to do many rounds in order to transfer the quantity I’m aiming to give out, as I do my best to deliver fresh fruit juice,” said Al-Masry.
Donations
Al-Masry clarifies that this is a one-man-initiative, but some days, his friend, Maysa Salah, offers a hand by using her private car to distribute the beverages. She always encourages Al-Masry to do charity and buys the required ingredients through donations. Al-Masry adds that, at first, he depended on his friends to share and reshare posts about his initiative on Facebook to raise funds, and sometimes people donate money, sometimes water or canned juice.
This charitable initiative to help people fight summer’s heat did not stop at giving out water and juice, Al-Masry aims now at fixing water coolers in different streets, using the help of refrigeration technicians; he is already collecting their data and contacting them.
Warm Welcome
“I wish all shops and commercial stores would put small water coolers in front of their doors, to help passersby bear the summer’s heat, as with current temperatures, we need to provide people with water wherever. I want to assure the owners that people welcome my initiative with great enthusiasm; people smile happily and hug me even when I hand them juice or water, also me committing to boycotting Israel supporters is met with great appreciation by the people of Aswan,” commented Al-Masry.
