Rowing - Past, Present and Future

Natasha Howard, UK volunteer and Olympic rower, coaches rowers in Seenu

   Natasha Howard Interview 

Blogger Question1: What are two challenges in conducting your rowing program in the Maldives?

Tash: Getting equipment as it must be brought from abroad, and facilities to store the equipment.

Commentary: Did you know that “rowing was once the primary form of transportation between islands in the Maldives before the widespread introduction of diesel engines to the country during the 1980s” (minivannews.com)? Wouldn’t be great if Maldivian craftsmen were able to make their own sculling boats for the Maldives rowing needs?

Blogger Question 2: As a volunteer serving in the Maldives, what are the two things you want to accomplish for 2013?

Tash: Get more community involvement by organizing competitions for the community and building a facility to store equipment. This includes an office and changing room, in Hithadhoo.

Commentary – Natasha receives a lot of support from the community, and people are very helpful and show enthusiasm for the rowing program. Natasha and the community conduct fund-raising events for the rowing team’s needs. Addu City Council and Education Unit have been of great assistance as well in supporting this opportunity.

Recently, two students, Ibrahim Sharu-u (Feydhoo School) and Fathimath Hasna Hassan (Addu High School) competed in the South Korean hosted Asian 2012 Olympic Qualification Regatta. See pictures of the event at worldrowing.com. 

While at the Regatta, Natasha explained, “The great thing about being here is that every country has started in a similar fashion to the Maldives – coming to take part in their first ever international event when facilities and knowledge were still in their infancy so they can remember what it was like and are incredibly supportive of our team” said Natasha (minivannews.com).

  Children playing in Bokkura in Fuahmulah

Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bokkura-Fua_Mulaku.jpg

Commentary: Bokkura is a very small row boat maximum 4 persons to board, mainly used to fish near the shores and lagoons. It is used by fishermen and others for transporting fish, their belongings and goods between anchored boats and shores if they don’t have a jetty on the Island. Before the introduction of out board engines, people used oars to move it. Now many use 2.5HP outboard engines in their Bokkura. (http://maldivesseafood.com/pt/tag/fishing-boats/).