CAIRO: Marwa Elselehdar has change into the primary lady to work as a sea captain in Egypt.
As a little bit lady, Elselehdar all the time cherished the ocean and loved swimming.
She enrolled within the Arab Academy for Science, Expertise and Maritime Transport in Egypt and joined the Worldwide Transport and Logistics Division, however she was extra drawn to the curriculum that was being taught to her brother within the Division of Maritime Transport and Expertise.
The division was restricted to males, however she nonetheless submitted an software to affix and was ultimately accepted, turning into the primary Egyptian lady to review on this division.
Elselehdar’s brother and mom supported her dream of turning into the primary feminine captain in Egypt. Her father, whereas extra apprehensive due to the difficulties within the discipline, didn’t object to her research. She thus started the formalities to affix the division, and her distinctive request was submitted to the president of the academy for consideration.
The president known as for analysis in maritime regulation to confirm the potential of issuing a captain’s license to her, because it was the primary case of its form. After ensuring that the regulation didn’t pose restrictions, examinations started.
Elselehdar handed the bodily and medical exams, in addition to private interviews, proving her capability to be in management and handle various conditions, and he or she joined the division like another pupil.
I confronted difficulties in adapting, particularly throughout the first 12 months, however the encouragement from these round me — and my very own capability to imagine in my dream — helped me overcome these challenges.
Marwa Elselehdar
“I began my journey within the division as the one lady amongst 1,200 college students. I confronted difficulties in adapting, particularly throughout the first 12 months, however the encouragement from these round me — and my very own capability to imagine in my dream — helped me overcome these challenges, and I graduated in 2013,” she stated.
After her commencement, Elselehdar joined the crew of the AIDA IV ship, with the rank of the second officer.
On the time of the opening ceremony of the brand new Suez Canal, she utilized to register as a part of the crew that will lead the AIDA IV within the celebrations. Her request was accepted, and he or she ready along with her colleagues for the ceremony.
On the day of the ceremony, she led the AIDA IV — the primary ship to cross the brand new shipping route — because the youngest and first Egyptian feminine captain to cross the Suez Canal.
Elselehdar has been working within the discipline for 10 years. She defined that the share of ladies in related maritime positions doesn’t exceed 2 % worldwide, including that being the primary Egyptian lady on this regard was a terrific honor for her and noting that many ladies adopted her instance and entered the sector after her.
In 2017, Elselehdar was honored on Girls’s Day by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
She expressed her pleasure on this honor, seeing it not solely as a type of appreciation from the state for what she has carried out but in addition as an illustration of the state’s curiosity in empowering Egyptian ladies and putting them in management positions. Not too long ago, Egyptian ladies have began collaborating in lots of occupations that have been historically male-dominated.
The Encyclopedia of Arab-African Financial Integration selected Elselehdar among the many high 20 Arab ladies when it comes to achievement.
Elselehdar stated that the boat she is now engaged on is owned by the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Security, affiliated with the Egyptian authorities and managed by the Arab Academy for Science, Expertise and Maritime Transport.
“Not like quick flights, cruises might be lengthy and arduous and may take as much as a month or extra. In fact, on these journeys, I’m the one lady amongst my fellow males.
“To start with, it was considerably tough, however we later grew to become one crew, and we cut up duties equally. And due to the size of those journeys, all of us change into like siblings,” she added.
Now virtually 30 years previous, Elselehdar goals of acquiring a grasp’s diploma and a Ph.D. She additionally hopes that marriage and having a household is not going to hinder her profession.
