CAIRO: She enrolled within the Arab Academy for Science, Know-how 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 Know-how.
The division was restricted to males, however she nonetheless submitted an software to affix and was finally accepted, turning into the primary Egyptian girl 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 legislation to confirm the potential for issuing a captain’s license to her, because it was the primary case of its type. After ensuring that the legislation didn’t pose restrictions, examinations started.
Elselehdar handed the bodily and medical checks, in addition to private interviews, proving her capability to be in management and handle numerous conditions, and he or she joined the division like every other scholar.
I confronted difficulties in adapting, particularly throughout the first 12 months, however the encouragement from these round me — and my very own capability to consider in my dream — helped me overcome these challenges.
Marwa Elselehdar
“I began my journey within the division as the one girl 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 consider in my dream — helped me overcome these challenges, and I graduated in 2013,” she mentioned.
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 p.c worldwide, including that being the primary Egyptian girl on this regard was an ideal 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 finished but additionally as an illustration of the state’s curiosity in empowering Egyptian ladies and inserting them in management positions. Just lately, 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 mentioned 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, Know-how and Maritime Transport.
“Not like quick flights, cruises could be lengthy and arduous and may take as much as a month or extra. After all, on these journeys, I’m the one girl amongst my fellow males.
“At first, it was considerably troublesome, however we later turned one workforce, and we cut up duties equally. And due to the size of those journeys, all of us turn out to be like siblings,” she added.
Now virtually 30 years outdated, 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.