Wista winners bring home global experience

IT’S been an exhilarating three months for Shaaista Rahim and Lwandile Ndima who are now back in Durban after a three month trip to Europe as part of the first ever Women's International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) mentorship programme. Selected from more than 800 candidates who applied to the organisation that promotes women in shipping, they worked in nine different organisations in South Africa before flying to Rotterdam to attend the annual WISTA conference. They subsequently spent a few months as interns with a range of international companies. Ndima holds a B. Com degree and is about to write her final exams in Maritime Transport economics. Rahim has a certificate in marine studies and a post graduate diploma in maritime law. She is currently studying towards the Foundation Diploma in Shipping through the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. Prior to attending the conference she was a freight invoicing clerk with Mediterranean Shipping. The goal of this programme, which originated in South Africa, is to assist young women to gain local and international exposure through mentoring by established WISTA members. This will assist in facilitating the skill transfer and development of these women in the South African shipping industry.