Afghan mum completes university exam while nursing her baby

A photo of an Afghan woman completing a university exam while cradling her baby has struck a chord around the world.

Jahantab Ahmadi, a farmer from Afghanistan’s Daikundi province, had her heart set on studying sociology at a private university in Kabul.

The mother of three sat the entrance examination earlier this month with her youngest child in her arms, who began to cry.

Not wanting to disturb her peers, Ahmadi moved to the ground in order to feed the two-month-old infant as she continued the test.

The professor monitoring the exam, Yahya Erfan, captured some photos of the moment, telling BuzzFeed News the young mum had been “amazing”. 

His photos were soon shared widely on social media, with many voicing their admiration of Ahmadi.

“Afghan women are unstoppable,” one woman tweeted.

Speaking to AFP after the story began gaining momentum, Ahmadi said she’d travelled two hours on foot and nine on public transport in order to sit the exam.

“I want to work outside the house. I want to become a doctor, someone who serves women in my community or society,” she said.

LISTEN: The Life Bites podcast on the importance of women supporting one another. (Post continues.)

Though she passed her exam, Ahmadi had concerns about affording the university fees and undertaking the 10-hour trip from her village to Kabul, as there is no road for cars.

Learning of her situation, UK-based charity Afghan Youth Association launched a GoFundMe campaign to fund her three years of study.

“[Taab] doesn't only face the financial challenges but social challenges in the Afghan society,” the group writes. 

“One of our objectives here in the AYA is to promote women empowerment - it is a good cause to help her succeed for she is breaking the boundaries.”

Within a week, the charity surpassed its fundraising goal of $AU18,000, and pledges to send the money directly to Ahmadi or to her university.