Facebook photo helps Afghanistan’s Jahan Taab go to college

Kabul: The dream of getting education now seems to be fulfilled for 25-year-old Afghan woman, Jahan Taab, who wrote an entrance examination while holding her two-month-old baby in arms. She had appeared in the exam for a social science course at Nasirkhosraw Higher Education Institute in Nilli.

A photograph of hers writing the exam on March 15 while nursing her baby went viral and a social media page and many appealed others to raise money for her course. Yahya Erfan, the lecturer who was invigilating had posted her photograph on Facebook, that was praised by several social media users across different channels.

A report of Associated Press quoted, “Taab walked until her feet were blistered and bruised and then sat for 10 hours with her infant daughter cradled on her lap in a bus over rugged rocky roads. She took the exam and scored 152 out of a possible 200.”

“I wanted to get my education, so I could help my village, change my village. I want to help my society. But first I wanted it for my children, so one day they could be educated,” Taab said.

A small non-governmental organisation, run by Zahra Yagana has said Taab’s picture inspired Yagana to get her into a university. Taab had met with Farkhunda Zahra Naderi, an adviser to President Ghani, will now get support from Naderi, who is paying Taab’s university tuition fee. While Sarwar Danish, vice president will be paying Taab her rent of the house where her family resides in Kabul.