Pekai has four children and is at the hospital in Maidan Shar for an examination. She has attended a health education course financed by Swedish development assistance.

“When I heard about the advantages of family planning, I convinced my husband to let me use it in some form. I also talked to my mother-in-law – it was hard to convince her, but I did,” says Pekai.

Attended school in secret
Civilian-military cooperation
Sole female ambassador