I arrived in Afghanistan for the first time in July 2015. On arrival I was apprehensive, expecting bullets to fly and bombs to explode at any moment. Yet, the calm of the environment in which I landed surprised me.
In the midst of the conflict-affected country, I witnessed hard-working, peace-loving people going about their lives, seemingly unperturbed by the conflict. They come out every day to eke out a living, driven by steadfast hope and deep-rooted determination, to rebuild their lives and their local economies.