The world has been shaken with the spiral events in Afghanistan. To some of us, familiar with the country, it wasn't a total surprise. However, the speed (and how events unfolded) was. These past few days, I reached out to friends and former colleagues who still live there. More than ever, I think constantly about my time spent in Afghanistan in 2017 and all the people I met there. Back then I remember being hopeful despite the grim reality on the ground. I hoped that all that militarization would come to an end eventually. I saw roses blooming inside the barbed wires and children playing with kites. I saw beauty and immense hospitality in the midst of despair.  I met people who wanted to believe better days were ahead. It was always clear - to say that the Afghans were tired of the war is an understatement.  Every time I would ask an Afghan what they wanted for their country, the response was always the same: peace, a normal life, a chance to live without fear, to work and not depend on handouts, to heal a country wounded for too long. Yet, for many decades, history was not on their side. 

While in Afghanistan I was inspired to start Rena Roots, our drop to support the wonderful initiative of planting roses (instead of opium) and supporting livelihoods. Jobs always lead to empowerment and dignity over aid dependency.  I was hopeful then and I want to be hopeful now as improbable as it may seem. However, I am heartbroken. There are no winners in war. To quote a friend, “in the past decades we have surely learned how conflicts are created but we have forgotten how they are resolved.”

As Afghanistan enters a new era, I want to be filled with less fear and more hope. It is hard to do that now. But I want to believe that peace will prevail, new hopes will be born, and that women will sit as equals with men to rebuild and put together the pieces that remain.

 Peace,