In Iraq, children have seen horrible tragedies in their own neighborhoods on an almost daily basis. While witnessing destruction and killings so often might mentally scar and traumatize most people, one girl who grew up in Baghdad found a way to survive the horrors of war. She blogged about cats.

Raged Zaid said, “I was curious about the American and European reaction towards the Iraqis after the war. I wanted to reach out to the world and tell them what happened to us. I wanted them to know that we are good people and we have been wronged. I wanted to make friends with the world.”

Now 23 and recently graduated from college with an architecture degree, she still remembers why she started her blog, how it and she changed as her country endured its episodes of violence and rebuilding.

To read more about the girl who blogged about kittens, click here.