Meet a teacher in Nigeria whose lessons aren’t just focused on reading and math. She also teaches her students to cope with living through conflict. 

Offered refuge by the United States, 24-year-old Nelson Versailles Rieu is now serving his new country in the Air Force, where his patriotic spirit caught the attention of the Commander in Chief himself.

The IRC brings together groups of girls to explore their power and potential and cultivate essential skills. Paired with mentors from their community, each girl expands her idea of what is possible, creates a vision for herself, and develops a strategic plan for achieving it.

Up to a million people are trapped inside Mosul as Iraqi forces fight to retake the city from ISIS. One resident speaks about the dire situation and his fears of being targeted by snipers if he tries to flee.

In the face of a brutal war—and the anti-refugee agendas pushed by some politicians—resilient Syrians are enduring the unimaginable and generous communities are taking them in. Here are 10 moments from 2016 that gave us a glimpse of the best of humanity.