other side of fighting, Kabul - Svetlana Dojcinovic Photography

Afghanistan has been in a war for over 40 years. These men have their own fight, a fight for peace. They joined the gym and a wresting club in order to escape the horrors of war and the gloomy presence of insecurity.

A portrait of coach Qulam Abbas Adina

The Maiwand Wrestling club was attacked by suicide bombers from the Islamic State on the September 28, 2018. At least 20 people were killed and 70 wounded in the assault.

Coach Abbas was severely wounded and lost his arm in the attack.

Coach Abbas is showing the exact place of the bomb blast

"I still practice, but can't go to the ropes. I am a mentor now, I motivate the kids to continue coming, not to give up easily and to keep on dreaming."

He says that there are good and sometimes bad days. When those bad days come, he suffers from strong pain and headaches.But children bring him back to the right path, to life.

"It's because of them I keep on fighting and shall fight as long as I breathe."

A Hazara man lifts weight in the gym

Kabul, Afghanistan

The Hazara have suffered oppression and persecution in Afghanistan. During the 1990s, thousands were killed by Al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters. They are now often targeted by groups close to IS.

TheTaliban have declared the Hazaras are “non-Muslims“ .