Almost exactly a year ago, I stepped off a World Food Programme flight onto the asphalt of Pristina airport in Kosovo to join CARE as its public information officer. I was both excited and daunted to take part in one of the largest humanitarian operations in history being conducted in an area still rocked by violence and instability.

I quickly became inured to the tanks rolling by, the frequent power and water shortages and the continuing reports of clashes in the northern city of Mitrovica, often a flashpoint for ethnic violence. By the time I arrived, CARE was pulling out all the stops to provide emergency shelter to the thousands of homeless Kosovars facing the harsh Balkan winter.

The scale of relief operations was impressive. Trucks loaded with food and firewood navigated mined, dirt tracks to reach distant villages. Mobile clinics were deployed to replace shattered health services. Thousands of tons of timber were hauled in for housing reconstruction. All bore witness not only to the survivors'great need but also the generosity of donors.

As an information officer, I visited CARE's programs throughout the province, catching glimpses into people's lives. Listening to their stories of loss and renewal was at times harrowing, at times enthralling, always humbling.

I was impressed by the energy and determination that Kosovars devoted to rebuilding their homes and their lives. Last winter was the coldest in living memory - minus 22 F - yet thanks to the relief supplies and a lot of grit and determination, people somehow pulled through.

A year later, there are real signs of revival. Behind the CARE office in Pristina is a thoroughfare commonly known as "Burned out Street." All the shops were reduced to ashes last year. Walking along it today, the street is unrecognisable - abuzz with cafes and street vendors, and boasting Pristina's first pizza delivery service.

Out in the villages, farmers reaped a harvest that was smaller than usual, but that harvest went a long way to reducing the need for food aid. Children starting the new school year are doing so in brightly repainted buildings rather than tents. The ever-present danger of landmines remains a real threat though mine casualties are becoming rarer. And, everywhere, new houses are springing up, replacing last year's rubble.

The challenges for the future remain great, however, and fundamental problems are far from resolved. Western governments and non-governmental organizations can help foster the peace-building process, but ultimately change must come from within.

As I look toward my new career, I realize that moving from the development world into the world of diplomacy is not such an unusual step. The two worlds have much to learn from one another. Governments are facing a new era of "humanitarian interventionism." Relief agencies have to deal with the increasing politicization of aid. My experience with CARE will help to ensure, I hope, that I ground my actions in reality and bear in mind the effects decisions have on people's lives.

As I assume new challenges, I will continue to draw inspiration from CARE's core values of respect, integrity, commitment and excellence. Ultimately, I hope my work will complement that of my CARE colleagues to help build a world in which, in the words of CARE Kosovo's vision statement, "people decide their own future, live in peace and tolerance with dignity and mutual respect, and have a strong trust in their future."