The Author

Samina Vabo Ansari is an Afghan–Norwegian peacebuilder, storyteller, and community weaver whose journey stretches from the war-marked streets of Kabul to the stillness of the Norwegian fjords. Trained as a lawyer and led by a devotion to culture and justice, she has worked at the crossroads of diplomacy, human rights, and innovation with global institutions.

Her work has carried her across continents and causes. She has safeguarded Afghan heritage along the old Silk Road, advised on emerging technologies and sustainable development in Europe, and uplifted women entrepreneurs and artisans throughout Central Asia.

Samina has led international teams, advised governments and social enterprises, and helped bring the voices of artists, storytellers, and systems thinkers to global forums.

She has spoken on the TEDx stages and at international gatherings, and her work has been featured in the New York Times, France 24, Spiegel, and Vogue. Her reflections on peacebuilding, women’s rights, and Afghanistan’s political history have appeared in The Diplomat, ToloNews, and several Norwegian publications.

In her writing, she weaves memoir, history, psychology, spirituality, and political insight to reveal the human stories that lie beneath geopolitical events.

When the Almond Trees Bloom is her debut book on resilience, belonging, and the truth that peace must take root within before it can flourish in the world beyond.