In 2011, for 18 days from January 25 until the fall of Mubarak’s regime, I was present in Tahrir Square daily, working as a photojournalist for the independent Shorouk Newspaper and witnessing how events unfolded.

It was a pivotal turning point in Egypt’s history, and the events that followed reshaped much in the country and in people’s lives.

At that time, the square was a small version of Egypt itself, where people from all different backgrounds came together, living, chanting and sleeping in the same space. For many those 18 days felt like a dream, and I was lucky to witness such a historic moment.

What came after may not have been the outcome we had hoped for, and the change was not necessarily for the better on a national scale. Yet, I saw up close the profound personal transformation that occurred for many individuals close to me.

For me, being a witness to those days remains a source of pride and gratitude.