It was a week filled with both historic firsts and longstanding struggles. From celebrations on the grounds of the royal Kensington Palace, to horrendous scenes of the aftermath of an attack on a Mosque in Egypt, pictures from the last seven days inspire feelings across the emotional spectrum. 

Confusion and sadness were visible on the faces of NBC employees reeling from the sudden departure of broadcast host Matt Lauer following allegations of sexual misconduct

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Resilience and joy are clear in images of Rohingya children doing their best to lead normal lives in desperate circumstances. 

Hope and determination are clear from pictures of activists rallying for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and World AIDS day. 

As another weeks draws to an end in 2017, these photos remind us that even in the face of chaos, hardship, and misunderstanding, the will to rise above what challenges us remains a powerful force for good. 


School students stand on a truck as their transport to go to school with the Mount Agung volcano spews smoke and ash in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Nov. 28, 2017. Indonesia authorities raised the alert for the rumbling volcano to highest level on Monday and closed the international airport on the tourist island of Bali stranding some thousands of travelers.
Image: Firdia Lisnawati/AP

1) Bali Volcano Eruption: School students stand on a truck as their transport to go to school with the Mount Agung volcano spews smoke and ash in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Tuesday, November 28. Indonesia authorities raised the alert for the rumbling volcano to highest level on Monday and closed the international airport on the tourist island of Bali stranding some thousands of travelers.

Rohingya Muslim boys kick a soccer ball, homemade from a plastic bag filled with dried grass in the evening at Jamtoli refugee camp on Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, in Bangladesh. Since late August, more than 620,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state into neighboring Bangladesh, where they are living in squalid refugee camps.
Image: Wong Maye-E/AP

2) Rohingya Refugees: Rohingya Muslim boys kick a soccer ball, homemade from a plastic bag filled with dried grass in the evening at Jamtoli refugee camp on Monday, November 27, in Bangladesh. Since late August, more than 620,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state into neighboring Bangladesh, where they are living in squalid refugee camps.

Maria de Jesus Patricio, known as MariChuy, center left, presidential candidate for the National Indigenous Congress, attends a campaign event at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017. Many of Mexico's voiceless, impoverished indigenous people see Patricio as a way to assert their own voice in politics.
Image: Rebecca Blackwell/AP

3) Mexico Indigenous Presidential Candidate: Maria de Jesus Patricio, known as MariChuy, center left, presidential candidate for the National Indigenous Congress, attends a campaign event at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City, Tuesday, November 28. Many of Mexico's voiceless, impoverished indigenous people see Patricio as a way to assert their own voice in politics.

Britain's Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle pose for photographers during a photocall in the grounds of Kensington Palace in London, Nov. 27, 2017. Britain's royal palace says Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle are engaged and will marry in the spring of 2018.
Image: Matt Dunham/AP

4) Royal Engagement: Britain's Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle pose for photographers during a photocall in the grounds of Kensington Palace in London, Monday November 27. Britain's royal palace says Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle are engaged and will marry in the spring of 2018.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women: Women shout slogans during a protest against violence against women to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Madrid, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. The sign at centre reads in Spanish: "Always together".
Image: Francisco Seco/AP

5) International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women: Women shout slogans during a protest against violence against women to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Madrid, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. The sign at centre reads in Spanish: "Always together".

Co-anchors Hoda Kotb, left, and Savannah Guthrie embrace on the set of the "Today" show Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, in New York, after NBC News fired host Matt Lauer. NBC News announced Wednesday that Lauer was fired for "inappropriate sexual behavior."
Image: Craig Ruttle/AP

6) Matt Lauer Sexual Harassment Allegations: Co-anchors Hoda Kotb, left, and Savannah Guthrie embrace on the set of the "Today" show Wednesday, November 29, in New York, after NBC News fired host Matt Lauer. NBC News announced Wednesday that Lauer was fired for "inappropriate sexual behavior." 

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7) Rohingya Refugees: Rohingya Muslim refugees walk through the Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox's Bazar on November 27, 2017. Rohingya are still fleeing into Bangladesh even after an agreement was signed with Myanmar to repatriate hundreds of thousands of the Muslim minority displaced along the border, officials said November 27. The arrangement struck by the neighbours on Thursday raised the prospect of at least 700,000 Rohingya Muslims living in overcrowded camps in southeastern Bangladesh being returned to Myanmar.

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8) World Aids Day: An Indian NGO volunteer lights candles placed on the ground in the shape of a red ribbon during an awareness rally on the eve of World Aids Day in Agartala, the capital of northeastern state of Tripura on November 30.

People take part during a candlelight vigil as they hold national flag for victims of a Friday mosque attack at the Journalists Syndicate, in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017. Friday's assault was Egypt's deadliest attack by Islamic extremists in the country's modern history, a grim milestone in a long-running fight against an insurgency led by a local affiliate of the Islamic State group.
Image: Amr Nabil/AP

9) Egypt Mosque Attack: People take part during a candlelight vigil as they hold national flag for victims of a Friday mosque attack at the Journalists Syndicate, in Cairo, Egypt, November 27. Friday's assault was Egypt's deadliest attack by Islamic extremists in the country's modern history, a grim milestone in a long-running fight against an insurgency led by a local affiliate of the Islamic State group.

Supporters of presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla chant slogans against Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who's running for reelection, as they protest what they call electoral fraud in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. Officials late Wednesday again delayed the announcement of final returns from Honduras' presidential election, while the main opposition candidate vowed not to recognize the official count after the latest partial results edged incumbent President Juan Orlando Hernandez into a razor-thin lead.
Image: Rodrigo Abd/AP

10) Honduras Elections: Supporters of presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla chant slogans against Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who's running for reelection, as they protest what they call electoral fraud in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Thursday, November 30. Officials late Wednesday again delayed the announcement of final returns from Honduras' presidential election, while the main opposition candidate vowed not to recognize the official count after the latest partial results edged incumbent President Juan Orlando Hernandez into a razor-thin lead.

Migrants arrive at the Trapani harbor, Southern Italy, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017 after being rescued by the German non-profit organization Sea Watch.
Image: Johannes Moths/Sea Watch/AP

11) Mediterranean Migrant Crisis: Migrants arrive at the Trapani harbor, Southern Italy, Saturday, November 25 after being rescued by the German non-profit organization Sea Watch.

Afghan men wait in line to receive winter necessities donated by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, (UNHCR) in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. UNHCR distributed winter necessities and cash to as many as 400 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Kabul city.
Image: Rahmat Gul/AP

12) Afghanistan Daily Life: Afghan men wait in line to receive winter necessities donated by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, (UNHCR) in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, November 26. UNHCR distributed winter necessities and cash to as many as 400 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Kabul city.

Ethnic Kachin Catholic devotees gather along a road to see Pope Francis Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, in Yangon, Myanmar ahead of his arrival. Pope Francis begins a six-day visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh on Monday.
Image: Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP

13) Pope Francis in Asia: Ethnic Kachin Catholic devotees gather along a road to see Pope Francis Monday, November 27, in Yangon, Myanmar ahead of his arrival. Pope Francis begins a six-day visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh on Monday.

Women train during the first founding course of women boxing at the Palestinian Boxing Federation in Gaza City, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017.
Image: Adel Hana/AP

14) Women Boxing Classes in Gaza: Women train during the first founding course of women boxing at the Palestinian Boxing Federation in Gaza City, Wednesday, November 29.

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15) Philippines Daily Life: A Philippine boy collects used plastic bottles to be sold at a junk shop at Divisoria market in Manila on November 29.

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16) Elephants in India: Indian villagers look on as a herd of 46 wild elephants walk through the Gangaram Tea Garden, some 23 miles from Siliguri, India on November 29. Asian elephants are listed as endangered animals. As the human population increases the natural habitat of the elephants get destroyed and they are forced to move in farming areas where causing damage to crops.

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Demand Equity

16 Powerful Photos from Around the World This Week

By Olivia Kestin  and  Andrew McMaster