Kinshasa, DRC (CNN) -- Kinshasa hasn't had an easy time of it. A decade ago, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo was a broken city, ravaged by years of war and infighting. Of late, however, Kinshasa has witnessed a resurgence, with many expatriated Congolese returning to build a new city. 

"When I came back, people thought I was crazy. "[They would ask], 'why would you go into a country where there is war? Where nothing is working? Why not stay in the States and make your life?'" says Joss Ilunga Dijimba, who returned to Kinshasa in 1996 after studying in America. Today, Dijimba runs his own eponymous business, manufacturing plastic bottles for the pharmaceutical industry. 

"In the USA, everything has been done -- everything. In Congo, there is still a way to make things right. I am a Congolese. If I'm not going to make it, who's going to?" 

In agreement is Olivier Ndombasi, who always planned on building his fortune in his homeland. Like his elder brothers, he studied abroad in the hope of bringing back knowledge that could improve the family business: groceries. His father's small store has now turned into a supermarket franchise called Peloustore, with four locations and more on the way. 

"It's very exciting to be able to do things in a new environment, and do things you didn't think you'd be able to do," says Ndombasi. 

"The challenge is great, but it's very exciting." 

Many agree that there are obstacles, but returnees often cite the exhilaration of starting with a clean slate. 
How recently has the area gotten better?
exhilaration of starting