After 10 years of war, what started as a part time job or a leisure spent in his fathers’ work shop, became a livelihood for the 32 years old Christapor, who had other plans for his life, and not in a million years could imagine what the war would bring him and his family. 

Back then, Christapor, a business administration student and his brother were young and ambitious and in their spare time they would join their father in his workshop and help as much as they could. Everything was good until the war broke into Aleppo city in 2012 and things took a different turn. 

Soon they lost their workshop and equipment as the whole area was occupied by armed militants, he recalls their last day in the workshop saying: “It was a Saturday, news spread that they were getting closer but we didn’t think for a second that it would be our last day. We closed our workshop that day and everything was gone, we didn’t have any chance to take our belongings”.  

Losing their livelihood was not the biggest loss, later in 2013, when both Christapor and his brother were away for their mandatory military service, they heard the devastating news of their father being hit by a mortar shell, he immediately came home to see his father but unfortunately, the old man passed away affected by his wounds. 

The young man was not discharged until 2015, he did not have any place to work and earn a living. He was left with no option except working in the streets with the few equipment he borrowed from friends. 

The first spark of hope was when the armed groups retreated from Bustan Al-Basha, Christapor thought that restoring his workshop was once again possible. He heard about micro projects and that strengthened his hope despite the massive destruction which the workshop was subjected to.

The Project was established and the rest was history. Christapor and his brother rolled up their sleeves and did not hesitate to dive into the hard work. Some of the equipment they were able to purchase were essential parts of their job, while some additional tools like the computer scan devise enabled them to expand the services their workshops offered and thus increase their customer flow and income. At that time Christapor was single, living with his brother’s family that consisted of four. But since then, a lot has changed.

Today, six months have passed since the opening of his workshop and work-wise he was mastering his job increasing his skills and introducing new services to the workshop. However, the more exciting news were concerning his personal life. Now that he had some financial stability, Christapor, has rehabilitated his destroyed house, and got married and soon he will become a father.

Having a family means also having more responsibility specially with a baby on the way, Christapor says that his family is what gives him strength to keep going. Christapor explains saying: “I am blessed to have an amazing family, and a source of income, but this doesn’t mean that I do not get worried about tomorrow, how will I provide for my family, how could I endure the lack of fuel and how will I make ends meet”. With the current bad situation Christapor and all Syrians are in daily struggle to survive. With currency depreciation that broke the records and one hour of electricity, the cost of generator fees is the highest ever with and with no fuel for transportation or for heating houses life in Syria is paralyzed. Slowly life is becoming impossible with the population striving in silence left with nothing but their hope and willpower and the support of those who stand by the good and righteous.