Micro-Projects is a livelihood-support program which helps family providers who had either lost their livelihood during the war, or aspire to be a productive and financially independent part of the community by starting their own income generating business. By financing their micro-projects, Christian Hope Center is helping Christian families to have a sustainable source of income, through the provision of equipment, machinery and tools. This will eventually mitigate the economic harm caused by increasing poverty and insecurity, preserve their dignity, and alleviate the calamities of war and the economic crisis, which will ultimately preserve the existence of an active Christian community in Syria. In addition to the Micro-Projects supported in Cities of Aleppo, Homs and Damascus, the program also supports families who rely on agriculture as their principal source of income in rural Homs.


702

Aleppo

704

Homs

324

Damascus

Barbershop


Mardiros a young barber with seven years of experience, he lives with his mother and bears the sole responsibility of being the family's breadwinner. As a talent in his craft, Mardiros was longing for the security and independence that came with owning his own barbershop. However, the lack of supportive environment and economic challenges of the country left him hesitant to take the leap. He meticulously calculated every aspect, and despite numerous attempts, he remained doubtful as it posed a...


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Photography and design


Nancy Samaan, an ambitious young girl from Tartous, graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts and later relocated with her family to Aleppo. Nancy always had a clear vision of her passion for graphic design and poured her heart and soul into her work.

At a young age, in 2018, Nancy started her career as a graphic designer. However, she soon realized that her previous job didn't provide the opportunities she needed to improve her skills and profession. Determined to grow,...


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Electrician


Elias Zerz, is a skilled electric technician. He learned the tricks of the trade from his father, who unfortunately passed away in 2014. Elias gained over 17 years of valuable experience working alongside his father. Now he works in the shop which his father had established back in 1983, specialized in various electrical services. After the loss of his father, Elias faced many challenges, but with unwavering determination and sheer hard work, he managed to open new doors of opportunity.

Seeking...


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Events Decoration


George Shahda is a hardworking craftsman and a father to two adorable children. His work revolves around a unique concept in the domain of event planning and decorations. George used to have a shop in Homs where he began his initial work, but he had to sell his father's workshop to move to Aleppo for university. During the war, he relocated to Lebanon, where he continued working in event planning and decoration.

George strongly believes that with creativity and hard work,...


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Optometry Center


Antoine, an optician specialized in eyewear lens making, has garnered extensive experience over the years. He is an incredibly optimistic man, brimming with energy and enthusiasm. His work holds immense significance for him, as he takes great pride in delivering his work with utmost precision, striving to ensure that it is free from any errors. Since 2000, he has been operating his shop, situated in a mid-density area. While the location might not attract a high volume of foot traffic,...


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Videographer


Jan lives with his parents in their modest house. The father is an employee working at Al-Kalima Hospital, and the mother is a housewife so he is the only provider of income for the family

Jan’s family has been through a lot in the past 10 years; during the war his father got hit by a shrapnel in his waist and a shell hit their building’s roof but, thankfully their house was only slightly damaged. Then his mother got severely infected by...


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Spraying Wood Furniture


Ebrahim’s life hasn’t been easy at any time, gaining money has always been hard; he had to change his job several times because of the poor economic and living conditions. Ebrahim is the only breadwinner for the family, he lives with his wife, son and daughter in the family’s house.

During the war, the family was displaced for four years to Latakia until the area settled and as a result of the earthquake, their house was damaged and they were evacuated

He started...


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Painter


Patricia's dream is to display her paintings in an exhibition

Patricia’s painting journey began as a hobby to fill her leisure time, however it didn’t take her long to be discovered and recognized by her circle and her teachers have always been her supporters.

Patricia lives in a modest house with her mother (a housewife) and her father who is a worker in a printing press in the Sheikh Najjar area with being the only source of the house’s income. Before the...


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Nail Care Kit


Amal lives with her mother and sister. Her father (who is separated from the mother) is not responsible for them.

In 2013, they were displaced from their home more than once because of the war and the high rental prices. Her sister, is currently an employee and her mother is a housewife.

Amal started her career by working for several companies, then she took a nail art course and after that she started working at a Beauty Center for 3 years and...


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Silver Crafting


“Working from young age helped me gain experience and become a successful craftsman” 

Garo is a single man who lives with his parents and his brother who helps him provide for the household.

Garo started working in a goldsmith workshop back when he was only fifteen years old and he liked this profession and decided to continue in it. In 2010 Garo and his brother took over their father’s workshop to increase their income and gain independence, gradually they equipped the workshop...


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Sewing Machines


“Life is full of difficulties, but these difficulties are strengthening me” that’s what Majda said, when she summarized her life.

Majda is 58, she lives alone. She has been working in the field of sewing in so many professional workshops from young age and her journey have started from being a worker for several years all the way to opening her own business. Due to her health condition (knee joint problems) she needs is flexible working schedule.

Her earnings were slightly decreased after...


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Car Tuning Equipment


Sarkis lives with his wife and his mother; his wife is an employee at a school but soon she will take maternity leave because she is pregnant, his mother is a caregiver for an elderly woman.

Sarkis’s profession is car tuning, he started as a worker back when he was in his early twenties in the Bustan Al-Basha area and stayed in the area until it became unsafe and he had to find another job in a safer region, after a long...


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Beauty Salon


Hala, a wife and mother of four daughters in Qattinah village, faced the challenge of supporting her family as her husband battled health issues requiring joint replacement surgery. 

With determination, she utilized her skills, working tirelessly at her hair salon for over 5 years. Recognizing the potential to expand her small business, Hala's daughters joined her in the salon, and she pursued additional training in nail care and makeup.

Eager to transform her project into a thriving beauty salon, Hala applied to...


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Cotton Clothes


Rana, from Al-Qaryatayn village, endured the horrors of war, facing abduction and loss after armed groups kidnapped her, she spent a harrowing month in captivity, losing her husband in the war. 

Left with the responsibility of two young sons, they fled to Zaidal village and later settled in Fairouza. In 2017, with humble beginning and assistance from kind individuals, Rana initiated her cotton clothes business from home and despite the challenges, she persevered for the sake of her children. 

Seeking a better future, she applied to the Micro Projects Program, aspiring to enhance her inventory and alleviate her family's hardships. Rana's resilience shines as she strives for a dignifies life for herself and her sons. 

Mini Pick-up Truck


Rawad faced the harsh reality of life after completing his chemistry degree amid the 2011 war. His nine-year mandatory military service left him with two job shifts; a small shop where he produced detergents and his work as an employee, but they both barely covered the essentials for his family; wife Ranim and 5-year-old son Ronny. 

Determined to secure a better future, he wanted a mini pick-up truck to distribute the cleaning materials he made to local businesses like restaurants and car cleaning workshops. However, the financial strain from years in the military hindered his dream. With the invaluable support of the Micro Projects Program, enabled him to advertise and sell his quality cleaning products and ensure a stable living for his family. 

Nail Care Kit


In the village of Qattinah, Vivian and George's life took a heartbreaking turn during the ravages of war. George, serving his mandatory military duty, fell victim to a cruel explosion, robbing him of his sight. Vivian, now the family's sole provider, possessed a talent for nail care. 

Yet, life's hardships continued and lacking the essential tools for her craft pushed her to borrow from a friend to serve her clients. The burden of a rented house further strained their fragile situation....


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Plastering Equipment


For over 25 years, Amer dedicated himself to his profession, wall plastering. Married to Mirvat, with a daughter and a son, he supported not only his immediate family but also his mother and brother, his partner in work. 

Disaster struck two years ago when a construction site fire destroyed Amer's equipment. Things worsened when his essential electric bike was stolen. Unable to afford replacements, he had to rely on friends' equipment for work. 

The Micro Projects Program became a glimmer of hope,...


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Hair Salon


In the village of Qattinah, Sonia, a devoted wife and mother of three, embarked on her hairstyling journey in 2000. After a decade honing her skills, she transitioned to working independently from home in 2011, supporting her growing family. 

In 2023, with her savings in hand, she made a bold decision to reopen a salon. Her husband, the sole provider for his parents and disabled sister, inspired her to contribute to their livelihood.

Seeking assistance from the Micro Projects Program, she applied for support with basic tools, materials, and an electric generator. With this helping hand, Sonia's salon flourished, bringing stability. The Micro Projects Program played a pivotal role in transforming Sonia's dreams into a thriving reality. 

Dental Clinic


Joud, the only son in a small family, took a leap towards his dreams through the Micro Projects Program. His family lives in a rented house, with his father who works as an employee, his mother managing the home, and his sister, a student in the 11th grade.

Armed with a dentistry degree in 2022, he dove into the workforce immediately, joining a dental care center due to financial constraints preventing the family from opening a private clinic. The Micro Projects...


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Mini-Market


In the village of Qattinah, Mouna's life took an unexpected turn in 2020 when her husband, a retired employee, suffered a sudden debilitating stroke. Overnight, Mouna found herself shouldering the responsibility of their well-being. 

She has been running a small mini-market since 2005. However, the last three years were challenging, with inflation and economic crises damaging her micro-project. Determined to persevere, she sought assistance from the Micro Projects Program to safeguard her only means of providing for her family. The program became a lifeline, offering hope and support in the face of adversity, enabling Mouna to continue her journey and secure a dignified life for her and her husband. 

Sewing Workshop


Najah's husband passed away 9 years ago leaving her and his sister as providers and supporters for his three children. her eldest son had to leave his studies and work due to their hard financial situation, while her daughter works at a hair salon and at the same time studying at university, and her youngest son traveled to Erbil. 

Back to the war period in 2011, Najah and her family were displaced from their house in Homs to Rabah village, in...


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Women's Clothes Shop


Refhaa, a resilient wife and mother of four in Qattinah village, faced unforeseen challenges when her husband battled disc disease, undergoing three surgeries that strained their finances. Since 2008, she has operated a small women's clothes shop, becoming their family's lifeline. 

The post-war inflation hit hard, threatening her shop's survival. Recognizing the need for intervention, she turned to the Micro Projects Program, seeking support to revive her struggling small business.

With determination and the program's assistance, Refhaa revitalized her shop, ensuring a stable income for her family amid the economic crisis. 

Dental Laboratory


Antoine, a dentistry graduate from the Middle Institute of Dentistry of Aleppo in 1994, had seen his life take a difficult turn due to the war in Syria. With a loving wife and a 16-year-old son, he faced the challenge of providing for his small family in a rented house.

Before the war, he had his own dental laboratory in Bab Al-Sebaa neighborhood of Homs. However, the conflict ravaged his laboratory, leaving him without the essential equipment needed for his profession....


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Hair Salon


Issa, a single man, faced the harsh realities of war, enduring nine years of mandatory military service that began in 2010. The war, starting in 2011, claimed not only his time but also his father's life. 

Despite the setbacks, his love for hairstyling, since 2005, remained unwavering. Post-discharge in 2019, financial constraints forced him to work for others. However, with his passion and support from the Micro Projects Program, his dream became a reality. 

The program enabled him to establish his own hair salon, overcoming the adversities and losses he experienced. Now, Issa is turning his passion into a successful micro-project and rebuilding his life after the tough years of the cruel war. 

Rock Carving


Ibrahim could never have imagined the way his life turned out. From being a rock carver for four years, he transitioned into a soldier after he received the call to go into military service for five years.

Serving in the army had been a particularly challenging period of his life, but he had persevered through it.

During his service, he received the sad news that the war had hit their town of Maalola, his family had to move to Damascus till the...


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Nail Care Salon


Ranin is a 26-year-old woman, married to Murad Kasuha and they have wonderful kids Pamella and Faydh. Ranin and her family live in a modest small flat in Jaramana and her husband works in a nuts shop for most of the day trying his best to secure a decent living for his family which was quite difficult during the past years due to the economic deterioration and the increasing costs of living.

Out of her loyalty to her family, Ranin couldn’t...


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Nails Care Salon


Dania Dabbas, 29, is married and has a two-year-old boy called Fahed, she lives with her husband and son in a small room at her in-law's house in Al-Tabbaleh area because their financial conditions didn’t allow them to rent their own apartment, but Dania didn’t mind that and tried her best to preserve her marriage and handle all the living difficulties with her husband who was working as house painter, doing the best to afford his family’s livelihood in addition...


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Undergarments Shop


Thanaa Al-Assas woke up one day to find herself in hospital. She was badly hurt and had many burns but the pain in Thanaa’s body was nothing compared to losing her husband and son Narek in the explosion of the gas stove in their house in 2011.

Thanaa is 48 years old, she was happily married with four children Kivan, Narek, Anjeil, and Anna. Her husband was working as a truck driver and was doing his best to secure his family’s...


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Homemade Meals


Louba and her family were living in Al-Zabadani village in the countryside of Damascus which was destroyed during the war. In 2012, Louba had to flee with her family under sniping and shooting to save their lives and later they were informed that their house was destroyed and their land was damaged. Her husband had to sell his car in order to afford their living after being displaced. 

It wasn't easy for Louba to start a new chapter of her life...


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Stationary Shop


Josephine Al-Helal is a divorced woman in her thirties, she has an adorable daughter called Natalia and they live with her parents and siblings in Jaramana.

In many cases, divorce can be a tragedy, but Josephine didn’t accept letting her daughter go through any hard times or be deprived of anything because of her divorce. In contrast, she tried her best to provide her with love and care and endured living in a small house with her parents surround her daughter...


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Nails Care Kit


Maria Essa, 36, has always been a self-made woman who worked at an early age to achieve her independence, and even after she got married, she kept working and supporting her husband in the face of difficult conditions.

Maria is married to Jalal Hlaleh who works as a taxi driver and they have two sons, Fadi born in 2012, and Samer born in 2014.  She started working in the nail care field in 2008 and moved between several beauty salons looking...


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Plastic Supplies Shop


Samer Thabet is 50 years old, married, and has two daughters Janet and Mariette. Samer and his family were living in stable conditions because he had a successful career. He worked in distributing medical products and equipment for fourteen years and established a good knowledge of customers and traders which secured a proper living for his family.

However, during the first years of the crisis, medical factories started to close one after another, and people traveled abroad in addition to the...


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Laser Machine


Youssef had always been a hard-working man. He learned the value of perseverance from a young age when he had to help his mother take care of his younger siblings. Despite the challenges, Youssef had always dreamed of giving his family a comfortable life.

Youssef landed a job in Lebanon, meanwhile, he studied engineering, He worked tirelessly for eight years to make ends meet and support his family back in Damascus. 

However, things took a turn for the worse in 2019 when...


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Pick-up truck


Suffering is an inseparable companion of war, especially for those who were injured and became incapacitated and unable to practice their life normally like in the case of Ebrahim Aldawod. After turning 18, Ebrahim was called for military service and stayed until  2011 when the war took place so he was kept as a reserve soldier for the next four years. however, in 2015 Ebrahim was exposed to a car accident during his service and was hurt badly which caused...


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Dental Clinic


Karina Issa graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry full of ambition, dreaming to become a successful dentist and have her own clinic. 

She did her training period with a doctor in Safita village where she also performed for rural service. Then in 2017, she got married to Kinan Dagher and moved to live with him in Dwalaa area in Damascus and they had their lovely daughter Anita. 

During that period Karina volunteered at St. Joseph dispensary and served the community and the...


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Pick-up Truck


For most of his life, Abd Al-Ahad struggled against difficult circumstances and the lack of job opportunities in the country especially since he was working as a government employee for a modest salary and wasn't able to find an additional job during the years of war as it was challenging for anyone to find a good income source. 

Abd Al-Ahad had no choice but to stay in his job as a private driver at the Directorate of Livestock in the industrial...


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