Naim is a hardworking individual who is deeply dedicated to serving his church. He lives with his wife Sonia. In their quest to provide for their daily needs and livelihood they face various challenges. As Naim grows older, concerns about losing his job as a private driver begin to weigh heavily on his mind. Naim genuinely loves his job, but before becoming a driver, he used to work as a car upholsterer. Unfortunately, a fire incident resulted in an injury to his hand which made him unable to return to his previous occupation. Despite this setback, Naim's optimism and gratitude shine through, as he is a person of strong faith.

In an effort to increase his income, Naim started working as a public bus driver. The working conditions proved to be difficult, and he faced numerous hardships along the way. He quit the job However, thanks to a friend who informed him about the project at the Hope Centers, Naim decided to apply for assistance. With the support he received, Naim now feels empowered, independent, and resilient. He was even able to acquire his own taxi, which opened up new opportunities for him.  

He is immensely grateful for the opportunity provided by Hope Center, as it has allowed him to build a better future for himself and his beloved wife. Naim's story serves as a testament to the power of resilience, gratitude, and the unwavering human spirit.

The 28-year-old Tony, known for his strong work ethic, has always been doing hardcore job. In 2014, Tony was called for military service, which lasted eight years. 

Upon returning home, Tony found limited opportunities, all of which offered very low income, making the transition to normal life difficult. After eight years in the military, Tony found himself without a clear profession to pursue or a specific goal to follow. He took on various jobs, working in mechanic shops and supermarkets, but struggled to find a fulfilling career path forward. 

In his time of need, Hope Center extended a helping hand to Tony. Through micro-projects, they accepted Tony's application for a pickup truck, which will enable him to generate stable income and provide for his family.

Christo spent 7 years of his adolescence serving in the military during the ceaseless Syrian war, an experience that left him with an injured foot and unclear aim for his life. Earlier this year, the newlywed couple was finally able to tie the knot. However, Christo's happiness was overshadowed by financial issues. 

Coming from a big family, he felt marginalized working for his father’s grocery shop, earning a minimal income. With a new family to support, Christo wanted to be independent, but he knew that his work options were limited due to his injury.

Christo took on work as a private taxi driver, but the owner of the cab demanded high rent, leading Christo to quit the job and return to working with his father. After his attempt to increase his income failed, Christo applied for micro-projects in hopes of approval for his taxi project. Thankfully, he was accepted, and now Christo feels very grateful for the opportunity. He hopes that the project will give his small family stability and a sense of safety.

Thomas Koussa, a young dentist who recently graduated, embarked on his dental journey after years of dedication and hard work. Each year at the university presented Thomas with new challenges. The cost of tuition was more than Thomas could bear, so he took on various part-time jobs, including working at a mini market, to finance his education. 

The Koussa family had faced numerous hardships during the Syrian civil war. Thomas's father lost his job, and their home was damaged by shelling. They temporarily relocated to Mashta Helou for three years before returning to Aleppo so that Thomas's sister could attend university. Both Thomas and his sister share a passion for helping and treating the ill, with his sister also pursuing a career in medicine.

Thomas began practicing dentistry during his fourth year of university. After graduating, he worked as an assistant in a policlinic for a year before joining with a friend, who is also a dentist, to establish their own clinic. However, Thomas only received 40% of the income. As the sole breadwinner of his family, Thomas wanted to start his own clinic, utilizing his years of dental education to provide quality care and increase his income. His strategy involves setting up the clinic in a rural area to cater to a diverse range of patients.

When Thomas received support from micro projects, he felt a surge of excitement. Equipped with the necessary tools and resources, he took his first steps towards building his career with the assistance of micro projects program.

Rimon found himself trapped in a low-paid job for 10 years, working at a gas station where he earns a mere $20 a month. This meager income makes it incredibly challenging for him and his wife to provide for their family. His wife, on the other hand, works as a teacher at a school, but her salary is not enough to cover their expenses. To make ends meet, they have to rely on financial aid from the church.  

During the war, they faced a terrifying incident when a missile struck in front of them. This experience left them in a state of shock and fear. In order to survive, Rimon had to sell his car at a significantly reduced price. They decided to move to Latakia, where they lived for a year, before eventually settling in Aleppo.  

Despite the hardships they have faced, Rimon and his wife remain grateful to God for everything they have. They are also devoted parents to their daughter, and Rimon is determined to find ways to increase his income. With the help of the Hope Center, Rimon no longer has to work in low-paid and harsh environment. He is now able to provide a better life for his family.

Antoin Sioufy, a devoted young man who recently completed nine years of military service, had dedicated himself to serving his country. After years of hard work and sacrifice, the day he had eagerly awaited finally arrived; the end of his service. However, his joy quickly transformed into shock when he received the devastating news of being diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. 

Before joining the military, Antoin worked as a hairstylist and resumed his profession soon after completing his service. However, the symptoms of shivering caused by Hypothyroidism made it impossible for him to continue pursuing his passion. The realization that he could no longer engage in his beloved career and provide for his family was incredibly difficult; he felt lost and uncertain about his future, his illness had taken away something that had not only brought him personal fulfillment but also put food on the table for many years.

Despite these difficulties, Antoin remained hopeful. He recently heard about micro-projects initiative and decided to apply, it turned out to be the best decision he had ever made. With the financial help, Antoin was able to purchase a taxi which now allows him to provide for his family. Although his journey has been filled with obstacles, Antoin continues to persevere and looks forward to better days to come.

After 4 years as a goldsmith, George's career was interrupted when he was called to serve in the military during the Syrian War. His service extended for eight years, and upon his return, George found himself unemployed and unable to resume his career due to the struggling state of the goldsmith business. 

To make matters worse, his wife encountered complications during childbirth, which forced her to leave her job. Determined to rebuild their lives, George set his sights on starting his own goldsmithing business. However, the high costs of equipment and raw materials made this goal seem nearly impossible to achieve. 

Forced to work in a workshop where wages were meager, George felt the weight of providing for his growing family's needs. In a stroke of hope, George decided to apply for micro-projects. To his immense joy and relief, his application was approved, and he was able to acquire a taxi that would provide him with a steady source of income.

Antoin Baladi, who dedicated 8 years of his life to military service, recently completed his term of service. However, upon returning, he found himself without a profession, skills, or clear goals. He started working at a shampoo and soap factory, earning a low income in order to provide for his family. His wife also works as a part-time hairdresser at a salon, contributing to the household expenses. Despite their combined efforts, they still struggle to meet the needs of their family. Although they receive aid from the church to support their child, it only covers a small portion of their overall expenses.

Antoin, determined to increase his income for the sake of his son, tried various options but was discouraged by the low salary he received. Antoin's father, who worked as a school bus driver, made every effort to financially support his son. Witnessing his son's hardships, he saved up money to assist him. Antoin applied for micro-projects, knowing that it was the only lifeline for the challenges he was facing.

Many young individuals, like Antoin, who have served in the military for the past 10 years, encounter similar difficulties. Fortunately, with the assistance of the Hope Center, Antoin received a taxi, enabling him to boost his income. Consequently, his father no longer needs to provide financial support for them, and this Christian family has once again found renewal and rekindled hope and resilience.

Aziz, a dedicated father to his beautiful new family, used to live with his parents and brother before getting married. He served as a military officer and a part-time driver, but unfortunately, the dangerous situation of the civil war forced him to end his service. It has been two years since he got married, and after having his daughter, Aziz has been facing difficulties in providing for his family. To deal with the hardships, he had to take on any job he could possibly find.

Currently, Aziz finds himself working in a liquor store, but he is far from content with his job due to numerous issues and safety concerns. He yearns for a job that can rescue him from this bad work environment, allowing him to secure a better life for his loved ones.

To ease the financial strain on his newly formed family, Aziz made the decision to apply for micro projects. After being accepted, Aziz took a brave leap forward by quitting his old job. Now, he began a new chapter as a taxi cab driver, allowing him to support his family and open doors to a brighter future.

Emil comes from a musical family and is a professional bass guitarist. He plays at Aleppo Club Restaurant three times a week for weddings and events. In addition to his musical pursuits, Emil is a supervisor at a bank.

With 20 years of experience in playing the bass guitar, Emil's skills and talents as a bass guitarist have garnered him popularity and recognition, leading him to collaborate with numerous renowned singers. However, he felt that his music was limited without an amplifier for his bass guitar. The band he played with often struggled to keep up with the poor sound quality, resulting in lower payment for Emil's hard work and talent. As the sole breadwinner of his family, this was particularly challenging.

Thanks to the assistance of Hope Center, Emil now has a new amplifier that has truly transformed his musical abilities. With this amplifier, his talent and skills shine brighter than ever before, allowing him to captivate audiences and increase his income.

George is a newly departed military soldier, his service years had lasting consequences on his health, the doctor advised him to stay away from strong smells and dust before it gets worse. Unfortunately, George was a residential painter and couldn't avoid exposure to strong odors, thus he had to quit his job to prevent further harm.

Desperate for help and support, George turned to his friends, hoping they would help him overcome this tough situation. However, none of them offered a helping hand. As a newlywed and the sole provider for his family, the weight of the world descended upon George's shoulders as he was unable to find employment and lived in a rented house, he felt a deep sense of insecurity and uncertainty. This financial instability made him hesitant about starting a family, as he didn't feel confident in his ability to provide for a child's needs.

In the past, George worked on his father's pickup truck from 2006 to 2008. However, the truck broke down, and he couldn't afford to repair it. Determined to provide for his family, he turned to street vending, selling various equipment and goods simply to scrape by and put food on the table.

George had to explore alternative options, with the help of the Hope Center, he found a glimmer of hope and he was able to acquire a new pickup truck, which he now uses to deliver goods and perform tasks that are safe for his health condition. George's main aspiration is to provide a stable income, start his own family and become a father.

Bassil Mssedy, a dedicated father in his 50s, worked as a blacksmith for 15 years in the industrial city of Aleppo. Unfortunately, the aftermath of the war made him jobless. The industrial area, once thriving, now lay in ruins.

Bassil and his wife used to reside in a rented house in Al Midan, an area that was heavily bombarded during the war. Tragedy struck one fateful day when a missile destroyed their home. Miraculously, they had left the house just an hour prior, escaping unharmed. Although relieved that their lives were spared, their house suffered significant damage, so they had to move in with their parents in 2014.

Despite their challenging circumstance and unemployment, Bassil managed to secure a position as a church keeper, working part-time. However, his income was barely sufficient to support his family. His wife worked at the airport to help her husband. Unfortunately, she also battled diabetes, adding further strain to their finances due to medical expenses.

Ensuring their basic needs became a daily challenge, as putting food on the table proved to be a constant struggle. They heavily relied on food baskets and cash aids to make ends meet. 

In the depths of despair, Bassil was filled with hope when he received assistance from the Hope Center. With the new taxi he received, he was able to increase his resilience and income, which brought stability to his life.

Raising children and taking care of them has always been Ruba’s passion and to fulfill this passion she studied at the faculty of education and then enrolled in several educational courses to help her specialize more in this field and started working as a teacher in Yabrud area in the countryside of Damascus. However, after the start of the war in Syria, the area of Yabrud became under threat, forcing Ruba and her family to move to the city of Damascus where she also took a job as a teacher and volunteered in her spare time to teach children with the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, trying to provide the benefit to everyone who needed it.

Deep inside, Ruba was always dreaming of having her own children's care center so she could have a space of innovation, and the ability to improve her financial condition, so she managed to get some help from her father to start her project but the amount she got was only enough for the kindergarten rent and some assets which made her unable to receive many kids and provide them with proper services.

With the help of Hope Center, Ruba was supported with all the tools that will improve the situation of her kindergarten and provide the kids with comfort and a useful environment, in addition to supporting Ruba to have the project that she always dreamt of.

Ayham Almhanna is from Daraa governorate in south Syria, he used to live there with his parents and siblings and was raised to be a self-dependent and hardworking man who started supporting himself and his family from a young age.

Like many of his age, Ayham had to serve in the military service for more than nine years during the Syrian crisis where he had to encounter several dangers in Aleppo and Damascus in addition to experiencing great fear when his brother Nour was kidnapped by the armed groups in Daraa and the family had to pay a ransom of money for his release.

However, after Ayham was discharged in 2021, he found out that the security situation in Daraa was critical and it was impossible to work or have a normal life there so he decided to settle in Damascus hoping for better work opportunities, but with no career of experience Ayham couldn’t find any proper job so he rented a taxi and started working long hours daily seeking to afford his living and send the rest to his family in Daraa which wasn’t possible with the high rent he was paying to the taxi owner leaving Ayham with some money that was barely enough for his daily food. 

With the help of Hope Center, Ayham was supported to have his own taxi hoping to provide this young man with the chance to improve his living and support his family in the village.

Success isn’t always about greatness, most of the time, it is about strong will and hard work.

Like the case of Fares Al-Sbeih who is 29, single, and lives with his family at his uncle’s house in Damascus.

Fares was one of many who became adults during a critical time in Syria, a time of war, destruction, and fear but he didn’t accept to let despair sneak into his heart.

On the contrary, he started working at a young age to handle his own expenses and help with the house demands then when the security situation started getting worse, he decided to travel to Lebanon where he took two jobs a day trying his best to send money to his family.

In 2022, the economic situation in Lebanon deteriorated badly so Fares returned to Syria, paid the military fees, and started working as a taxi driver in partnership with his cousin which wasn’t enough to have a decent living as he had to pay for the car rent and share half the profits.

As the breadwinner of the family, Fares was looking for better opportunities to improve his condition so when he learned about the Micro Project program in Damascus, he didn’t hesitate to apply for the Mini-van project.

Today, after being supported to purchase the Mini-van, Fares started to transport students to their schools, take passengers to the airport, and put plans to expand his work in the future full of determination to succeed in his aims.

For most of his life, Simon had to count on himself to encounter the great responsibilities he was holding as his parents’ health was unwell and he was the breadwinner of the house and the supporter for his four sisters.

As a result, he traveled to Libya at a young age and worked as a goldsmith for about four years, then he had to return to Syria because his father had to undergo Heart surgery and he had to look after him.

Simon worked as a goldsmith until 2011 but after the war began, his profession deteriorated, so he turned to working as a taxi driver working as hard as he could to afford his family’s living.

“I can’t take a day off from work, because the day I don’t work, we don’t eat”

This is what Simon said when he visited the micro project center to apply for the taxi project because during the current economic situation in the country and after becoming a father to a newborn baby, he became unable to pay the high taxi rent and at the same time afford his parents’ expenses. 

Supporting this self-made man to have his own taxi was the best way to preserve his dignity and enable him to earn a better income to handle the increasing costs of life.

"I feel like I am living as an extra number in this cruel world", it was with great sadness and despair that Hassan said these words.

He is a 31-year-old single man who lives with his mother and brother in an old house in Jaramana. Hassan worked any available job to afford the daily food for his family as his father had passed away leaving him to be responsible for his mother and younger brother.

During the first years of the war, Hassan was called for military service where he was injured by shrapnel in his left arm from a shell explosion which led at the beginning to a complete disability in the arm, but after many sessions of physical therapy, it recovered to 50% of mobility. 

However, as a result of the injury, Hassan was discharged from service, but when he tried to work, he found himself unable to perform many jobs due to his health condition which also affected his psychological situation as he felt helpless because he was unable to cover his family's daily expenses.  he was on the edge of despair, not knowing what to do with his life when the priest told him about the Micro Project program in Damascus and how it supports Christian families.

Hassan didn't hesitate and immediately applied for the pickup car, it was the only project suitable for his health condition, and that provided a quick and good income so that he could cover life’s expenses and improve his conditions.

"This help is what I needed to feel that I am not alone, that someone is standing by my side, and that no matter how difficult things are, the Lord always gives us hope to start again'

Caroline Akkawi is a self-made girl who chose to rely on herself rather than being dependent on others. She is 27 and lives with her parents and her brother Antoun at their grandfather’s house in the Al-Dwalaa neighborhood while her second brother, Basil, is still at the military service in Qatana area, Damascus countryside.

Since her childhood, the financial situation of her family was critical, but she never complained and always thanked God for the blessings in her life, especially since she had a talent for drawing, which prompted her, after she finished her university studies, to learn the profession of makeup and begin working in this field in order to secure her own expenses.

However, during the war, her older brother was called for military service, which affected the financial situation of her family, so she worked as a secretary in the morning, and in the afternoon she received customers at home, trying as much as possible to support her family and secure living expenses.

It was very tiring for Caroline to work two jobs a day and for long hours; she wanted to focus more on being a makeup artist which was her greatest passion, but the materials she used were modest and hindered her from expanding her work.

Through the Hope Center, this ambitious, strong-willed young woman was supported with a cosmetic and makeup kit with all the necessary tools so that she could expand her work and receive more customers in order to achieve her passion, and at the same time obtain a greater income that would improve the living conditions of her family.

War calamities were tough on everyone, especially those who are still suffering from its impact till now like the case of Mikhael Kousa who was exposed to a shell explosion during his service in Jobar, his entire body was penetrated by the shell’s shrapnel which put him in critical condition as he had to undergo several medical surgeries to survive, but he didn't recover completely which prevented him from living normally or working.

However, when Mikhael was discharged from the service, he tried to take any available job to afford the livelihood demands so he worked washing dishes at a restaurant and tried to work as a taxi driver but he wasn’t able to pay the high taxi rent and working as a dishwasher became tiring for him and the income was very low.

Mikhael became desperate because during the last few months, he and his family were living on support from his family and in-laws and he was in need of having his own source of income, especially after having a newborn baby.

With the help of Hope Center, Mikhael was supported to purchase his own taxi because it was the only project suitable for his health condition and that will form a great opportunity for him to be independent and have a sustainable source of income to improve his living.

Bassem Al-Mousa is 31 unmarried young man who used to live with his family in their small village. His father was blind and unable to work due to his condition, while his two siblings suffered from Joint Erosion and needed a lot of treatment, which forced Bassem at a young age to start working. At first, he worked at a prosthodontic laboratory then began working as a farmer cultivating the land and selling the crops trying to support his family and provide them with a decent life. However, the war quickly overpowered his efforts as he was called for military service, and for the next ten years, he knew nothing but dangers, as his service was in the most severe locations such as Aleppo, Barzeh, and Qaboun.

During those ten years, his family’s situation was greatly affected, as their village was in direct contact with the fights, so they were forced to flee to Damascus and live in a small house in the Al-Dwalaa area, relying on aid from churches and associations.

In 2021, Bassem was discharged from military service, and during that period, his father was diagnosed with skin cancer so Bassem didn’t hesitate to spend the entire amount of the service allowance on his father’s treatment. After that, he returned to working in agriculture and transporting crops from the village to the city, bearing all the possible risks in order to extricate his family from the miserable situation in which they lived.

Despite all the tragedies that Bassem experienced, he was full of faith and hope, and this led him to apply for the pickup car project at the Micro Project Center in Damascus as he was supported to obtain his own pickup car, through which he transported vegetables and goods between the city and the village, which saved him effort and provided him with a better source of income. Hopefully, this project will be an opportunity to improve Bassem's financial situation and help him secure the best means of life for his family.

For a thalassemia patient, Najeeb was full of energy and determination to live like any normal person.

He is 30 years old and lives in an old house in Al-Tabala neighborhood. After he graduated from the agricultural institute in 2013, he volunteered at the SSSD association as a part-time job, then in 2016, he volunteered with the Al-Safina Association for People with Special Needs at the paper recycling center, he also worked as a painting worker at the weekends trying his best to secure a good income.

Despite his health condition, which requires a lot of care and rest, Najeeb did not hesitate to take up a lot of work in order to be self-reliant and afford his living expenses in addition to his medication costs which he was taking daily to stay alive.

As time passed, working at painting workshops started to affect his health condition so he worked as a rented taxi driver which was suitable for his health condition but the income wasn’t enough because he had to pay high percentage to the car owner.

Najeeb was full of optimism when he applied for the taxi project at the Micro-project Center in Damascus.

With the help of Hope Center, Najeeb was supported to purchase his own taxi which was the best project that suited his condition and at the same time provided him with a decent income to preserve his living.

George Bershan was one of the people who lost a lot during the war in Syria; not only his home and his job, but he also lost members of his family, which left him broken-hearted and sad.

George is 31, he used to live in a small village in the countryside of Aleppo and worked as an assistant bus driver on the international road. After the start of the war, their village was besieged by armed groups who started to spread killing and violence all over the area, so George and his family had no choice but to flee, leaving everything behind to preserve their lives. They moved to live in a rented house in the Kashkoul area in Damascus but the area was hit by daily shells and unfortunately, George’s sister was injured by one of them and passed away as a result. 

This incident has plunged the family into great sadness, especially George’s father, who was subsequently afflicted with cancer and died two years later.

George was burdened with sorrows and worries. He had become responsible for his mother and sister and had to protect them, especially during the severe security events in the region. So he decided to move to another place in search of safety. During that period, George worked as a sales representative for several companies. He also worked for a period as a private driver and as a minibus driver, trying his best to afford his family's expenses.

After George visited the micro-project center in Damascus and applied for the Mini-van, he was supported to purchase his own mini-van, because it would enable him to become self-reliant and have the ability to improve his income and provide his family with a decent living.

Sarkis Sadeq used to live with his family in Maaloula town, Damascus countryside, and was working with his brothers in their sweets shop which was the source of income for the entire family..

After the start of the war, as Maaloula town was one of the most affected places in Syria, and most of its residents were exposed to killing, kidnapping, and the destroying and looting of their houses, which forced Sarkis and his family to be displaced out of the country in 2012, as they took shelter in his in-laws’ house in Zahle, Lebanon.  Sarkis worked there in rock carving and installing until the economic and security conditions began to deteriorate in Lebanon, so Sarkis decided to return with his family to Syria and settle in Jaramana in Damascus countryside.

Sarkis lived with his family and mother-in-law, who was suffering with her health and taking medications constantly. During that period, his brothers decided to start their project again in the Kashkul area and they tried to work together like before, but unfortunately, the work was very little and the income was not enough to support them all, so Sarkis left work with his brothers and began to work as a bus driver.

He was working more than sixteen hours a day to afford his family’s living but things were getting harder and he was seeking to have his own project to improve his conditions.

“If it wasn’t for you, my situation would never have changed” These were Sarkis words upon being approved to be supported with the taxi project.

Hopefully, this taxi will help provide the family with a proper income to afford the livelihood demands and preserve their dignity. 

Hanna Hallaq is an active and hardworking 28-year-old young man who used to live with his family in Yabroud town, Damascus countryside.

Hanna graduated from the Mechanics and Electricity Institute and began working directly in the field of maintenance. after a while, he was employed by a telecommunications company as a specialist in the maintenance of coverage towers, but the low salary prevented him from continuing because Hanna was responsible for the house expenses and for his parents and sisters, so he decided to move to Damascus and start working in several workshops trying as much as possible to secure a better income to meet his family’s needs and to save some money in order to start his own project and improve his condition.

Unfortunately, this wish was unattainable under the the difficult economic conditions that the country was going through, but Hanna did not let despair creep into his heart. When he learned about the Micro Project Center, he applied for support, full of faith, and hope.

indeed, his request was approved and he was supported to purchase the maintenance machines and tools so that he could start his own maintenance center for washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners, which will enable him to obtain a better income to improve his living conditions and secure a promising future for him and his family.