After his father’s illness, Nazaret had to carry great responsibilities such as caring for his father’s treatment costs, caring for his elderly mother, as well as repairing his house, which was severely damaged by the falling shells. Unfortunately, Nazaret’s father passed away, leaving his wife and son face the unknown future in times of war. 

Although Nazaret outlived the hardest days of war with minimal damage, but the financial difficulties prevented him from upgrading his business as he has long experience in dental prosthetics manufacturing. Having a laboratory of his own, is a dream that always remained in Nazaret’s mind. Today Nazaret is finally accomplishing what he always wanted, his years of experience will ensure him a good customer-flow and the fund he got will enable him to obtain important machinery and serve his customers with the best products and service.

Besides the devastating direct effects of war, there are other collateral damages that the war caused not many of people are aware of, like losing several crafts. This is what happened to Pierre. 

Pierre used to work in heating systems installation and maintenance, he and his brother shared a shop and each of them was specialized in different services, Pierre was specialized in radiators, while his brother was a plumber. But by 2011 their shop’s location became under heavy fires, and due to the lack of fuel and the hard living circumstances, the demand on radiator-based heating systems became less and less. Pierre found himself without a job or equipment (after their shop was robbed off) and without any future plans.

To stay safe, Pierre took his wife and went to Mashta al Helou for several months and he came back when things got better, to face the cruel reality of being unemployed. 

Since then, he started working in plumbing whenever he had the opportunity, depending on his friends to borrow the equipment from them. With the funding Pierre was relieved; he now have his equipment and tools and doesn’t have to borrow anymore. This step was crucial for Pierre to be able to provide a better income for his family.   

When it came to choosing his profession, Aboud made his decision a long time ago when he started working in several beauty salons while still young. Aboud was enthusiastic, ready to learn and eager to be a well-known hairdresser. His dreams were big and his ambitions were high but, unfortunately, the war had put him still. In 2015, to escape the dangers of Aleppo, Aboud and his parents went to Marmarita for couple of weeks only to extend their stay there for more than two years (until Aleppo was safe again in 2017). 

Aboud returned to Aleppo empty handed, the harsh financial circumstances prevented him from saving some money or building a career. He worked as an employee in beauty salons, he had to borrow tools from his employer or his friends to maintain his overtime work. This was all changed when Aboud was able to purchase his own tools and kit. It allowed him to have a chance to prove himself in the business, and keep his costumers satisfied, taking the first steps on the road of success.  

One of the biggest challenges that face young individuals like Elias is the lack of resources and opportunities to build a career or prosper in a country beaten by war. 

Elias is 27 years old, who worked for a long time in office for driving licenses issuing. Although, it was a little far from his academic studies in the mechanical engineering institute, Elias’s job has made him closely knowledgeable about cars, and driving in general.

Being the sole provider of his family, puts a lot of pressure on the young man to provide for his elderly parents in addition to his brother and sister who are younger than him. If war wasn’t the tragic reality of Syrians, maybe Elias would have chosen another route for his career, but the long years of war prevented the young man of this chance specially with the financial pressures and hardships. Elias chose to be a taxi driver to utilize all the experience he gained from his job in the licenses office. This career choice allows him to be flexible in his working schedule which enables him to keep a part time job and make a better living. 

Art has always been a huge part of Fadi’s life, it is a talent which he recognized and tried to develop specially that it became the thing that made him endure the toughest times of his life, when he was living far from his family in Latakia, Fadi sought out a mentor to teach him about Iconography and he started to have regular learning sessions in a monastery. Fadi indulged in painting and perfected his skills and slowly turned what started as a hobby into a collection of artworks. 

When Fadi decided to return to Aleppo, his parents were in Tartous after being displaced (due to a missile that damaged their home in Aleppo). Fadi took his parents and came back to Aleppo, but he had to have a source of income for the family, so he decided after giving it many thoughts to pursue his career as an artisan, being something that he loves and also can make some income. The first step is to invest in the tools and raw material necessary for his artwork, then if everything goes according to his plan, Fadi will move out of his father’s workshop space (where he is working currently) and settle in his own studio to be more and more creative and also can work with the wooden sculpting and frames to increase the income. 

It wasn’t easy for the 55-years-old Edgar, the father of two daughters; Evon and Joelle to lose his rubber-molding workshop, machines and all equipment, when armed groups entered the area where his workshop was located and he found himself unemployed with no clue about what the future would be like for his family who completely depend on him for their income. 

Edgar didn’t have the luxury of taking much time thinking, he had to act fast and find a financial solution quickly. The only job he found was as an accountant in a workshop, later he settled in a friend’s shop, selling espresso and beverages for customers. For four years Edgar’s job was stable and although it wasn’t his original profession but Edgar felt pleased specially that he didn’t have better options. But his friend told him that he will soon sell the shop and Edgar had to find a new job or a source of income. Not having the option of going back to his old profession due to health problems, Edgar asked for support in opening a coffee and beverage shop. His four years of practice gave him confident to take this step and hope the best for the upcoming future. 

Yousef is 31 years old, father of "Abed" a lovely young boy. The former combat veteran most promising years were stolen from him when he was assigned in Damascus then later in Aleppo, to serve his reserve duty in war. The cruel experiences he went through had an unforgettable mark on Yousef’s life, but what will always stay in his memory is the multiple injuries he was exposed to in 2016, when the building he was assigned in was targeted by missile attacks which led to the total collapse of the whole building and caused the death of some of Yousef’s fellows and multiple abdominal and facial injuries to Yousef.

For Yousef, the discharge from service (due to the injuries), opened a door to a new life, he finally was able to live as a civilian, go back to his old job in a medical supply factory and start a family. But life was not easy after all the economic changes that accompanied the war, Yousef’s old job was not enough to provide for a family of three like it used to before. Yousef started planning to find another livelihood that correspond to his conditions.

The pick-up truck was the perfect solution for Yousef who will keep his part time work in the factory and use the truck to transport their primary material and final products as a side hustle to make more income. Although working two jobs has not been easy, but it has been financially rewarding for the hardworking man to be able to maintain a good life quality for his beloved family. 

Manan has spent the majority of his life in his cars maintenance workshop, from an early age, this self-made man started as a smart young boy and slowly grew to become a hardworking employee, then to be more like a contributor to the business. In fact, the only time Manan was separated from his workshop was during the war, only to escape the horrendous mortar shell attacks in 2014, when he fled to a small village near Tartous until the danger of the mortar shells subsided.  

While displaced, Manan did not lose time in sorrow, he seized the opportunity to attend an internship in a car maintenance company and learn about more modern technology in his domain.  

The experience Manan gained in Tartous, remained always in his mind, even after coming back to Aleppo, he wanted to elevate his services in the workshop, and invest in a car inspection device, but the only problem was the lack of the capital specially in the current economic crisis, and the already existing financial hardships.

As technology is slowly entering each and every field of work, it was very useful for Manan to invest in this inspection device which will allow him to expand his work and enter new domains that will ensure him a more prosperous business.  

Corona Virus changed the lives of many people around the world, not just being hazardous to people’s health but also by its impact on business. Nelly was one of those who became unemployed when the wave of the deadly virus hit Syria. 

Nelly needed that job desperately, she had gone through many excruciating events from her husband losing his workshop in a blink of an eye, to her house being hit by missile forcing her and her family to move from one borrowed house to another. But the most wrecking tragedy hit Nelly on the 1st of May 2016, on Easter day. The family was gathered at their grandparent’s house and suddenly the world turned into pitch black. Hours later, Nelly woke up in the ER only to discover that her 17-years-old son and her brother-in-law had passed away by the missile that hit the house and threw them all. For the heartbroken mother, there was no time to grief. Nelly had lost everything, but she had to be strong for her other children, she pulled herself together and started looking for a way to support her family.

Nelly’s plans could not be put to action without the fund that mainly was utilized to purchase the sewing machines necessary to start her job from her own home. Nelly now became a self-employed woman who can divide her time efficiently between family and business and live a balanced and more productive life.    

Parenthood made the 34-years-old Rafi, defy the impossible to be a good provider for his wife Armineh and their two sons; Sako (10 years old) and Alec (5 years old). Rafi’s family business has always been in ironsmith, from an early age he learnt this craft from his father and contributed to the family’s work. But what made Rafi stand out from other craftsmen is that his specialty was manufacturing Amusement Park equipment. Unfortunately, for a city struck by war and lost its peace and safety, this kind of facilities were closed for so long, leaving Rafi without any source of income. 

Rafi refused to surrender, he was responsible of his little family and he was doing his best to provide them with good life.in 2015, in the darkest moments of war in Aleppo he took his family away from all the horror and temporarily moved to Armenia, but the expenses of such move could not be tolerated for long. When things got better in Syria, Rafi sent his family home while he went to Iraq to work there. However, Rafi’s plans were interrupted by Corona virus spread and his contract ended sooner than expected. 

The fund that Rafi received helped him obtain the tools and equipment needed to open his independent workshop and at the same time be able to stick around to raise his two kids with all the love he has towards them. 

When Haroutun’s shop in Al-Ramuseh was destroyed, during the early years of war, he was left without a job and without any clue on how to support his big family. He and his sons used to work in car mechanics, but with war arriving to Aleppo their workshop first became out of reach then destroyed due to the armed conflict in the area. Later with the vicious progress of war being unemployed was beginning to be the least of their concerns; their house in Al-Midan was in a very dangerous zone, his wife was affected by the mortar shells and suffered from a nervous breakdown, two of his sons were called to serve their mandatory service in the army and his oldest son and his family of four moved in with Haroutun when he lost his source of income and had nowhere to live. And on top of that, their car was burnt after one of the bombshells hit it while it was parked in the street.

Simon (the oldest son), started working as a driver for an employer to secure their living, but neither he nor his father lost hope to someday return to their workshop, until this glimpse of hope disappeared when they heard that their property land was destroyed then turn into a local market. The savings didn’t last long, Haroutun was forced to find a job in order to provide for his family. That’s why the 63-years-old man started working as a taxi driver. 

The positive step that this project presented to Haroutun’s family is that instead of paying rent to the car owner, he can now secure a better monthly income for the family. 

After 10 years of volunteering in police service, the last thing Diaa imagined was to be called to serve for six more years in what was labeled as the worse war of the century, the Syrian war. 

His quiet life in Homs city was flipped upside down when the war started. After leaving the police force, Diaa who is from Homs country side had just opened a shop and was thinking about settling down and starting a family, but God had other plans for him. The news of his new assignment in the citadel of Aleppo was shocking for him. 

the Citadel soon became under siege for many years. For the majority of that time, Diaa lost contact with the outside world, forgot that life existed beyond the walls of the citadel, but did not forget about God’s mercy that saved him from the multiple injuries he went through during that time.

In 2016, Diaa and his friends were finally discharged. But unfortunately he discovered that his shop in Homs was destroyed and he had nothing to return to. 

Diaa then made the decision to stay in the city of Aleppo and start a family here where he spent the last seven years. He started working for a vehicles company to make a living and after a while, got married. He has been trying to build a life despite all the obstacle standing in his way. This is the major reason for him to want a taxi and be financially independent. the taxi for Diaa, who due to his injuries has limited work choices, will help him secure a good and content life despite all the difficulties. 

Fania's life took an unexpected turn when her husband, Bassam, fell ill, leaving him unable to provide for their family. With a studying son to support, her mother-in-law, and her husband's health deteriorating, Fania knew she had to act fast. 

Determined to secure a future for her family, she seized the opportunity presented by their small shop. With hope, She applied for assistance from the Micro Projects Program, seeking support to stock shelves, buy a refrigerator, and purchase goods to transform the shop into a mini-market and dairy shop, envisioning a lifeline for her family.

Her shop flourished and Bassam will find solace in being able to contribute as much as possible. 

Through her microproject and the support of the program, Fania not only sustained her family's livelihood, but also inspired others with her resilience in the face of hardships.

Elias Al-Ghabra is one of the minorities who are still interested in preserving the family profession as he began working in the field of manufacturing convection ovens with his father at a young age in a rental workshop in Jaramana and continued in the filed alongside his study.

The main field of work is manufacturing thermal ovens based on gas after the electric ovens stopped being demanded due to the terrible electricity situation in the country, their work increased and they also started to receive ovens maintenance orders. 

In 2010 Elias was called for military service and the war began shortly after he joined, so he was transferred to serve in Al-Hasakah Governorate until 2019, during which he went through difficult circumstances and faced many dangers. However, on his vacations, he used to return home and help his father in the workshop.

However, as a result of the significant increase in prices in addition to his mother’s battle with cancer and her treatment in Al-Biruni Hospital, their business deteriorated and the expenses became higher than the income forcing them to sell some of the equipment to cover the mother’s treatment expenses.

After Elias was discharged from service in 2019, he returned to work with his father, but the remaining equipment and materials were not enough to strengthen the work and have a proper income to cover the living expenses.

With the help of Hope Center, Elias was supported to purchase new machines to enable this intrepid young man to expand his work which will positively impact his living circumstances and help preserve the family's profession.

Alaa is a talented young man in his twenties, he lives with his parents and sister in Jaramana after being displaced from their home in Harasta due to the armed conflict in the area at the beginning of the Syrian crisis.

Alaa was always passionate about photography so he trained at a young age at a Clacket studio to learn more about this career, then he got employed at the communication department at SSSD as a photographer until 2018 trying to find better income to match the increasing costs of living.

Soon after, he started working at an event planning office as a photographer and videographer, but at the same time he was dreaming of having his own equipment that would enable him to establish private work and develop his career.

With the help of Hope Center, Alaa was supported to purchase a camera which was a dream coming true for him as he is able now to have his own photography session, and at the same time add his own signature which will empower his name in the field and open the chance of developing his work and improving his living conditions.

In the heart of a bustling area nestled a home where dreams brewed and aspirations soared. Dhyaa Al-Btros, his wife, and his family members lived within its walls, each floor holds a part of his close-knit family.

Since 2004, he delved into the field of confectionery, honing his skills by working at various pastry shops. In 2008 he was called for military service until 2010. Upon discharge, he returned to his roots in Khabab, opening a pastry shop until 2014 when adversity struck, so he relocated his shop to the Al-Dukhanieh area in Damascus, but the situation wasn't any better there as violent incidents and armed conflict took place in the area which resulted in the loss of his shop.

Undeterred, he adopted a novel approach, distributing goods via electric bicycles until 2019 when he was called again for the reserve service for three years before resuming the distribution of goods and biscuits, using his brother's electric bicycle.

Presently, Dhyaa toils in the morning as a warehouse worker, and by dusk, continues his work on a bicycle, aspiring to have a pick-up truck for efficient distribution, which would improve his income and release him from the hard morning work. 

considering this tapestry of trials and challenges, Dhyaa was supported by the Micro project program to purchase his own pick-up truck hoping to empower his unwavering spirit in the face of adversity, improve his living conditions, and preserve his dignity.

Meneam Salloum's life was marked by hardships but with his strong determination he was able to rise above all the challenges he faced.

he is living in Al-Abbasein with his retired father and two brothers, and together they faced numerous setbacks from losing his mother to grappling with unstable security conditions during the crisis, but he never let circumstances define him. 

Before the war started, he was working at his own shoe-making workshop in Jobar, but after few months of the war, the area was subjected to numerous incidents and his workshop was burgled making him lose everything he worked for in the previous years.

unfortunately, when Meneam decided to move his work to his living area in Al-Abbasein, he was sniped in the flank which put him in bed for several months until he recovered.

after that incident, Meneam decided to quit his profession and started working at cars office and then as a taxi driver, and later becoming a salesperson at shoes store, trying his best to afford the livelihood demands for his family and preserve their dignity.

Despite all financial strains that Meneam and his family faced, Yet he refused to succumb to despair, so he applied for the pick-up project at the Micro Project center.

Receiving funding for his project marked a new chapter—one filled with possibilities. It wasn't merely about starting a business; it symbolized resilience, hope, and the triumph of the human strong will over calamities.

Rafy Al-Sahwy, born in 1982 and residing in Al-Dwalaa, faced numerous challenges in life. With his parents deceased and siblings married, he lived with his brother, striving to make ends meet. His journey through different jobs—from being a taxi driver to a private chauffeur and later distributing charcoal by bicycle—reflects his resilience amidst hardships.

The war and his father's illness forced Rafy to abandon his farming work at the village and return to live with his family in Damascus. Despite various setbacks, he ventured into charcoal distribution, utilizing a meager capital. However, soaring prices abruptly halted his work, leaving him with loss.

For Rafy, the taxi project he applied for, symbolized hope and stability in turbulent times, and having support to purchase his own taxi potentially rescued him from the brink of financial ruin.

It wasn't merely about financial gains for him; it was about reclaiming control over his life and promising a brighter tomorrow.

Jean Baghdady, born in 1997, lives with his family in Jaramana. His father, Antoun, works diligently as a maintenance worker at Saint Paul Monastery trying to put food on the table at the end of the day.

Jean's journey through work has been diverse; from volunteering at the UN in 2017 to becoming a photographer's assistant from 2018 until the present day, he has explored various professional avenues. Additionally, he has been employed as a receptionist at Alberto Monastery since 2021. Despite his workload, Jean managed to pursue accounting and marketing courses in 2019.

He commenced his career as a photographer in 2019, honing his skills and preparing to be an independent photographer full of ambitions to start his business alongside collaborating with other professionals, trying to gain as much experience as possible.

While their household and furnishings are modest, Jean's family supports him as he navigates his career path. Receiving support from Hope Center, marks a turning point for Jean, offering him the opportunity to expand his own business, enhance his skills, and elevate his income.

For Jean, this support isn't just financial aid—it's his life dream, propelling him towards independence and self-improvement to secure a better future for himself and his family.

A talented and determined man is the least that can be said to describe Samwel Skeif. He is in his fifties yet, he still has the will and strength to keep learning and investing in himself. He started at a very young age to support his parents with living demands and so he worked as a tailor assistant, but he was clever and skilled enough to learn the profession and start his own sewing workshop which he ran for years until the conditions worsened; his job was affected badly forcing him to sell the machines in order to afford his family’s living expenses then he started to work in drawing and manufacturing sewing templates for different factories. 

Learning has always been a passion for Samwel, and even though he couldn’t finish his schooling education, he didn’t hesitate to enroll in several life skills courses such as fashion design training - TOT courses - speed reading courses - body language courses - and neuro programming.

Samwel got hired as a trainer at a development institution for design and sewing courses and he was so excited to transfer his knowledge and talents to others.

However, with the increasing costs of living, he wasn't able to provide his family with a decent living and he was thriving to have his own sewing workshop with the idea of turning part of it into a training center for sewing and designing courses.

Today, after being supported to start his own project, Samwel is so grateful to have this opportunity that will enable him to fulfill his passion for work and teaching and at the same time increase his income and improve his living conditions. 

At the age of fifteen, Eva Alshehadeh started to work at a hairdressing salon to support her family, since then, she started to learn everything related to this career including hairdressing, makeup, and nail care which gave her good experience in the field. Her father was deceased and she was the supporter of her mother and siblings so she was doing her best to afford the living demands, challenging all the difficulties of work and her health condition as she was suffering from sideropenia which caused her several symptoms and continuous feeling of tiredness.

In 2019, with the help of the church, Eva underwent Glandectomy surgery and her health condition started to improve, unlike her financial condition as the salon she was working at was closed and she found herself jobless.

Eva didn’t accept being dependent on aids especially since she became the only supporter of her mother so she started to work at customers' houses, using her old inappropriate tools, and touring from one house to another to have an income and cover the basic living needs of her family.

After applying at the Micro project center, Eva feels delighted because she was supported to establish her own makeup and nailcare center which will be the means to have an independent source of living and improve her living conditions.

Although she is still 22, Valentina was overloaded with life calamities and had to hold the responsibility of her family and her younger sisters in addition to taking care of her sick and heartbroken mother.

Valentina was living in safety and security with her family while her mother and father were doing their best to provide the best living circumstances for their girls. 

In 2013, this reality changed into a nightmare as their father was a victim of snipping while he was driving his car to work and the criminals took his body and the car. His family didn’t just have to handle his death news but also they had to pay an amount of money to have his body and do a decent funeral for him.

After that incident, the mother’s health deteriorated so she quit her job to take care of her daughters while Valentina started to work during her study time to support her family.

She started doing makeup and nail care for her relatives and friends then in 2018 she enrolled in several courses to enhance her skills then she started to work in different beauty salons trying her best to afford the livelihood of her family.

With time passing, Valentina discovered that her work was so tiring, and with no proper income, she quit and started to work for a percentage of profits waiting for a chance to have her project.

With great faith, Valentina applied at the micro-project center for support and despite her young age, this strong-willed lady was supported with all the tools and materials necessary to start her project because after all those hard years she deserved to be independent and have a decent source of income to help her family.

With more than 40 years of experience, Riadh Al-zawahra, a loving husband and father of two daughters Nour and Niveen, was still working as a tailor at a sewing workshop in Jaramana.

He started to learn the career at the age of ten, the same age he started to work and support his family then when he became experienced enough, he implemented all the steps of sewing and many workshops dealt with him.

During his life, Riahd was able to establish a lovely family and support his daughters to finish their education and work but due to the difficult years of war and the deteriorating economic condition, he wasn’t able to establish his own workshop.

“ All i wish after those hard-working years is to settle down, be my own boss, and have the ability to increase my income”.

Riadh applied at the Micro projects center, and considering his long experience and need to improve his living conditions, his request was approved as he got the required support to establish his own sewing workshop with all hope that this project would be a turning point in his future life and will give him the independency he longed for.

Being a mother of three young kids never prevented Raheel from working and supporting her family to pass through the years of war, while still trying hard to support her husband during the deteriorating conditions.

Raheel is a determined lady who started working as a seamstress at a young age and even after she got married she kept working at her sewing workshop in Damascus, until 2014 when the security situation became critical so she moved with her family to live in Jaramana.

Despite all the dangers and the daily shelling over Jaramana, Raheel and her husband kept working together to secure the best living for their kids. Together, they started a small shop for sewing and renting dresses where she worked in designing and making the dresses and her husband supported her in dealing with customers and the finishing.

However, with time passing, the electricity condition worsened and the shop income was no longer enough to put food on the table, while her machines became too old to use for professional sewing. So her husband decided to work two jobs in order to meet the living demands but his salary was still not enough due to the high costs of living.

Now, after supporting Raheel with new sewing machines and an electricity resource, she restored the ability to increase her work and get a decent income good enough to secure her and her family with good living. 

From a very modest but close-knit family who works to live, Beshara Al-mhanna was raised to become a hardworking man who started working at a young age to support his family.

He used to work in delivering vegetables on the village-city road but during wartime, the road became insecure and he decided to move to Damascus to study and work there. Beshara was a big-sized young man and as a result, he was exempted from military service so he kept working as a driver on different vehicles delivering any order to afford his living and support his family in the village.

Beshara was good at what he did but the high car rent wasn't sufficient to cover the increasing costs of living so he applied to the Micro-project program for the pick-up truck project planning to use the truck to deliver furniture and goods.

Considering his health condition, and determination to work, Beshara was supported to have the project he sought and he is now working his best to have more orders so that he can improve his financial condition and secure his family with a decent living.