Karim Ward is a craftsman that is specialized in customizing Aluminum doors, windows and all kinds of home items. He also is a father of three sons; Michael, Andre and Peter. The war not only brought destruction to their 5th floor house, but also torn apart his family when the twins had to leave their parents and younger brother and go to Lebanon couple of years after the start of the war. The family moved to a relative’s house. 

Karim is the sole provider, which put a lot of burdens on the man’s shoulders with the traveling expenses of his two sons and the huge medical bills of his wife’s knee treatments, in a time that Karim have lost a fair amount of his goods and supplies in the warehouses located in areas that have become out of control in 2012. That loss was huge on Karim and his brothers since they all work in the same field, and it obliged them to share a small workshop together to cut the costs and lower the expenses so they could put bread on their tables. 

Although the lack of space in the small shared workshop is a daily struggle, but it is not the only one; Karim was struggling to survive, pay his bills and rehabilitate his damaged house all from his hard work, but the shared machinery and the lack of financial resources wasn’t much of a help.

With the help of the Micro Projects program, Karim has the opportunity to improve his life. He applied to obtain the equipment that will upgrade his job, and a good quantity of supplies in whole sale prices, which will result in increasing the profits on the long run, thus, upgrading the life of the family on many levels.

Manuel Ashdoknian is a 41-years-old former photographer. His shop was located in Al-Helloq area, his father and brother also had a shop there. For so many years the three men used to go to work together every day, until the Syrian war happened.

The tension started to rise between the conflicting parties, the number of armed men was increasing gradually in the area, and things were getting scary for the civilians like Manuel. Eventually on one day, armed groups broke into Manuel’s shop and kidnapped him. It was a horrible and terrifying experience that he went through, he was tormented and threatened by people whom he one day was living among, he recognized them from their voices since they were masked. Then they finally let him go, he was lucky to outlive that dreadful situation.

It was the last time Manuel saw his shop and equipment. Most of his cameras and lighting tools were stolen. The only video camera which he was able to save, he was obliged later to sell in order to have some money for food for his family of five.

Manuel was offered to work on a taxi cab, he took the job, and since 2012 he’s been a driver. Although it was not his first choice, but he got used to it and became good at.

He was happy with the stability this profession gave him. But this stability soon became threatened when the owner of his rented car decided to sell it. Manuel wants to have a taxi so he can continue the job that he gained a seven years’ experience in.   

Despite his young age, the 25-years-old Jack Shammas is a living example of a self-made young man who relied on himself early after high school in the car body parts retail. For two years, Jack worked for someone where he learnt the business quickly and wanted to have his independent business in the same work field. His savings were invested in stocking merchandise and renting a shop in AL-Shkaief area. The first hit jack took when the war started in 2012, AL-Shkaief was confiscated and he lost everything he owned there. Jack had to start over. During that time the young man was living with his father and mother in Serian Al-Kadimeh neighborhood and when he lost his job, his 57-years-old father became the sole provider for the three, and in those difficult financial circumstances it was not enough.

Soon Jack found a job in a shipping and financial remittance company, he loved his job as a public relation responsible there and after a short while, he was ready to open his own small company for local shipping between Syrian provinces and unfortunately for the second time the odds were against him. The majority of roads between cities were closed during the war and many cities were not reachable anymore, facing all these obstacles Jack’s plans vanished into thin air.

In his search for a new career today, jack looked for anything in his expertise from previous jobs or acquaintances, he remembered that years ago his father had a mini-van that he used to pick up school students with, or different clients to their jobs and destinations, it was providing a relatively good income and especially these days it is has a kind of stability.

Jack hopes that by having a taxi, he will have a positive impact on his family’s life financially, it is an important step towards self-dependence and no one knows what the future is holding for this hardworking man. 

Things were difficult for the Michel’s family from the very beginning, when they started their married life during the war time.

Michel worked in the embroidery business since 1997 in Arkoub area, but sadly in 2012 he lost the workshop after the whole area was out of reach.

“I lost my house during the war in Sheikh Maksoud area in 2014, and also my workshop with all the equipment that was in the shop so I rented a machine for two years but the owner wanted to sell it.”

His wife Maria and their three children: George, Mariam and Mishleen struggled after being displaced and their whole life changed, George who is five-years-old has a disability since birth which was another hardship that they had to deal with on daily basis as his needs are a necessity.

Michel switched to work in the clothes industry for a while, but it wasn’t a stable source of income and the salary was very low, now he needs to improve his income and go back to work in the thing he loves the most, because he has a big experience in this business, this support will enable him to buy the embroidery machine required to get back to this job.

Hopefully it would be a chance to improve the family’s life and regain hope for their future.

Patriotism may be the feeling of love for one’s homeland, but for Nicholas it is a lot more than that, it was the reason to hold on, it was what gave him the resilience to endure the war with all its struggles…“My heart is attached to my country “that’s how Nichola Kashour expresses his love for his country and refused to leave during the war, and this is his story…

The 67-years-old man was about to retire from the cement factory he used to work in Al-Meselmieh, near Aleppo, when the armed conflict reached the city in early 2012. the last days of work in the factory were stressful, the situation was about to burst in any moment and one day it actually did, Nicholas and his colleagues were there when it started, roads were cut off and the workers had to walk enormous distances home bypassing the dangers. 

The war spread from the outskirts of the city, and suddenly Al-Jabrieh neighborhood, where Nichola and his family live, became within the range of falling missiles and shells. Everything was changing quickly, the imminent danger in addition to the economic crisis and daily struggles like lack of electricity, water… Those first couple of years were overwhelming specially that the only income source for the family of four was Nichola’s pension. His son Bassil and daughter Maria were still at school so they couldn’t help in supporting the livelihood of the family. Nichola had to take action… The hardworking man started a job in a rubber mold manufacturing workshop, which requires a lot strength and effort but he didn’t have a lot of choices back then. the Syrian war was going on endlessly, they were fortunate enough to survive without any losses for four years, but in early 2016 the inevitable happened; one afternoon a missile hit their building causing massive destruction to all the doors and windows from the pressure. Luckily, they were unharmed.

His love for his country was not the only thing that Nichola carried in his heart, his passion for driving was always there too. From a young age he always wanted to own a taxi, he even got a public driving license long ago, but the odds weren’t in his favor at that time, It’s about time for him to pursue his long-postponed dream, his kids have grown to be hardworking like their father, today they are both an engineering students, they work part time in addition to their studies and encouraging him to start his project. 

This taxi is what Nicholas wanted for a long time, it is something he enjoys to do, it’s also a better source of income for the family, and the most important thing is that this work is the most suitable for a man of his age. 

People who come from villages like Yakubiyah and its surroundings, know about land loss and war agony more than we can even imagine, one of these people are Siroun Elias, with her husband Sembat and their three daughters; Nayiri, Talar and Nanar.

Siroun is a 43-years-old lady currently works in tailoring and embroidery in multiple local workshops to provide for her family, alongside her husband Sembat who works in a bolt’s manufacturing workshop. The couple have had some financial difficulties, when they first moved to Aleppo in order to pursue their careers, and also for the girl’s schools, they bought a house with a mortgage from the bank. All these expenses put a big burden on their shoulders.

The economic crisis made it nearly impossible to be able to pay the monthly installments, and they were threatened to lose their house. The Blue Maristes reached out and at the time helped the family to keep their house, but unfortunately with all the mortar shells falling in Al-Midan they had to leave their home temporarily and move out to a relative’s house near Al-Villat street. 

Since the majority of the family’s income was coming from the harvest of olive trees in their land in Yakubiyah, losing that land to armed groups had a major impact on their finances, not to mention the heartbreak of losing the thing you worked hard for many years to have. The need to improve their livelihood in order to cover their expenses and basic needs became a necessity, it is why Siroun took the decision to work by herself at all costs (her salary in the workshops in return for long hours wasn’t sufficient).

Through the long years of working in the tailoring field, Siroun gained tons of experience that qualified her to make her own business, and what will help her immensely is that her daughter Nayiri, who’s an architecture student, is blessed with great sketching talents and has an interest in helping her mother with creating the designs and implementing them.

Siroun has the willpower and the experience, along with her talented designer daughter to assist her in the work. All she needs is the financial help to buy the sewing machines and launch her project. 

Michael Tanashian is a 32-years-old young man who chose his career long time ago, after the seventh grade Michael started working in his father’s workshop for metal lathing, he quickly mastered this profession and took the leading role in the workshop but the war changed things drastically.

In 2012 his workshop in Al-Arkoub was destroyed by the missiles and robbed completely, then Michael had to work for people to be able to support his family of three, they were barely living, it wasn’t even possible for Michael to try and compensate his great losses in material and machinery. 

During the war their livelihood wasn’t the only thing that was threatened, their own safety was jeopardized more than once; one time a bombshell fell on their building’s roof while Michael’s mother and two sisters were home, it was a terrifying experience but Michael and his parents didn’t leave and they chose to stay. 

Early in 2018 when going back to Al-Arkoub was possible again, Michael went and saw all the destruction and the robbery. However, this wasn’t going to stop him, instead, he was determined even more than ever to start over, that’s why he was motivated to rent another space in that industrial area and step by step he would equip a complete workshop like the one he used to run in the past.

Unfortunately, the many obstacles; mainly the financial situation, stood in the way of achieving Michael’s purpose, he needs help to purchase the necessary machinery for his business to start again. 

Despite all the shells and missiles falling on Al-Suleymanieh area where they live, Elias Kharbout (59 years old), his wife Nadia and their son Moussa (28 years old), have never left their family’s house. Of course, many times the situation was very bad; their lives were threatened every time a mortar shell exploded nearby but the family didn’t have anywhere else to go. 

Elias’s shop in Bustan Al-Basha was already out of reach, destroyed and robbed of all the merchandise in it. This loss broke his heart, it was the shop he owned since 1985, he built his career there through the years and brought bread to the table from his hard work for more than 27 years, and suddenly he lost it all. The worst was that he was providing the sole income for the family. 

For a while the family started spending from their savings, then they had to sell the car in order to survive, the church of course reached out for help, but it wasn’t enough with the arising economic crisis. Moussa was lucky enough to find a job when a lot of his peers were struggling to even have a similar chance, However, one income for three is barely enough. Elias started looking for a job, it was hard for this nearly sixty years old man to work for others, in a position not suitable for his age and experience, but the financial needs were more important than anything.

It wasn’t until 2016 that Elias could return to see his shop in Bustan Al-Basha, it was turned into a pile of ruins, however, with a little rehabilitation nothing can’t be fixed, the only problem is the lack of financial resources to start the process.

It’s been four years now since the area of Bustan Al-Basha was freed of armed forces, during this time Elias managed to repair the shop in order to re-open, the thing he needs now is the support to purchase the car spare parts and relaunch his business to compensate for the time he lost in war.          

Every Morning George Baladi wakes up, gets ready and goes to his workplace with high hopes that this brand-new day will bring in his long waited big break, George is 49 years old, married to Rita, and a father of two; Selena and Richard. He started working as a sales representative for many different companies, in 2009 he worked in a plastic packaging company in an area called Al-Mansoura near Aleppo. Despite the fact that Al-Mansoura and Al-Midan (where he lived) were distanced by long kilometers, but both regions were extremely dangerous. 

Their house was in threat of being hit by the missiles, they were in constant fear, and at the same time George’s workplace was also surrounded by armed groups who conducted several attacks on the factory, he was kidnapped one time and robbed off of all his belongings, but survived the incident after his employer payed the ransom in order to free George from an inevitable fate.

After terrible experience, George couldn’t go back to Al-Mansoura anymore, and a short while later the whole area became out of reach anyway. However, the family took another hit, as George’s wife who used to work for menswear company, also had to quit her job due to troubles in her pregnancy, they were left with two children to take care of and no source of income. 

George had to find a job in order to provide for the family of four. When the armed conflict ceased in 2016, the small factories in Al-Arkoub started to re-open, and George soon found a job in a medical packaging company, the income is not that good but George doesn’t have much of a choice. 

Couple of years earlier he was thinking of having a car that he can use in work, and take advantage of his many acquaintances and workshops that he knows to transport, but the financial situation wasn’t in his favor.

Someone like George deserves to have all the help he needs to provide a decent life for his family, he is planning to stay in his job but shorten his working hours and work on the taxi, this way his income increases and he can finally offer a more comfortable life for his family. 

One of the many downsides to living in a country struck by war is the financial instability, a lot of people lost their livelihood because of destruction, others had to change the course of their careers and flip from one domain to another and that what happened to Norayr.

Norayr is a 25-years-old man married to Nour and a father of a beautiful 2-years-old daughter “Maritta”. Norayr first worked with his father in his shop in Al-Telal street (his father was a tailor), and as it is known this area became a fire line between the conflicting parties in the beginning of the war in Aleppo in late 2012. The whole area was nearly deserted and the business wheel stopped almost completely, Norayr’s father tried his best but there were no customers knocking on his door. As a last option, Norayr tried to change the shop from tailoring to selling other kinds of supplies which he thought to it would be better financially but his efforts went in vain.

For the following year, Noyayr rented a shop to sell clothes elsewhere but that didn’t bring him good profits either, so he moved on to working in a plastic manufacturing factory, the salary was very low specially that he and his wife, who works in a local daycare center with a modest paycheck, are the family’s only providers and also for Norayr’s father who lives with them under the same roof. 

Prior to war, Norayr attended several courses to specialize in mobile phones’ maintenance which has become very requested nowadays, that’s why he wants to start this project, this persistent young man who knows nothing about giving up after difficulties deserves a chance. The advantage of this particular business is that it does not require a lot of space, Norayr can work from home, and it will depend on his skills and expertise, of course some equipment of devices is essential to start the business, but the rest is on Norayr to make it a thriving project.

In his modest Workshop, Nerses Ashdokenian manages to make the most out of the small space available, the limited electricity, and the little resources to keep his business going despite of all hardships.

Nerses is a 47-years-old father of three beautiful girls; Jeanette, Vergine and Anna. He is the sole provider for them since his wife Mayda is a stay at home mom, bringing up her lovely daughters. 

Since 1985, Nerses chose a different path from his father career-wise, his father was in shoe selling business and Nerses had a little experience in that domain, but he began learning about car electrics, it was something he liked and soon enough he became good at it. He was ready to be more independent and open his own workshop. Time was passing and things were going great, because of his work Nerses had to do a lot of work trips to other provinces, in those frequent visits he saw a chance to have another income; exporting shoes like his father used to do, little he knew back then how this whole situation will turn against him as soon as the war starts…

In the beginning of war in 2011, the roads connecting the provinces were the first thing controlled by armed groups, Nerses was going to latakia by then accompanied with his brother-in-law, suddenly some armed men forced them to leave the vehicle, under gun threat Nerses and his fellow didn’t have a choice but to obey, the next thing they knew, they were in the middle of nowhere, with no car or money.

A while later Nerses had another financial loss, one of the clients he used to deliver merchandise to, did not pay him in exchange of the merchandise he got, but the most overwhelming thing was finding about his mother’s illness that eventually took her life, despite the fact that Nerses put his best efforts for her treatment, he even sold his house to be able to pay for the medical bills but it was too late for her…

Today Nerses is trying to overcome his losses, he only needs a little help and hope. His drained resources and the great financial responsibilities are holding him back from investing in the electrical tools and equipment necessary to upgrade his current workshop and expand his business, helping him will make a huge difference.

There’s something satisfying and fulfilling about practicing a job you love, far more than the financial aspects of it. It is what makes Ohannes (the former goldsmith) wants to go work as a Silversmith.

Ohannes is 55 years old, he used to work in a Goldsmith workshop since 1980, in his long years of practice he refined his skills and gained a great deal of experience in this work, and although he wasn’t self-employed but he loved what he did. His workshop was located in Al-Midan area when in 2012, the armed conflict reached the heart of the city and going to work became extremely dangerous. However, it wasn’t the main reason for closing the workshop where he worked and the majority of similar workshops. The economic instability and the constantly rising value of precious metals, in addition to the currency value, all played a major role in ending such kind of crafts and thus, many goldsmiths like Ohannes became jobless. 

Al-Moushieh area, where Ohannes lived with his wife Yeghsabet and his son Hagop became an easy target of mortar shells falling around every day, it was a rough period; they didn’t know what to do specially financially, the family then was depending on Yeghsapet’s salary to survive (she was an employee in a local shipping company). As things were becoming harder each and every day, Hagop started helping with the income. In 2016, with the withdrawal of weaponry from the civilian areas, Ohannes found a job too, he started working in cables installation and still practices the job. But the gold or silversmith was always what he wanted to do. He even was working on and off in that field between the years of 2012-2016. 

Today Ohannes wants to be working in silver crafting, the only thing he needs is the tools and equipment which are expensive these days, and he can’t buy them on his own. Furthermore, what makes this project special this time is that Hagop, Ohannes’s son, showed an interest in this craft too, he will be helping his father in adding a more youthful touch and modern designs to the work and his mother also is enthusiastic about learning and getting involved in their hopefully thriving family business. 

Talaat, a hardworking farmer from Qattinah village, faced adversity when thieves stole his irrigation network. This setback left his water pond and well, equipped with a pump, useless, limiting him to planting only wheat on his land. As a husband and father of two university students, he felt the weight of providing for his family. With the stolen irrigation system, he struggled to cultivate a variety of crops to improve their livelihood.

However, with the support of a new irrigation network, Talaat's hopes blossomed anew. Now equipped with everything needed for a well-watered farm, he eagerly began planting potatoes and a variety of vegetables without worries. This stability not only transforms his farm but also holds the promise of changing his family's future, ensuring them a dignified life. 

Alaa, a devoted family man from the village of Qattinah, faced the trials of sustaining his family through farming and seasonal fishing. 

He works in his father-in-law's land, entrusted with its care while his father-in-law traveled abroad. In this land there was a partnership between his father-in-law and someone else and this partnership had once thrived, when they equipped the land with essential irrigation tools.

In 2022, Alaa's world shattered as his father-in-law's partner sold their shared assets, leaving him deprived of the crucial equipment and water access. 

With no recourse, his farming activities were paused, casting shadows over his family's livelihood.

Yet, hope flickered in the form of the Micro Projects Program, where he sought aid to restore his dreams. He applied for a solar power and irrigation systems, envisioning a future where his land flourishes once more.

Amidst the olive trees and vegetable crops, Alaa's resilience bloomed. With the installation of solar panels and an efficient irrigation system, his land came to life. 

Fadi is married with two children, he cherishes the simplicity of life alongside his aging parents. Enduring a two-year struggle with liver inflammation and diabetes, he found stability, embracing gratitude for his family and health.

Specialized in pastry making, a skill acquired in Lebanon, he operates a modest shop with his wife. He also works in farming with an arable land. He worked hard to enhance productivity year-round. However, lacking a water pump and motor hindered his ambition, limiting cultivation to winter season.

Despite efforts to rent equipment, the high costs hindered the progress. His cultivation during the summer was limited to wheat, due to the water scarcity. 

Hope flickered when Fadi applied for the Micro Projects Program, through the program's intervention, he received vital irrigation equipment, transforming his agricultural prospects. Now, empowered by efficient water management, he became able to secure a dignified life for his loved ones. 

Sami, the head of a family of four in Qattinah village, struggled with the financial burden of farming. As both a dedicated employee and a farmer with olive and almond trees, he faced challenges plowing his land and providing essential treatments due to high equipment rental costs. Undeterred, he sought help from the Micro Projects Program.

He secured a mini-cultivator and a spraying pump. This invaluable support not only alleviated the strain of expensive tractor rentals but also empowered him to tend to his land effectively. 

Now, Sami cultivates his land with ease, saving costs and ensuring a bountiful harvest. The support has not only transformed his struggles into success but has also paved the way for a brighter future, promising his family a more prosperous and secure livelihood.

Together with his wife, Eisa faced life's adversities head-on, within their humble house in Al-Tabbaleh, holding their strong faith in God's mercy. Their son Elie who was living with them, faced the complexities of life as a recent graduate with a lingering eye condition.

Eisa had dedicated decades of his life as a driver at the Ministry of Agriculture, until his retirement in 2021. However, retirement didn't signify a life of leisure; with financial constraints above his shoulders, he found himself in a critical situation in addition to the threat of eviction loomed large as his landlord sought to oust them.

In the face of adversity, the family remained resilient, his son, despite his visual impairment, persevered, finding employment in a mobile repair shop trying to hold the costs of his eye care, and his wife shared the responsibilities with her family by working as a bus attendant for a private school while Eisa sought any job opportunity available holding one endeavor in his heart, preserve his family's dignity.

unfortunately, due to his age, work options were limited until he found his way to apply for the pick-up car project at Hope Center with the idea of transporting vegetables and fruits to markets. 

Today, after having the support, Eisa is so grateful because despite the hardships, the income he got helped in improving his livelihood and promised of better days to come.

Samer Al-Shammas is married to Mouna Derany, and they have two sons Louay and Maher. Samer's life has always revolved around his family. Despite facing health challenges after retiring from his job in 2013 due to pancreatic issues, he never let adversity deter his spirit. Even when his medication costs became more than he could handle, he decided to sell his cherished home in Jaramana to pay for his treatment and spent the rest on his sons' weddings, proving that his sacrifices knew no bounds because he always found his solace in the love and support of his family.  

His son Louay was working diligently as a distributor, and established his own family, while Maher, miles away in Lebanon, pursued his career as an accountant.

Samer was working hard as a taxi driver, struggling against the increasing living prices trying his best to afford his daily food with dignity.

The turning point in his life was when he was supported by Hope Center to purchase his own taxi which wasn't just a vehicle for him; it was his means to independence, dignity, and a stable income.

As Samer cruised through the streets of Damascus, his taxi became more than a mode of transportation, it was a testament to resilience in the face of life challenges. With his head held high, Samer embraced each passenger with a warm smile.

Fady Qassis 46, started his career as an employee at Bimo Bank until 2015 when his life took a drastic turn as he was called for reserved military service and as a result, he was forced to vacate his rented home and leave his job.

Despite setbacks, Fady insisted on maintaining a decent standard of living for his family so he started working in distributing medicines using any means of transportation available and working long hours daily for this endeavor but the deteriorating economic conditions and the high costs of living exhausted him and he was clearly in need of support.

Through his unwavering commitment to providing for his family, he applied for the pickup truck project for distributing medicines and aimed to expand distribution beyond his area of residence.

Having support from Hope Center to purchase his own vehicle marked a significant milestone in Fady's life. It promised not only improved livelihood but also a secure income source for the future.

Khalaf Al-Bshara, 51, is married to Shireen Qabalan and lives in a humble house with his parents in Al-Tabbaleh neighborhood.

Despite being a skilled painter since 2003, life had not been kind to Khalaf.

At the beginning of the crisis, his painting work decreased so he started working on transferring vegetables and fruits between his village in Daraa and Damascus until the security conflicts reached the area and it was no longer safe, but he decided to challenge the situation and keep working until he was exposed to kidnapping by the armed groups, the three days he stayed in abduction shattered his stability so he relocated to Damascus to live with his family at his parents’ house.

With opportunities scarce, Khalaf found himself shuttling between different jobs: painting, construction, and even restaurant cleaning, he opted to do any available work to put food on the table but his situation was getting worse and the weight of responsibility pressed down harder in addition to having financial hardships, all of that led his marriage to collapse, as his wife took his daughter and moved to live at her parents’ house while he had to put his son at an orphanage.

Tears welled in Khalaf's eyes as he spoke of his kids, his dream of reuniting his fractured family stirred a deep resolve within him, making him apply for the pick-up car with one goal ahead, the reunion of his family.

The support that he gained from Hope Center isn't just about financial assistance; it symbolizes the promise of reunification, healing fractured bonds, and restoring Khalaf's family. 

Samaan Ashkar, a blacksmith whose life tells the tale of resilience against all odds.

From his humble beginnings in Kashkoul, Samaan started working as a blacksmith where he faced numerous challenges, including financial constraints and the loss of his beloved family members, but Samaan's spirit remained unbroken.

In 2003, he decided to relocate to Dubai and try his luck there, he worked in various capacities and experienced both triumphs and tribulations. However, with all the setbacks and financial strains that he went through in Dubai, Samaan managed to preserve, handle his livelihood, and save for his future, then after several years of working hard, Samaan decided eventually to return to Syria and start a new chapter of his life. 

Unfortunately, upon his arrival, he had to endure the loss of his mother, brother, and sister, which left him heartbroken and in poor financial condition as he bore the burden of their medical expenses and funeral costs from his previous work savings. 

With the limited tools and resources, he had, Samaan was not able to start his own business; he had to work at other blacksmithing workshops to get income and afford his living expenses.

Samaan longed to become independent and have his own blacksmithing workshop, which was achieved after getting support from Hope Center to buy electricity generators and necessary equipment and machines.

Today, Samaan is so grateful because having this project marked a pivotal moment in his journey, enabling him to overcome his adversities, and lightening his path toward self-sufficiency and decent living.

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.

Hanna Al-Ajoury 31, resides with his parents and brother Jack, their father, who was employed at the Gas station for 13 years but is currently without work. His brother works as an employee while their other brother, Marhaf, has relocated to Germany.

Before the war, he had worked at his cousin's beverage shop in Zabadani for two years until 2011 when he was called for military service for the next nine years. however, during his military service, he also worked alongside his father at the gas station, to secure his expenses and save some money for the future.

After his discharge from the service, Hanna embarked on a new journey in his life, as he started working as a taxi driver, with the money he saved from his previous work,  got engaged seeking to establish his own family but he was shocked by the huge burdens of living and his endeavors started to vanish.

Seeking assistance from Hope Center in Damascus, Hanna was granted support to purchase a taxi, which significantly improved his life. The newfound independence and stability brought by this taxi helped Hanna support his family and nurture his dreams.

Despite the challenges he faced, Hanna's story exemplifies the human spirit's ability to rise above adversity and create a better reality, one step at a time.

Anastasia Haddad born in 1998, was working diligently as a makeup artist and nail technician, living with her sister Taj in a rented flat in Jaramana after the divorce of her parents as they found solace in each other's company, forming a bond of strength amidst adversity.

Anastasia and Taj's childhood was marked by tumultuous family complications leaving scars that only time could heal. Yet, their determination to carve a brighter future fueled their aspirations and their talents blossomed despite all the challenges they faced.

Anastasia managed to overcome the obstacles by working long hours daily at a Salon in the neighborhood, but the income didn't cover the living expenses and she wanted to expand her work and customers which wasn’t possible with the tools she had, so she decided to apply at the Micro Project program to start her own project.

Supporting Anastasia with a make-up kit including all the necessary tools to start, was a turning point in her life because it enabled her to become independent and enhance her living condition.

George Eskeif, 33 is living alone in a sparsely furnished house in Jaramana while his heart remains tied to his family in Lebanon.

His family's relocation from Idlib to Damascus due to his father's health issues marked a turning point in their lives. George, then a student, saw himself shouldering the responsibility of their household while his father pursued medical treatment in Lebanon.

After completing his military service in 2019, George found himself with no education or experience, so he started working as a taxi driver, hoping to secure a stable income for himself and support his family who was residing in Lebanon as his father was working at a small coffee kiosk, while his brother was working diligently at a snack restaurant. Yet, the harsh realities of life in Lebanon lingered, driving George to ensure his family's well-being by sending them vital medications each month.

full of faith, George applied for the pickup car project at Hope Center seeking financial stability and sustainable livelihood.

the support he got, didn't just offer George financial assistance; it restored his sense of purpose and dignity. It empowered him to support his family while carving his own path to self-reliance and success.

Murhaf Al-Maher 62, is married to Nada Sankari, and the father of two daughters and son. Despite his age and recent health issues, including lung inflammation, Murhaf remained determined to work. His dedication stemmed not just from financial necessity but from a sense of pride in providing for his family and with no hesitation he also supported his daughters; Souryana, while she was pursuing a medical degree, and Rima, who became a music teacher.

In recent years, with his wife's medical expenses and his daughter's university fees looming large, Murhaf had found himself dipping into his savings more frequently. Yet, he remained steadfast in his commitment to their well-being, he kept supporting them through thick and thin, especially during his son-in-law's military service, and had even exhausted his savings to ensure their living. 

Now retired, Murhaf sought to continue working, not just out of necessity and lack of income, but out of a desire to maintain his independence and dignity.

With limited options available due to his age and health, the support he received from the Hope Center to purchase his own taxi, was crucial in ensuring his family's financial stability and allowing them to live with dignity. Despite the challenges he faced, Murhaf remained resolute in his determination to provide for his loved ones, one ride at a time.

Despite life's challenges, Elein Zghaib 28, remained steadfast in her pursuit of a better future. She lives with her family in Jaramana, her father is employed at the Ministry of Education, her mother tends to the household, and her sister, born in 2002, is skilled in nail care and beauty care. Their familial bond was a source of strength as they faced life's adversities together.

Before the crisis, Elein and her family were living in their ancestral home in Dweileh, but circumstances forced them to sell it and relocate. During that period, she graduated from the Faculty of Business Administration then she started working at Syriatel from 2016 to 2020 in marketing and sales. However, the income she got was barely enough to meet her own expenses without being able to provide for the house. Elein sought new horizons in the field of hairdressing and beauty care then she decided to travel to Lebanon in early 2022 seeking better opportunities but low salary and harsh conditions prompted her return after eight months.

Upon her return, Elein continued working as a freelance at various salons, often alongside her sister. She honed her skills through self-teaching leading to undeniable expertise in hairstyling.

With a vision for the future, Elein dreamed of opening her own salon, a joint venture with her sister, and with the help she got from Hope Center, this dream turned into reality.

Today, both sisters are determined to shoulder responsibilities and contribute to their family's expenses, facing life's challenges with unwavering resolve and great hopes.

Mufeed Hejazy, 28, lives with his family in a rented house in Dwallaa. His household consisted of his parents, his elder brother, who works at a goldsmith workshop, and his unemployed sister. Mufeed himself had volunteered for a charitable project in 2020 then he worked at a cosmetic company for two years until it closed. 

Mufeed and his family faced numerous hardships during the crisis in Syria, including his father suffering with chronic bronchitis which was very costly so they sought help from a local charity for the life-saving oxygen machine. Additionally, during the conflict in Maaloula in 2013, his father was kidnapped along with their car, requiring a hefty ransom of money for the release.

Despite the challenges, Mufeed persevered, seeking employment after the closure of the cosmetic company. However, finding stable work was difficult, especially since he didn't have the chance to gain any experience or education degree during his 9 years of military service.

With support from Hope Center, Mufeed was able to purchase a taxi, which formed a fresh start for him, a pathway to financial independence, and a means to navigate life's challenges without relying on others.