I was displaced from my house in Al-meedan area after it got damaged, to my uncle’s house, I left my shop and became unemployed for six months,which was the hardest period of my life, then I worked at my uncle’s shop but I lost my customers and I need a better income because the profits are little and these machines will help me alot to provide a decent life for my family and try to overcome the hardships we went through.

We were displaced from Al- Saydeh Mountain and rented a small place through the help of CONGREGATION DES FRERES MARISTES. I was left with no job and two kids. I worked in several jobs just to provide income such as selling gas bottles, cleaning houses, cleaning chimneys, and anything I could find. This shop will be a new hope for me to start over after going through all this agony and to work in something that I actually like and know how to do well.

I used to work at several workshops in tailoring on the sewing machines, during the war crisis I worked in a shelter that belongs to my brother in law under my house, and I borrowed sewing machines and with the help of my husband "who also lost his job because of war" and my kids who help me after finishing their study at the university, we work hard and get by. My goal is not to get rich, rather not to have to beg anyone for money and to have a decent life for our family. We're a big family and we need every little help we can get.

My husband passed away from a disease and I became the sole provider for the family which has put a very heavy responsibility on my shoulders, I have to compensate for his absence.This work will help me providing well for my children and ensure they have a good life.

I have worked in plumbing since 1992, I also worked as a blacksmith for a while but I got injured. Currently, I live with my wife, my daughter, my father and my mother-in-law and I’m the sole provider for the family. Earlier this year my mother passed away, she had a stroke and she was recovering from it in the village, her medicine was unavailable there so we called the doctor and he described another medicine which later turned on to be...

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Plumbing Shop

Beneficiary: Ziad Oris Hanbouri

Fund Date: 06/2018

Age: 49 years old

Family members: 3

I have worked in plumbing since 1992, I also worked as a blacksmith for a while but I got injured. Currently, I live with my wife, my daughter, my father and my mother-in-law and I’m the sole provider for the family. Earlier this year my mother passed away, she had a stroke and she was recovering from it in the village, her medicine was unavailable there so we called the doctor and he described another medicine which later turned on to be unfitted for her condition and led to complications and death. My father got robbed by armed men in Jdaydeh area, he is now unable to work due to cerebral ischemia. My mother in law lost her son as a martyr in the war, she had a house in Al Medan area that got burned and ruined and now she lives with us. She is bereaved and has no inner peace at all. My house was also in Al Medan area, fifth floor, we went through so much fear and stress during the time of war because of mortar shells and missiles that rained over the area, eventually we moved to Mhatet Baghdad and I put the house for rent. At the moment I live in my friend’s house. I suffer from a disc condition, I had a surgery that hasn’t been successful that’s why I need another one. My wrist is also broken and needs a splint; I don’t have the time or the money to have the surgery needed to fix it. During the crisis, my income dropped because my equipment was old and malfunctioning, which caused several losses for me. There are so many services that I can’t offer in my business due to the lack of the suitable equipment, I rented a shop to sell plumbing equipment trying to increase my income but the opposite happened because the rent was very high. Now I live day by day, my income isn’t equivalent with my family’s spending even with the helps I get. With this project I can start to have my life back together and help my family.

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Bassel and his brother, Eli, own a store for selling computer hardware and maintenance. During the crisis, the shop was substantially damaged by the fighting because of many shells that fell in its area, the shop was not closed however because they did not want to lose their customers. The income was tiny, and the families had no other resources. They were no longer capable of providing the shop with required equipment and products. The shop is the sole source of income for Eli with his family, Bassel who’s currently engaged and about to be married, and their mother. They applied for this grant to purchase products and required equipment for the store.

She is a single woman who lives with her brother and mother, and they are the providers for the family. Her brother fixes engines and dynamos. She has been working in a rented cotton underwear shop and it has been her job for 12 years. The main owner sold the shop to another person and now the new owner raises up the price of the monthly rent. The shop is too small and it is not enough for more goods which she...

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Cotton Clothes Shop

Beneficiary: Ovilia Najarian

Fund Date: 03/2019

Age: 48 years old

Family members: 3

She is a single woman who lives with her brother and mother, and they are the providers for the family. Her brother fixes engines and dynamos. She has been working in a rented cotton underwear shop and it has been her job for 12 years. The main owner sold the shop to another person and now the new owner raises up the price of the monthly rent. The shop is too small and it is not enough for more goods which she needs to increase her income because she is responsible for her mother and the house. The mother has heart problems and she did an operation recently. She had been helped with her operation and medication by the Caritas. They also take a monthly aid from the Caritas. The new owner will not renew her renting contract so she rented another shop in the same street to keep her customers and in addition the new shop is bigger and better. The project will give her the chance to pay back all the money that she had borrowed from the traders as she knows the main traders very well and that will definitely affect her life in a positive way.

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Elias is a married man who has a son and a daughter. His main job is painting. During the war he sold his house and his car because of the lack of work and because he needed money to provide his family with the daily needs. He managed to send his son to study in Latakia and Because of his psychological condition, they returned him to live in Aleppo and the father lost everything he had. Now he wants to buy a Suzuki to work on and support his family.

Jimmy lives with his parents, he works in distributing (hummus) for the shops, he has a brother who left Aleppo 4 years ago to find work and he is currently in Tartous working in cloth distribution; the rents there are cheaper but there is no population density. “before the war we had a printer in Bustan Al-Basha but the whole building was ruined during the war, we spent all our life savings on establishing this printer and it’s all gone.” The mother...

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Men's Clothing Store

Beneficiary: Jimmy Barsikh

Fund Date: 08/2018

Age: 41 years old

Family members: 4

Jimmy lives with his parents, he works in distributing (hummus) for the shops, he has a brother who left Aleppo 4 years ago to find work and he is currently in Tartous working in cloth distribution; the rents there are cheaper but there is no population density. “before the war we had a printer in Bustan Al-Basha but the whole building was ruined during the war, we spent all our life savings on establishing this printer and it’s all gone.” The mother says that her two boys aren’t married until now because they cannot afford to start a family after losing all their dreams on the printer. “My father had to sell electrical devices on the streets even in the winter under the rain just to provide living for us, after a while we found a small place for rent so we took it and now he works in it.” The mother is heartbroken on her boys’ life and she desperately want her son to come back to Aleppo and to start establishing his own family that’s why this project will be a hope window for them.

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Fepromya used to live with her family in Al-Sayed Ali area before the armed forces entered. They were displaced to her grandmother’s house fearing for their lives. During the period in which they were living at her grandmother’s house her father asked for divorce so They had to leave the house. “It has been 7 years since he left us, he’s now married and he has a kid”. She only finished her elementary education and then she quitted school, “I...

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Makeup Kit

Beneficiary: Fepromya kolomyan

Fund Date: 09/2018

Age: 21 years old

Family members: 3

Fepromya used to live with her family in Al-Sayed Ali area before the armed forces entered. They were displaced to her grandmother’s house fearing for their lives. During the period in which they were living at her grandmother’s house her father asked for divorce so They had to leave the house. “It has been 7 years since he left us, he’s now married and he has a kid”. She only finished her elementary education and then she quitted school, “I did not continue because of personal causes related to the fact that my father left us”. Since they were young, she and her brother were in the Maristes Sunday school, and they helped them by providing a house for them along with monthly aid. Her mother also works with the Maristes. “my brother also started working after he got his Baccalaureate degree, he’s now a freshmen-year student at the university and works in Aarcoub area”. Her mother expressed concern for her children since they have no one to support them and help them building their future. “They also did not live their childhood like other children” she said with tears in her eyes, “my daughter did not enjoy activities, scouts, and other fun things that most kids have; her father did not have a job”. Febromya applied for a micro project to have materials and equipment in order to work as a makeup artist between houses. “I used to work at two hair salons and in one of them I learned how to do makeup and nails.”

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I lost my workshop in Shekh-Kheder area and I became unemployed, then I heard about this initiative and found a shop for rent, I have to work although I am too old for this hard job but it is the only way other than begging for money. If I got this workshop I'll be able to provide for my family and keep my dignity.

Ibrahim is a married man who has a 3 years old daughter. During war, he could not find a job so he volunteered with the army. His recruitment location in the army is so dangerous, but he has to get an income in any possible way in order to provide a decent life for his wife and daughter. He lives in his mother-in-law’s house and he is the sole provider for her and his family. He wants a workshop to work with his cousin in sewing clothes and ironing them. He is constantly thinking about the future of his daughter and his family and he wants to be able to give them the best as any other father dreams. This project will give him a new start, to work in a safe workshop, to be more around for his family and little daughter who doesn’t get the chance to spent time with her father.

Imad learned this profession from his father and developed his skills over time, he used to work with him before the military service that lasted for nine years.

He lives with his parents and brother; he immediately resumed working when he was discharged in order to help in providing for the family.

His craft heavily relies on electricity, which was the thing that hindered Imad's productivity during the current circumstances. He tried to carry on working while using an electric generator that...

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Spray Painting Equipment

Beneficiary: Imad Bittar

Fund Date: 03/2023

Age: 31 years old

Family members: 4

Skills and experience: 17 years of experience.

Imad learned this profession from his father and developed his skills over time, he used to work with him before the military service that lasted for nine years.

He lives with his parents and brother; he immediately resumed working when he was discharged in order to help in providing for the family.

His craft heavily relies on electricity, which was the thing that hindered Imad's productivity during the current circumstances. He tried to carry on working while using an electric generator that he had rented, but he missed many work chances when renting was not possible.

Imad is determined to overcome the challenges brought by the crisis and achieve his goals, in hopes that with the new equipment, he will not only be able to provide for his family but also save up for his dream of working independently.

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Elian, a construction worker who struggled due to the mounting financial obligations and lack of opportunities, thought of a way to increase his income and added another service to his work, which involves lifting construction materials with a mini-winch that he bought with some friends' assistance.

He lives with his brother Adel after their parents passed away and all of their siblings got married and went into their own lives.

But Elian's inability to generate a sufficient income was actually hindered by...

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Mini-Winch

Beneficiary: Elian Seibour

Fund Date: 03/2023

Age: 49 years old

Family members: 2

Elian, a construction worker who struggled due to the mounting financial obligations and lack of opportunities, thought of a way to increase his income and added another service to his work, which involves lifting construction materials with a mini-winch that he bought with some friends' assistance.

He lives with his brother Adel after their parents passed away and all of their siblings got married and went into their own lives.

But Elian's inability to generate a sufficient income was actually hindered by the lack of electricity, and he couldn't afford the cost of an electric generator.

He wanted the generator to continue working because, as he gets older, his construction work will become more difficult and exhausting, and the mini-winch will ensure he has a source of income because it requires less physical effort.

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Shireen represents the strong working woman and the selfless mother who devoted her entire life for her family and didn’t give up no matter how hard the circumstances were.

She is married and the mother of three children, two boys and a girl, and her family is originally from the war-torn village of Al-Qaryatein. 

2015 was the year Shireen and her family were kidnapped by the armed groups that attacked their home village and deprived them of the peaceful life they used...

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Sewing Machines

Beneficiary: Shireen Al-Khoury

Fund Date: 02/2023

Age: 45 years old

Family members: 5

Skills and experience: more than 30 years of experience.

Shireen represents the strong working woman and the selfless mother who devoted her entire life for her family and didn’t give up no matter how hard the circumstances were.

She is married and the mother of three children, two boys and a girl, and her family is originally from the war-torn village of Al-Qaryatein. 

2015 was the year Shireen and her family were kidnapped by the armed groups that attacked their home village and deprived them of the peaceful life they used to live. Fortunately, they were able to escape and make it to Fairouza village, where they began to rebuild their lives from scratch, just like many other displaced families.

Today, Shireen shares a home with her husband, who is an employee, her only daughter, who is a high school student, her mother-in-law, and her brother-in-law, while the two sons left to find their own paths. She couldn't just stand by and watch, so she made the decision to utilize her sewing skills. Since the experienced seamstress has a long history of working in this industry both teaching and working in it. 

While switching between several workshops in Fairouza over the previous few years, working for others didn’t provide decent living for the family until she applied to the Micro Projects Program in 2022, where she got the needed support to buy the main machines and start practicing her profession at home.

Life was tough on Shireen and her family, and having a project will preserve her dignity and allow her to secure a better income.

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Reem opened her small mini-market using a part of her house back in 2015 to help her husband, who is an employee, secure a decent living for their two sons.

Her project was damaged by the sharp increase in prices during the past few years, which affected the amounts of merchandise in it and decreased the generated income.

For Reem's family, the mini-market is considered as their primary source of income, and she depends on it to guarantee that her kids will have good life and education. 

Providing the market with the required goods and commodities will make a positive shift in this family's life and give the opportunity for the parents to get some financial stability.

Maria and her family were left with a lot of responsibility, but the resilient young woman has shown strength in overcoming all the difficulties following her father's tragic passing.

She lives with her mother and older brother, Alaa, while her younger brother, Elie, traveled abroad to seek his opportunities.

Maria had previously worked for six years in the field of selling accessories and clothes, which helped her gain valuable expertise, and encouraged her to start a business, and in order to assure...

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Accessories Shop

Beneficiary: Maria Al-Deeb

Fund Date: 03/2023

Age: 26 years old

Family members: 3

Skills and experience: more than 5 years of sales experience.

Maria and her family were left with a lot of responsibility, but the resilient young woman has shown strength in overcoming all the difficulties following her father's tragic passing.

She lives with her mother and older brother, Alaa, while her younger brother, Elie, traveled abroad to seek his opportunities.

Maria had previously worked for six years in the field of selling accessories and clothes, which helped her gain valuable expertise, and encouraged her to start a business, and in order to assure the project's success, she also drew on her older brother's extensive sales experience. 

The two of them launched a simple accessory shop in 2020 with the goal of finding a way to support the family, which had good profits over the first few months, but in 2021, when the family lost their sole provider, it ended up being their only source of livelihood.

The situation of the country, especially the huge inflation, had an impact on the project, but the true obstacle in their path was the rental expenses, which had recently risen and increased their financial burdens.

Maria and Alaa studied the possibility of developing their shop and decided to apply new ideas, including selling handmade accessories. Based on that, Maria applied for the essential tools required for that and some merchandise to support it, in the hopes that the family's business would succeed and secure them a better future.

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Subhi left school at an early age and immediately started looking for a source of livelihood in order to support his family as the only son of his parents. He tried a variety of professions before his brother-in-law taught him about electrical installation, and they began working together in 2014.

Today, Subhi lives in Fairouza village with his wife and their 3-year-old son, along with his elderly parents.

After nine years of working in this field, Subhi managed to acquire all the...

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Electrical Installation Equipment

Beneficiary: Subhi Salloum

Fund Date: 03/2023

Age: 28 years old

Family members: 5

Skills and experience: 9 years of experience.

Subhi left school at an early age and immediately started looking for a source of livelihood in order to support his family as the only son of his parents. He tried a variety of professions before his brother-in-law taught him about electrical installation, and they began working together in 2014.

Today, Subhi lives in Fairouza village with his wife and their 3-year-old son, along with his elderly parents.

After nine years of working in this field, Subhi managed to acquire all the required skills to work independently, but due to his financial responsibilities, he was unable to buy his own tools and was barely able to provide for his family's basic necessities.

By providing him with the equipment he needs, Subhi will be able to work independently and ensure a better income.

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In 2010, Nidal and his wife Badiaa started their small family, and today they are the parents of two boys, Elias (10 years old) and Elie (8 years old). The family of four lives in a rented apartment, and Nidal is their sole provider.

They used to live in the war-torn neighborhood of Bab Al-Sebaa until they were compelled to leave because of the war dangers, and Fairouza village was their new home after starting a new life there. 

Nidal is an...

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Electrical Installation and Maintenance

Beneficiary: Nidal Al-Akraa

Fund Date: 03/2023

Age: 40 years old

Family members: 4

Skills and experience: 15 years of experience.

In 2010, Nidal and his wife Badiaa started their small family, and today they are the parents of two boys, Elias (10 years old) and Elie (8 years old). The family of four lives in a rented apartment, and Nidal is their sole provider.

They used to live in the war-torn neighborhood of Bab Al-Sebaa until they were compelled to leave because of the war dangers, and Fairouza village was their new home after starting a new life there. 

Nidal is an electrician, and during his career, he went through many experiences that helped him develop his great skills, particularly in maintenance.

After being forced to leave Homs, he continued to work using the few tools he was able to bring with him. Although it was difficult because he was in need of some necessary tools, the hard-working man never gave up.

Having all the tools will make a positive change and Nidal will guarantee his family a better future.

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Catherine, the family's youngest daughter, made the decision to pursue her own career and life path.

When she realized that the major she had been studying was not what she was passionate about, she began working in a hair salon, where she discovered her true passion. The experience she gained at the salon was not enough for the ambitious young lady, who attended specialized courses to broaden her skills and utilize her talent in the best way.

She lives with her parents;...

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Nail Care Kit

Beneficiary: Catherine Assaf

Fund Date: 02/2023

Age: 25 years old

Family members: 3

Skills and experience: 3 years of experience, in addition to attending specialized courses.

Catherine, the family's youngest daughter, made the decision to pursue her own career and life path.

When she realized that the major she had been studying was not what she was passionate about, she began working in a hair salon, where she discovered her true passion. The experience she gained at the salon was not enough for the ambitious young lady, who attended specialized courses to broaden her skills and utilize her talent in the best way.

She lives with her parents; her father was a plumber, but lately, he became no longer able to continue in this tiring work due to a health condition, and her mother works as a seamstress at home, their situation made Catherine more eager to work and support her family during the tough economic circumstances.

She intended to take her first step by offering nail care services at home, but acquiring the necessary tools and materials was challenging without assistance.

With her unique skills and good experience, Catherine now has the tools necessary to provide the best service to her clients thanks to this initiative.

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Jackie and her husband Mikhail are young parents who are doing their best to give their 3-year-old daughter Tatiana a happy life. The small family rents an apartment in Fairouza village; Mikhail owns a vegetable shop, and when their financial obligations started to increase, Jackie decided to support him in finding an additional income.

For Jackie, nail art was just a hobby until she realized she could use her talent to support her family. In 2021, Jackie turned a spare room...

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Nail Care Kit

Beneficiary: Jackie Al-Naanaa

Fund Date: 03/2023

Age: 23 years old

Family members: 3

Skills and experience: more than three years of experience.

Jackie and her husband Mikhail are young parents who are doing their best to give their 3-year-old daughter Tatiana a happy life. The small family rents an apartment in Fairouza village; Mikhail owns a vegetable shop, and when their financial obligations started to increase, Jackie decided to support him in finding an additional income.

For Jackie, nail art was just a hobby until she realized she could use her talent to support her family. In 2021, Jackie turned a spare room in her home into a workspace and began taking on clients. Over time, she was able to acquire a few tools and supplies, but Jackie still required more equipment; particularly a battery to make up for the electricity shortage, in order to ensure better services.

This project is now complete since Jackie possesses the required skills and qualifications, in addition to all the requirements, and she intends to open her own salon in the future once her lovely daughter grows up and starts going to school.

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Toni is the sole provider for his wife and their three children; two daughters and a son.

He works as a floor tiler between Homs city and Fairouza village, with more than 20 years of experience. His profession is primarily dependent on the availability of adequate electricity, and during the past few years, his productivity was hindered due to the lack of energy in the country.

With the new tools and the electric generator he has now thanks to the Micro Projects Program, Toni will be better able to complete his job and ensure his family has a better income. 

Marwan, a well-known floor tiler from Homs City, is married and the father of three children; two sons and a daughter.

When the devastating war began, he moved with his family to Fairouza village; because they were residing in the Bab Al-Sebaa neighborhood, their home was destroyed and Marwan lost his equipment.

With the resources at hand, he was able to purchase some basic tools and resume work. He also taught his younger son Elian his profession, and the two of them started working together while his elder son Milad works as a tailor, and the three work hard to support the family.

The skilled craftsman needed to improve his work and have all necessary tools, particularly the electric generator, which would boost his productivity and increase his income.

After retiring from his job as a craft trainer at the electrical institute, Khaddour was able to devote all of his time to his career in electrical installation and maintenance, which he started in 1984.

He is the sole provider for his wife and their two children, Ornina and Fadi, who are university students.

Khaddour's entire equipment was stolen while he was working at a construction site in February 2022, which caused him to lose his primary source of income. His wife...

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Electrical Installation Equipment

Beneficiary: Kaddour Razzouk

Fund Date: 03/2023

Age: 61 years old

Family members: 4

Skills and experience: more than 25 years of craft working and teaching experience.

After retiring from his job as a craft trainer at the electrical institute, Khaddour was able to devote all of his time to his career in electrical installation and maintenance, which he started in 1984.

He is the sole provider for his wife and their two children, Ornina and Fadi, who are university students.

Khaddour's entire equipment was stolen while he was working at a construction site in February 2022, which caused him to lose his primary source of income. His wife is, unfortunately, a cancer patient, so his pension barely covered the family's essential expenses. He was also unable to pay for new equipment, which caused him to lose out on many opportunities.

Khaddour was able to resume working thanks to this support, which also ensured him an additional source of livelihood during this difficult times.

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Samir is a husband and a father of 2 young kids that he devoted his life to providing them with what they need for a good life, especially for his son, who suffers from asthma and needs to visit the hospital every now and then to recover. 

Samir works two shifts every day as a valet at a hotel and even though he works for long hours he still barely makes enough to survive

Back in 2010, Samir used to own an optical...

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Taxi

Beneficiaries: Samir Milaneh, Claire Aboud

Fund Date: 03/2023

Age: 37 years old

Family members: 4

Skills and experience: one and a half year

Samir is a husband and a father of 2 young kids that he devoted his life to providing them with what they need for a good life, especially for his son, who suffers from asthma and needs to visit the hospital every now and then to recover. 

Samir works two shifts every day as a valet at a hotel and even though he works for long hours he still barely makes enough to survive

Back in 2010, Samir used to own an optical shop, before the hand of terrorism reached it, costing him all that he built for long years. After losing everything, he was forced to start all over; He began working as a driver on the Lebanese-Syrian road, but disaster struck one year later when the border was closed due to covid, Samir was jobless again.

He didn’t give up, he tried to work in a Mosaic workshop in the mornings and drive a taxi in the evening for six months but the taxi owner took the car back, leading him to start the job as a valet at a hotel.

Samir also had a mother-in-law to take care of, who unfortunately passed away after she lost her battle with cancer.  He had to pay for her treatment costs. He and his family lived in her small house to save the rent money.

Now, through the Micro Project program, Samir will be supplied with a taxi to make money to support his family and pay off accumulated debts.

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Nidal always dreamed of becoming a lawyer. He studied hard and graduated from law university in 2001. However, his family's financial situation prevented him from finishing his degree, and he had to work as a government employee after graduation. He also had to help his father in their small grocery shop next to their house.

Years went by, and in 2019, Nidal finally finished his studies and became a lawyer. He started working under the supervision of a professional attorney, and...

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Law Office

Beneficiaries: Nidal AL-Satmi, Jina AL-Zaitoun

Fund Date: 03/2023

Age: 53 years old

Family members: 5

Skills and experience: three years

Nidal always dreamed of becoming a lawyer. He studied hard and graduated from law university in 2001. However, his family's financial situation prevented him from finishing his degree, and he had to work as a government employee after graduation. He also had to help his father in their small grocery shop next to their house.

Years went by, and in 2019, Nidal finally finished his studies and became a lawyer. He started working under the supervision of a professional attorney, and soon he began handling his own cases, slowly making his way up the ranks.

Despite his success, Nidal still faced struggles. He lived in his parent’s house with his wife, three kids, and two sisters. He was the main breadwinner for the family, with his wife working as a government employee and one of his sisters working as an elder’s nurse. Despite their combined efforts, the family barely made enough to survive.

Determined to change their situation, Nidal decided to open his own office. He knew that renting would be costly, so he decided to open in the same place where the family shop used to be. 

It wasn't easy starting his own business. Nidal had to balance work and family responsibilities. However, he persevered, working hard and putting in long hours to build up his client base.

Eventually, Nidal's office became true after he was funded by the micro-project program in Damascus with all the equipment he needs. 

Looking back, Nidal knew that his struggles only made him stronger. He was grateful for the opportunity to open his own office, which not only changed his life but also his family's future.

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Youssef had always been a hardworking man. He spent most of his life as a government employee, dedicating himself to his job with diligence and determination. However, as the years went on, his age began to catch up with him, and he found himself suffering from a series of health issues that made it increasingly difficult for him to work as he used to. he had already undergone a hernia surgery and a digestive system operation in recent years, and...

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Taxi

Beneficiaries: Youssef AL-Theeb, Yara AL-Thiab

Fund Date: 03/2023

Age: 56 years old

Family members: 5

Skills and experience: 3 years

Youssef had always been a hardworking man. He spent most of his life as a government employee, dedicating himself to his job with diligence and determination. However, as the years went on, his age began to catch up with him, and he found himself suffering from a series of health issues that made it increasingly difficult for him to work as he used to. he had already undergone a hernia surgery and a digestive system operation in recent years, and he knew that he would need to take special precautions to keep his health in check. 

However, he was determined to find a way to make it work despite his physical limitations, Youssef wanted to provide for his family after his retirement in 2020; he rented a taxi to work on as it was the only job he can do that suits his health situation, of course with the high renting prices more than half of his income would go to the car owner

Youssef and his wife have three children to care for, and their finances were always stretched thin with the oldest currently in medical school.

The family lives in a small rented house that is cozy but cramped, and Youssef's retirement salary was barely enough to make ends meet from day to day. His wife, who worked at a medical center, earned a bit more, but they still struggled to keep up with the rising living costs.

Youssef was funded to buy a taxi by the micro project in Damascus. With his own car to drive, Youssefis now is able to earn more money and provide himself and his family with more stability. The kids' education was no longer something they had to sacrifice for, and Youssef could take care of his health while still earning a living.

Youssef knew that there would still be challenges ahead, but with his family by his side and his own taxi to rely on, he has the hope to keep going. 

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Wasef  was content with his work until the war broke out, forcing him to serve in the most dangerous areas. Despite the risks, he remained determined to survive. 

Years went by, and Wasef witnessed countless heart-wrenching moments that often left him with a heavy heart. However, in 2018, something even more devastating happened. While on duty, he got injured by being exposed to poisonous gas, causing him to lose one of his lungs.

Wasef's injuries limited his work options, and he found...

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Mini-Van

Beneficiaries: Wasef Sakr, Dina AL-Nassar

Fund Date: 04/2023

Age: 52 years old

Family members: 6

Skills and experience: two years

Wasef  was content with his work until the war broke out, forcing him to serve in the most dangerous areas. Despite the risks, he remained determined to survive. 

Years went by, and Wasef witnessed countless heart-wrenching moments that often left him with a heavy heart. However, in 2018, something even more devastating happened. While on duty, he got injured by being exposed to poisonous gas, causing him to lose one of his lungs.

Wasef's injuries limited his work options, and he found himself resorting to driving taxis to make his bread. He used to rent a taxi, but when the taxi owner had to take it back, he couldn't afford to rent another one. So, he started driving a microbus.

Despite his constant struggles, Wasef has a family to support. He has four kids, and his daughter, suffered from Thrombocytopenia, a blood disorder that required extensive treatment. The income from Wasef's retirement salary was barely enough, and what his son was earning from work was insignificant.

The family was facing financial difficulties and had to resort to selling some of their belongings to survive. Things were not easy for Wasef and his family, but they kept their spirits up and remained hopeful.

One day, Wasef applied to get a mini-van from a micro-project program in Damascus. The minivan would radically improve his life and that of his family. He was overjoyed, and the vehicle proved to be a blessing. He could drive the mini-van for longer hours without causing any health problems, and the extra income from it made a massive difference in his life.

The family had struggled for so long, but they had overcome their difficulties through love and support for each other. 

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life had not been easy for Riad. He has two young children and a wife who works as a babysitter to help make ends meet, to add to his troubles, his two sisters were married to men that had been diagnosed with deadly diseases, and Riad took on the responsibility of supporting them as well.

Riad had always been a hard worker. For over 20 years he had worked with gold, crafting delicate and intricate pieces that were traded all around...

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Taxi

Beneficiaries: Riad Kusrmali, Randa AL-Khouri

Fund Date: 03/2023

Age: 46 years old

Family members: 4

Skills and experience: 7 years

life had not been easy for Riad. He has two young children and a wife who works as a babysitter to help make ends meet, to add to his troubles, his two sisters were married to men that had been diagnosed with deadly diseases, and Riad took on the responsibility of supporting them as well.

Riad had always been a hard worker. For over 20 years he had worked with gold, crafting delicate and intricate pieces that were traded all around the markets. Despite the long hours, he had always enjoyed the precision and artistry that came with the job.

Despite these challenges, Riad was financially stable. He had managed to buy a house for himself and another one for his mother. He even worked on a pickup truck that he used to earn extra money with his business partner. But then the war came, and everything changed.

Riad lost 250g of gold due to the conflict, forcing him to close his business in 2012. He moved to Lebanon to work with gold there, but life for Syrians was difficult, and he had to return home less than a year later, jobless and struggling.

For six months, Riad searched for work with little success. But then he found a friend with a pickup truck that needed fixing up, and he spent a couple of months working on it. It wasn't the work he had been trained to do, but it was something. And then he changed to driving a taxi. He started driving part-time then turn it into his career.

With the support of the micro-project in Damascus, Riad is funded to buy his own taxi. It was a life-changing moment for him. He no longer had to pay rent for the taxi, and now he is able to work full-time, earning enough money to support his family and even help his sisters.

It wasn't the life he had imagined for himself, but Riad is grateful for what he have; his health, his family, and a job that provides for them.

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Rawad was just a boy when he lost both his parents, he had to start working hard from a young age to make a living. He worked on farms in his hometown and various jobs here and there to make a living, but life was tough.

When the time came for Rawad to serve in the army in 2011, he was sent to one of the most dangerous area in Syria - Daraa where he spent 10 years on the frontlines,...

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Pick-up truck

Beneficiary: Rawad AL-Kabalan

Fund Date: 03/2023

Age: 31 years old

Family members: 2

Skills and experience: 2 years

Rawad was just a boy when he lost both his parents, he had to start working hard from a young age to make a living. He worked on farms in his hometown and various jobs here and there to make a living, but life was tough.

When the time came for Rawad to serve in the army in 2011, he was sent to one of the most dangerous area in Syria - Daraa where he spent 10 years on the frontlines, watching his fellow soldiers fall dead around him. In 2014 Rawad was injured in his chest, arm, and leg, and the shrapnel never came out, limiting his ability to do physical effort.

Rawad returned home, but things didn't get easier for him. He had to share a small room with his brother, who works in a mobile shop, in their grandparents' house in Damascus after they lost the family house. It was a far cry from the life Rawad had hoped for after his army service.

However, he was determined to make a new start. He started working on a pickup truck to transport fresh vegetables from his hometown to the markets in Damascus, hoping to make a good profit. It was tough work as he had to pay high rent for the truck owner which made him lose a lot from his profit.

Through Micro-project program in Damascus, he was funded by a pickup truck, with his new truck, Rawad is able to take on twice as many deliveries, increasing his profit and giving him the opportunity to provide for his future in a much more comfortable way. He could even deliver food and supplies to local markets

Despite everything that Rawad had gone through, he never gave up. He knew that life could be tough, but with hard work and determination, there is always a chance for a better future.

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Randa was born and raised in the small village of Khabab, where her parents had settled after retiring. She lived with her family, which included her brother who serve in the army, and her sister who work as a teacher.

After completing her high school education, Randa was lucky to receive a scholarship to study in Damascus, along with her sister and brother; Randa worked hard to earn her degree and was overjoyed when she graduated.

Afterward, Randa started her career as...

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Pharmacy

Beneficiary: Randa AL-Najem

Fund Date: 04/2023

Age: 28 years old

Family members: 4

Skills and experience: 6 Years

Randa was born and raised in the small village of Khabab, where her parents had settled after retiring. She lived with her family, which included her brother who serve in the army, and her sister who work as a teacher.

After completing her high school education, Randa was lucky to receive a scholarship to study in Damascus, along with her sister and brother; Randa worked hard to earn her degree and was overjoyed when she graduated.

Afterward, Randa started her career as a saleswoman for a medical company and later worked in the countryside for two years. She then worked in a pharmacy for another two years, with hopes of someday owning her own pharmacy but she didn't have enough money to make her dream a reality.

 However, with the help of the micro-project in Damascus, Randa was able to secure the funds she needed to open her own pharmacy; she is thrilled to start building her future career and to be able to support her parents. Her pharmacy will be a destination for locals seeking medical supplies.

Now Randa is the proud owner of her own thriving business in Damascus, and she couldn't be happier. With her hard work and determination, she was able to make her dreams come true.

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Samer is a hardworking husband and loving father of two young children including a newborn baby. The four of them rent a small house in the countryside. He used to work in automotive electronics but had to stop due to a debilitating condition called Sciatica; this condition has not only prevented him from continuing to work in his field but has also limited his ability to work in any job because he is in immense constant physical pain.  

Samer needs surgery that...

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Pick-up truck

Beneficiaries: Samer Karaket, Lorin AlL-farah

Fund Date: 02/2023

Age: 39 years old

Family members: 4

Skills and experience: one and a half year

Samer is a hardworking husband and loving father of two young children including a newborn baby. The four of them rent a small house in the countryside. He used to work in automotive electronics but had to stop due to a debilitating condition called Sciatica; this condition has not only prevented him from continuing to work in his field but has also limited his ability to work in any job because he is in immense constant physical pain.  

Samer needs surgery that could cost him over 4000 USD. As a result, he has been unable to provide for his family as he used to. His wife works as a nurse in a hospital to help with the living costs. However, the family still struggles to make ends meet. 

After working for two years as a private driver, Samer has been renting cars for his current job in distribution, which has been costing him much money; this is why he has a dream of buying a pick-up truck which he can use for distribution, it will provide Samer with much-needed mobility to provide for his family.

Through the micro-project program in Damascus, Samer was funded to buy a pickup truck, giving him a new beginning to start his own career, support his family financially and get some stability.

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Nidal's life has been full of struggles and hardships that would have broken the resolve of the strongest men; Nidal has faced numerous challenges that have threatened his family's survival. He is a husband, a father, and a grandfather that had to endure the weight of responsibility for his loved ones' well-being.

With a small two-room house, Nidal's living conditions have never been the best. Still, he has managed to provide his family a roof over their heads. His eldest son...

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Pickup truck

Beneficiaries: Nidal AL-Shadaideh, Tarez AL-Junaidi

Fund Date: 03/2023

Age: 58 years old

Family members: 7

Skills and experience: two years

Nidal's life has been full of struggles and hardships that would have broken the resolve of the strongest men; Nidal has faced numerous challenges that have threatened his family's survival. He is a husband, a father, and a grandfather that had to endure the weight of responsibility for his loved ones' well-being.

With a small two-room house, Nidal's living conditions have never been the best. Still, he has managed to provide his family a roof over their heads. His eldest son works as a janitor at a local school, barely making enough to support his wife and daughter. The second son struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after surviving an attack while serving in Al Hasakah.

It's a battle that takes a significant toll on the whole family. Nidal's third son is currently serving in the military, taking any jobs he can to support himself.

Nidal once worked as a government employee, but life took an unexpected turn during the war, and he had to switch careers. He took a loan to buy a pickup truck, hoping to make a better life for himself and his family. Unfortunately, the war had other plans for him. Thieves stole parts off the van several times, leading him to sell it and began doing random jobs to make ends meet.

Despite the challenges, Nidal remains optimistic. The family is heavily dependent on receiving a small aid of food from a church that provides assistance to the needy.

Through the Micro Project program, Nidal is supplied with a pickup truck hopeful that one day he'll be able to provide a better life for his family, It's a hope that keeps him going one day at a time, working hard every day for a better tomorrow.

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Youssef woke up to the sound of his mother's sewing machine that she used to earn some extra money. in the small rented house where they lived with his older brother. They had been struggling to make ends meet since his father passed away years ago. 

Youssef had studied in college, but the war situation forced him to leave and serve in the army from 2018 to 2021. It was a difficult time, but he managed to pull through with the...

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Taxi

Beneficiary: Youssef AL-Aiazra

Fund Date: 04/2023

Age: 27 years old

Family members: 4

Skills and experience: 5 years

Youssef woke up to the sound of his mother's sewing machine that she used to earn some extra money. in the small rented house where they lived with his older brother. They had been struggling to make ends meet since his father passed away years ago. 

Youssef had studied in college, but the war situation forced him to leave and serve in the army from 2018 to 2021. It was a difficult time, but he managed to pull through with the support of his family. His brother had even volunteered for the special forces to save him during one of their missions.

After finishing his service, Youssef started working as a valet in a restaurant after his morning job as a worker at a food company. Youssef had dreams of making a career for himself, but being forced to quit his studies killed his dream and he knew that he needed to support his family first.

owning a taxi would be a game-changer for him. He could work independently, earn enough money to make a good living, support his family and give his mother who suffers from high blood pressure and heart disease good treatment.

With the fund of the micro-project in Damascus, Youssef's life changed. He now can work and make good money. He knows that he still has a long way to go, but owning his taxi had given him a sense of purpose and hope for a better future.

Looking back, Youssef realized that his journey had been filled with struggles and hardships, but he was grateful for his family's love and support. He knew that every obstacle he overcame had made him stronger and more determined to succeed.

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Danny always knew that life wasn't going to be easy. He grew up in a small village near Swaidaa, in the countryside of Syria. Danny's father was their sole provider, working as a farmer to feed his family. Danny helped him since he was old enough to pick vegetables and deliver them to the local market.

When Danny was only 18 years old, his father passed away from cancer. It was a huge shock to the family. Danny had to take...

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Taxi

Beneficiary: Danny AL-Kaial

Fund Date: 02/2023

Age: 38 years old

Family members: 3

Skills and experience: 3 years

Danny always knew that life wasn't going to be easy. He grew up in a small village near Swaidaa, in the countryside of Syria. Danny's father was their sole provider, working as a farmer to feed his family. Danny helped him since he was old enough to pick vegetables and deliver them to the local market.

When Danny was only 18 years old, his father passed away from cancer. It was a huge shock to the family. Danny had to take house responsibility from a young age. He worked hard to support his mother, little brother, and two sisters.

In 2014, terrorists attacked their home. Danny was a brave young man and didn't hesitate to defend his family. Unfortunately, he received multiple shots that led him to lose parts of his stomach, kidneys, and liver. Doctors gave up on his case, but Danny survived by a miracle.

Life changed for the worse after the attack. Danny's mother’s mental health was affected greatly. His little brother and sisters had to start working at a young age to support the family. They had to move to the city of Swaidaa with no support after losing everything in their hometown.

In 2019 and after both of his two sisters got married, Danny, his mother, and his brother moved to Damascus, seeking a better life. They rented a small house, and his brother worked and studied law. Danny rented a taxi as it was the only career that suited his experience and health situation.

Danny's willpower and determination never faded away. With the help of the micro-project in Damascus, he got funded by Taxi. He doesn’t need to pay rent and lose a significant amount of what he made anymore. His mother is still recovering from the shock of the attack, but she's happy to see her son recovering.

Danny's family are proud of him. He's been through so much, but he's still standing tall. Danny never gave up; he fought against all the odds and proved that miracles come true if you work hard and never lose hope.

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Sandra had always been the reliable one in her family. As the eldest child, she had taken on the role of mother and sister to her younger brother, especially after their mother passed away in 2012.

It was a devastating loss for the family, but especially for Sandra and her brother. Their mother had a heart attack after hearing about an explosion where her son was at that time. The trauma of losing her son overwhelmed her and led to her...

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Tattoo Artist

Beneficiary: Sandra Shalash

Fund Date: 02/2023

Age: 25 years old

Family members: 4

Skills and experience: 1 Year

Sandra had always been the reliable one in her family. As the eldest child, she had taken on the role of mother and sister to her younger brother, especially after their mother passed away in 2012.

It was a devastating loss for the family, but especially for Sandra and her brother. Their mother had a heart attack after hearing about an explosion where her son was at that time. The trauma of losing her son overwhelmed her and led to her sudden death.

Their father got married a few years later and left Sandra and her brother to find their own way in life. Sandra tried to work with her multiple courses such as hairstyles, business management, photography, and tattoo arts but she didn’t have the tools to start any career. She couldn't even get a job in any of these fields without the required equipment.

It wasn't until her aunt gifted her a new phone that she saw a glimmer of hope. She decided to use it to kickstart her photography career, but unfortunately, it was stolen a couple of days later.

Sandra had to drop out of her university cause she had no financial support. She worked hard in different places just to bring home some money. She would borrow the business owners’ tools and work long hours despite barely earning enough to make ends meet.

But things changed when she heard about the micro-project Damascus. It was an initiative that provided funding for people like Sandra. She applied for it and was grateful when she received funds for tattoo arts tools.

Finally, with the right tools, Sandra was able to start pursuing her dream career. She opened her own tattoo studio. Now She has more time on her hands, she can spend more quality time with her brother and support him in his endeavors.

Sandra's hard work and determination paid off and she could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The difficult journey had led her to find her passion, and now she could share that with others. She knew her mother would be proud, and more importantly, her brother had a role model to look up to.

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