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


650

Aleppo

605

Homs

230

Damascus

Graphic Clothes Printing


Abdullah Hatem, a hardworking 31-year-old with an entrepreneurial mindset, started his journey from a young age. He worked alongside his father, who owned a car mechanic workshop, but Abdullah did not envision himself working in the same field. Instead, he developed a keen interest in the art of garment printing. In 2012, he embarked on his journey and worked towards starting his own project and owning a workshop.

Abdullah's determination and hard work allowed him to save every penny he earned,...


Read More

Car Maintenance


Kevork is a 53-year-old skilled mechanic with over 30 years of experience in car maintenance and mechanics. He used to work in his workshop, which he owned since 2005. However, when the war started, his house in Aleppo was damaged by the ongoing shelling. As a result, he was forced to make the difficult decision of selling the equipment he had acquired through years of hard work and moving to Lebanon with his family.

From 2015 onwards, he resided in Lebanon...


Read More

Taxi


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

Bassil and his wife used to reside in a rented house in Al Midan, an area that was heavily bombarded during the war. Tragedy struck one fateful day when a missile destroyed their home. Miraculously, they had left the house just an...


Read More

CNC Carving Machine


George Tabbakh is a skilled CNC machinist with 15 years of experience. He began his career in 1997 until 2002 when he decided to start his own business and invest in a metal lathing machine. George has always had a passion for personal development and enjoys immersing himself in new learning experiences. Aware of the potential of 3D printing and mechanical drawing, he attended numerous workshops and courses to enhance his skills with software like SolidWorks.

In 2008, George purchased his...


Read More

Car Mechanics Workshop


Vahe Tashjian is a 56-year-old mechanic with 23 years of experience. In his younger years, he worked in Kuwait, but he later moved to Aleppo, where he found employment in various companies. Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of war, the companies closed down, leaving him jobless. 

Vahe has always dreamt of owning his own workshop, but his previous attempts were unsuccessful due to the need for financial resources, in 2022, he briefly went to Dubai but got very ill. In less...


Read More

Taxi


Aziz is a determined young man, recently married to Rasha and waiting for their first born child.

He worked as a driver since 2009 and continued working in this job during his ten-years military service in Damascus, Rasha works as a nurse in a hospital and they live in a modest rented house. 

During his service aziz was injured in the leg then he was discharged and he started looking for a job to secure his life and future. His parents decided...


Read More

Taxi


Antoine had a good life before the war working as a hairdresser with great skill and many customers, in 2013 he was called for military service and had to serve for nine long years in Aleppo's suburbs which affected his health greatly as he was subject to many injuries from explosions.

Antoine suffered from a neurological condition that caused trembling in his hands and he no longer was able to continue in his original career of hairstyling, even grabbing the scissors...


Read More

Tailoring Workshop


Haytham's journey in the world of tailoring began in 1988, Aleppo, During the war Haytham faced a great loss when his workshop in Shekh Maksoud was completely destroyed and all of his sewing machines and tools were stolen. He used to work alongside his brother for a short period of time, but circumstances led them to separate and focus on their individual projects. Haytham received his share of the profits, which he had planned for his own project, but instead,...


Read More

Taxi


Antoine is 28 years old, married and a father of a 1 year old lovely boy, he has served in the military for almost the last ten years of his life which has robbed him of any opportunity to pursue a career and build a future for his family.

with no experience and a very harsh economic situation of the country, Antoine put a lot of thinking of his next step in life, he looked for any job that would help...


Read More

Sewing Machines


Salem Kadah, a 40-year-old tailor, chose to follow in his father's footsteps and become a tailor himself. Before the war, he worked alongside his father. However, after his father passed away in 2003, Salem forged his own path and began working in jeans production, distributing products to high-end brands. Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of war, his business was disrupted, which forced him to look for alternative sources of income.

In 2016-2017, Salem attempted to revive jeans production but faced significant...


Read More

Barbershop


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


Read More

Photography and design


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

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


Read More

Pharmacy


Majd, a pharmacist, embarked on her journey in 2000 when she graduated from the faculty of pharmacy. She diligently completed her rural service in 2003 as per Syrian laws. Alongside her pharmacy, she ventured into medicine marketing in rural Homs until 2010. However, in 2011, the onset of war forced her to relocate her activities to the city of Homs.

Majd is married to Toni, a doctor, and they are parents to three children. Together, they strive to provide their family...


Read More

Olive Land


Ghattas, a hardworking farmer from Qattinah village, faces the challenge of plowing costs for his olive land. With a loving family, including his wife Mariana and a baby girl Lamitta, they all reside with his parents and sisters. To provide extra support for his family, he works at a factory.

However, the financial burden of plowing expenses became overwhelming. Renting a tractor was increasingly costly, especially as the land required plowing four times a year, possibly more. Determined to overcome this...


Read More

Organic Fertilizer Production


Ammar, from Qattinah village, is the sole provider for his wife and their five-year old son. Once a taxi driver, he embarked on a journey that led to the loss of everything he had worked for when his attempt to travel abroad turned out to be a fraudulent scheme. Determined to provide for his small family, Ammar and his wife embarked on a new venture.

A glimmer of hope emerged when his wife learned about the potential of producing organic compost....


Read More

Sewing Machines


In 1997, Georgette honed her sewing skills at a reputable sewing workshop, but her dreams were temporarily put on hold when she married Hosn in 1999. Life took a challenging turn during the war, as her husband's work in stone cladding was negatively affected.

In 2013, they relocated to a village near Homs, hoping for better prospects. Georgette found work in a sewing workshop. When the workshop moved to Homs in 2014, they moved back and she became a supervisor, but...


Read More

Nail Care Kit


Sara's life took a challenging turn when her father passed away, leaving her, her mother, and her two brothers to navigate life's hardships alone. With one brother serving in mandatory military service and the other seeking opportunities abroad, she felt a deep responsibility to contribute to her family's well-being.

Despite her determination, working at various stores didn't provide the income needed to support her loved ones. In 2022, Sara saw a ray of hope when she attended a specialized nail care...


Read More

Photography


Samer, a third-year civil engineering student, is an inspiring young man with a remarkable journey. Three years ago, he embarked on a path as a photographer, starting with humble beginnings. His journey began at the iconic Um Al-Zennar church in Homs, where he worked as a journalist for the church's Facebook page, armed only with a mobile phone to capture the moments.

His dedication led him to a photography training course, refining his skills. He soon found himself working as an...


Read More

Crafts and Souvenir Shop


Sanaa, a retired French language teacher, found herself facing the harsh realities of life after her husband's unfortunate passing due to the cruel war that had affected the country. Living with her son and two daughters, they endured the devastating loss of their car in 2012 and further destruction when their house was hit by another shell in 2017, severely impacting her cherished crafts and souvenir shop.

After her husband's tragic death in 2018, she courageously reopened her shop, eager to...


Read More

Sewing Machines


Matile's life has been a journey of hard work and sacrifice. Divorced five years ago and tragically losing her older son in an accident, she found herself the sole provider for her elderly mother and her son George. 
With a background as a seamstress since 1989, she decided to take control of her destiny in 2022. Tired of low wages and exhausting work, she rented a small space and established her own workshop.

Her workshop, equipped with only one old sewing machine,...


Read More

Mini-Market


Nekoula and Samar, the parents of twins, faced adversity when the war in Homs city left them with nothing. They made a fresh start in Fairouza village, where Nekoula, once a carpenter, had to change his profession due to a health condition in 2016. Together, they opened a mini-market to support their family.

Their mini-market, filled with various goods, faced a constant struggle due to unreliable electricity, forcing them to rely on costly generators to power their two refrigerators for dairy,...


Read More

Crafts and Souvenir Shop


Ahlam, an employee at the University of Homs, and her retired architect husband faced financial challenges while raising their two children. 

Seven years ago, they took a leap of faith and established their own small shop, selling what is left from Ahlam's jewelry and delving into handicrafts. The neighborhood embraced their creativity, and their project thrived. Utilizing his architectural skills, her husband began crafting unique designs for their shop.

However, in recent years, rising prices threatened their shop, their lifeline. In their...


Read More

Car Repairing Workshop


Bahjat, a skillful car repair mechanician with over 15 years of experience, honed his skills in the workshops of Homs and Lebanon. His journey began in Rableh village, where he first delved into the world of car repair. After four years in Lebanon, he returned to Rableh but later moved to Fairouza village in 2022. There, he rented a house, got engaged driven by his dreams of starting a family with the woman he loved.

Despite his wealth of expertise, Bahjat...


Read More

Aluminum Workshop


From his modest beginnings, Wissam's journey reflected resilience and determination. His path to mastering his profession began at an aluminum workshop in 2007. However, his dreams were interrupted by an 8-year-long mandatory military service. Despite the setbacks, he persevered, driven by his role as a husband and father of two young children.

In 2015, the life of this family took an unexpected turn when displacement forced them to leave their village, settling in a rented house in Homs city. Wissam's longed...


Read More

Hairdressing Salon


Nada had been working as a hairstylist for over 8 years, but she never felt satisfied with her job. She had worked for several different salons, but the owners always took most of the profit, leaving her with a meager salary. She had to support her parents-in-law whom she lives with in their house, as well as her husband and newborn baby, so she knew she had to find a better way to make a living.

She decided to start her...


Read More

Taxi


Johnny Al-Deeb was one of the people who lost their livelihood resources during the devastating war. He worked as a bus driver since 2000 on Deir Al-Zor road, but soon after the war began, the road on which he drove became insecure and fraught with dangers, in addition to the kidnappings and killings incidents that affected drivers and passengers.

In order to save his life, Johnny had no choice but to quit his job and start looking for another source of...


Read More

Mini Van


For more than twenty years, Malek was a prosperous business owner, as he had a shop selling auto car parts in the Al-Qadam area in Damascus. He also owned a house in which he lived with his family in Erbin area, and he was working to establish a good future for his children without expecting that the war would take away everything he worked for.

Due to the security incidents and armed clashes, Malek lost his shop including all the goods,...


Read More

Plastic Bags Shop


From a head of department official at a Ceramic factory to a touring salesman on a bicycle in the morning and elderlies care worker in the evening, war shifted the life of Waleed Hoshan 

He is 53, married, and has two kids, Mariam and Wissam, he was working in the industrial city of Adraa as the department supervisor and his life was stable until 2012 when the armed conflict took place in the area turning it into a fighting zone which...


Read More

Aluminum workshop


Simon comes from a loving and close-knit family who were living in a border village in the countryside of Homs called Alqseir. His father used to work as a farmer and his annual income was enough to provide his family with good living conditions.

However, all that changed with the beginning of the crisis in Syria, as the village of Alqseir was one of the first areas affected by the war according to its critical location on the Lebanese-Syrian borders that...


Read More

Taxi


Like any loving father, Nabil’s main interest in life is providing his kids with a decent living and supporting them to continue their education and become successful individuals in society, but the incidents he has been through during the previous years made this endeavor difficult.

Nabil and his family used to live in Qalaat Namera in Homs, he was working as a taxi driver and their financial situation was good but during the previous years, their area became insecure and they...


Read More

Mini-Van


Tony Shamieh comes from a modest family that all its members had to work and support each other to survive.

For this reason, he had to leave school at a young age and start working as a car washer then he learned to change cars’ oil and the workshop owner depended on him to run his work as he was hardworking and reliable.

however, soon after the beginning of the Syrian war, Tony was called for military service for seven years, later...


Read More

Taxi


Like most of the youth of his age, Majed spent the last decade serving in the military service, facing dangers, and losing years of his life without being able to work or gain experience.

Majed Alsweiry is 31 and lives with his Mom in a Kashkoul area as his brother is still serving the military in Aleppo and his sisters are married.

Before he was called for service he was working at a Cocktail and sweet shop but during the service period...


Read More

Suzuki


Ramy Ahwash is 51, married to Maya Al-Messber, and they live in an old rented house in Bab Touma area.

He started working in marketing and sales since 1990 and for 15 years he worked in Al-Nuaimi Company as a sales manager and warehouse officer in Al-Yarmouk camp.

However, after the start of the war in Syria, the armed groups entered Al-Yarmouk camp and spread violence all over the place, which made Rami unable to enter the area and take his stored...


Read More

Nails Care center


It is never easy for any woman to raise two daughters alone and look after her old-sick mother at the same time especially during wartime and troublesome conditions, but Randa Kazko was strong enough to defeat all her circumstances.

Randa is 55 years old, divorced, and has two daughters Sandy born in 1992, and Christine born in 1995.

Before the war, Randa was living in Saydnaya with her husband and daughters, she used to work at the monastery in cleaning and cooking...


Read More

Electronic shop


Louai is a hardworking individual who was raised by his mother in a small, rented house. Unfortunately, Louai's mother had health issues, and she had to cut a part of her foot. She needs another surgery to amputate the other foot because of diabetes, but unfortunately, they can’t afford it.

In 2009, Louai got injured while he was working. The nerve in his hand was affected, and he lost the ability to continue his career with electricity, even after treatment for...


Read More

Pick-up Truck


“I was born with speech impediment, which formed a great obstacle since my childhood and prevented me from doing many things in life, such as completing my education or having a decent job”

With great effort, George was able to share these touching words with us.

He is a 26 single, and heartbroken young man. Since he was a child he had to face difficult obstacles due to his speech disability which forced him to leave school and start working to afford...


Read More