Leon, like many Syrians, experienced drastic changes in his life due to the war. It took a toll on him when he found himself in a difficult situation, having to sell his lathing machine in 2014 to protect it from being stolen. This machine held immense value for Leon, as it represented 23 years of experience and dedication to his craft.

To provide for his family, Leon resorted to renting a lathing machine. Unfortunately, as time went on, the cost of the rent became increasingly high. Leon had hoped to save money and increase his income, but the relentless inflation posed a challenge. To make matters worse, the owner of the machine continuously raised the rent price, making it even more challenging for Leon to bear this heavy burden.

Living a decent life and supporting his family became an ongoing struggle for Leon. Eventually, he reached a breaking point; His ultimate goal was to have the freedom of owning his own machine. Levon applied for micro-projects, and to his delight, his application was approved. Leon felt very grateful and was ready to embark on a new chapter in his life, free from the burden of paying rent and now he is able to secure a better living for his family.

Elias, a dedicated father with strong work ethics, has always worked hard in physically-demanding jobs to provide for his son and daughter. However, tragedies seemed to persist for Elias; after losing his house in Sheikh Maksoud during the war, along with all furniture and belongings, Elias was devastated. 

Adding to his struggles, Elias also suffered a decline in his health due to working multiple tiresome jobs such as car washing and gardening, just to put food on the table. His wife also worked hard to help her husband.

The family, after losing everything they had, relied on food baskets and aid from the church. Elias work had a detrimental effect on his health, leading to Disc Disease and requiring costly medication bills.

It seemed like a dead end for Elias until he heard about the Hope Center; applying for a taxi car project to increase his income, Elias knew he had no other choice which would be suitable for his health condition. Thankfully, Elias was able to continue working despite his health condition and provide for his lovely family.

Dr. Dagad Krikorian has dedicated 23 years of his life to dentistry and caring for his patients. He's not just a skilled dentist, he's a compassionate soul who looks after his mother. 

In the year 2000, Dr. Dagad established his own dental clinic in the modest neighborhood of Al Midan. He has always had a sense of helpfulness and often worked free of charge for people in need. However, over time, the equipment in his clinic seemed to wear out, and he couldn’t afford to buy new ones. 

With his hard-earned savings, he did what he could to keep the clinic going, like small renovations, but he couldn't afford more. His equipment had become totally unusable, old, and weary, which could cause side effects for his patients and be potentially dangerous.

Dr. Dagad applied for micro projects, and with the program support, he was able to revive his practice and continue bringing bright smiles to the face of his patients.

Silvy is well known for her positive attitude and her famous sandwiches. Greeting her customers with a smile, Silvy works at her fast food shop and as a part-time school teacher. 

After a while, she retired from her teaching job to focus solely on her fast-food business. With 11 years of experience, Silvy gained recognition in the Aziziye neighborhood. However, despite her hard work, Silvy and her two co-workers felt devastated upon seeing their effort result in low income, especially as their equipment began to wear out and needed replacement. 

In order to increase her income, Silvy wanted to add new recipes to her menu, which required an additional fryer. Alongside fees, rent, and electricity bills, Silvy and her co-workers found themselves on the brink of closing their business. 

Silvy applied for micro-projects and received the support she needed. Now, with new recipes and increased customers, Silvy is set to boost her income. She and her female co-workers exemplify empowered women who work hard to provide for themselves and their community.

Shadi, a hardworking and devoted 28-year-old, found himself facing daily struggles after his father's heart disease. He became the sole caregiver for his parents, Shadi had to make sacrifices, eventually dropping out of university to provide for his family. His sister had moved abroad to Germany, leaving him as the only child to tend to their parents' needs.

Despite the challenges, Shadi always had a passion for fixing things. He honed his skills and managed to rent a small shop for mobile maintenance, which provided a decent income for his family. However, this business was disrupted when he was asked to pay a fee of a staggering two and a half million Syrian pounds, forcing him to shut down the business. With no other option, Shadi had to work for someone else's shop, earning only 40% of the total income. This drastic change left him feeling constrained and financially strained, as his repairing equipment became overused and outdated, in desperate need of replacement.

After experiencing disappointment, by an attempt to find a way out, Shadi studied the area in which he was currently working, identifying a service that was lacking in the region which is, mobile screen maintenance. Determined to improve his financial situation, he made the decision to expand his work and apply his project to Hope Center. Thanks to micro-project support, Shadi overcame his hesitation and acquired new equipment; this enables him to provide a unique service in the region by repairing phone screens, which will help him increase his income and provide better care for his parents.

From a young age Soubhi has been passionate about making sweets and pastries. He pursued culinary and hotel studies at university, but financial strains forced him to drop out and enter the workforce.

As the sole provider for his family, he took on various jobs to make ends meet, especially after his mother was diagnosed with osteoporosis, requiring costly medication and care. Despite these challenges, Soubhi remained determined to achieve independence and open his own sweet shop to improve his family's financial situation. 

Being employed at a sweet-making shop with an insufficient monthly income, eventually Soubhi planned his project and applied for micro-projects, which ultimately granted him the opportunity to pursue his dream, providing a new start and increased income for this passionate chef.

Malek's life purpose has always been to help people and aid the patients in their recovering journey. Born in al-Hasaka,where he spent his early years, surrounded by his loved ones and lovely days filled with warmth and laughter. Unfortunately, when the war broke out in 2011, Malek and his family had to leave immediately and settle in Aleppo, as there was no option to return. 

Despite facing numerous challenges in his new life in Aleppo, Malek managed to graduate as a pharmacist in 2016. After that he took on various jobs, all while working towards his ultimate goal of opening his own pharmacy.

Unfortunately, the cost was too high for him to afford. However, Malek's sister, who lives abroad, offered to provide financial assistance to help him start his pharmacy. As the days went by, prices continued to skyrocket, making Malek's dream seem further and more unattainable. He used all his savings to do minimal renovations, and install shelves but his finances were still not enough to stock the pharmacy with the necessary medications.

Then, on one fateful day, Malek saw a poster for micro-projects and immediately applied. He is incredibly grateful for the opportunity as it allowed him put his years of studying to good use, and help heal the people which is his purpose in life.

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

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

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

Dr. Antoin experienced his share of war calamities, just like every other Syrian, After a decade of dedicated work as a dentist, in 2012 his clinic was looted, leaving him without a job for two years. To add to the hardship, his wife, a pharmacist, also lost her job at an insurance company. The challenges seemed never-ending for Antoin and his family.

In 2014, Antoin teamed up with a colleague to rent a dental clinic, working hard to purchase all the necessary equipment. However, when his colleague left the country, Antoin had to take matters into his own hands. In addition to that, his equipment had issues due to being outdated, which posed a major challenge with prices soaring. 

Antoin had to take action before his equipment became obsolete. He applied for a Micro Projects, and to his relief, he was accepted. Now, with the new dental clinic equipment, he can increase his income and provide for his two beautiful daughters.

Wael comes from the small village of Kfarbo, where life was easy and peaceful until the dark days descended upon Syria and Wael was called to serve in the military. He fought through a complete nightmare of injuries, sieges, and frontline battles for nine years. Thankfully, the year 2019 marked the end of Wael's suffering. Miraculously, Wael returned home safe and sound, only to find himself needing to rebuild his life from scratch as he moved from the village to the city of Aleppo, with no place to stay and no clear profession to pursue.

Fortunately, Wael found shelter in his aunt's house. Before joining the military, Wael had experience in iron smithing, which he had learned from his uncle. He honed his skills while working for someone else, but he always longed for independence. Wael struggled because prices made it nearly impossible for him to establish his own business

However, learning about the Hope Center and its aid for youth after military service brought Wael newfound hope. He planned his project and applied for assistance from micro projects. Now, Wael feels confident as he prepares to rent a workshop and start working independently to provide for himself and begin a new chapter in life.

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

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

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

Elias is a hardworking father and the sole breadwinner for his family of three. While serving in the military, Elias faced a long battle with hepatitis, which led to him being exempted from his service. He began the treatment, which cost a lot, forcing him to sell everything he had to cover the expenses. The price of a single medication was a staggering 350 USD. Fortunately, after completing the treatment, he made a full recovery and regained his health.

Elias took on various jobs to make ends meet, starting as a computer technician and programmer in 2021. However, due to the low income, he transitioned to working in solar panel installation, collaborating with partners as he didn't have the necessary equipment to start his own business. After renting his own workplace, Elias struggled to purchase the required equipment and had to borrow from others to complete installations for customers.

Realizing that he couldn't sustain this way of working with a family to provide for and rent to pay, Elias sought opportunities to increase his income. Upon hearing from a friend about micro projects, he applied and was accepted. Through a saving strategy, Elias plans to secure a 60% increase in income. He made plans to establish his workshop in a room within his house, saving money on workshop rent and further increasing his income. 

Now, with his equipment ready, Elias will be able to start anew with the ability to increase his income and provide for his family.

Bassam, a farmer from Qattinah village, faced adversity when his irrigation equipment was stolen in 2014 amidst the chaos of war. Living with his wife Nada and their three children, Bassam, a government employee, sought additional income from the family's shared land, a lifeline for five households.

The land, cultivated with olives, grapes, and vegetables, relied on a crucial water well and pond for irrigation. The theft of his equipment jeopardized not only his family's livelihood but also that of his brothers and their families. Undeterred, he turned to the Micro Projects Program for support.

Through the program, Bassam received a mini-cultivator to alleviate plowing costs and essential irrigation equipment to replace what he had lost. This assistance not only compensated for the setback but also revitalized the family's land, ensuring its productivity.

Shadi dutifully served his mandatory military service from 2012 to 2021, a period that took away nine precious years of his life. But the scars ran deeper than time. In 2013, during his service, he fell victim to an armed group's kidnapping, causing a terrifying year of captivity. To secure his release, his family borrowed money, a debt they were still repaying today. The day he was freed from captivity felt like a rebirth, and his heart was full with hope for a brighter future.

Shadi had dreams of a career in computers based on his studies at the computer institute, but the nine years of absence made job opportunities almost impossible for him. His hope rekindled when he applied to the Micro Projects Program for a taxi. To him, this was a lifeline, a chance to have a new start.

With his taxi, Shadi embarked on a journey towards independence. He was determined to leave the shadows of the past behind and build a better life for his family.

Rami, a single man, who lives with his mother, brother, sister-in-law, and their children; Rami and his brother strive to support the entire family.

Since 2017, he has been running a mobile phone shop, but a near bomb incident shattered its front glass. Unable to afford a replacement, he covered it with a nylon sheet. 

Previously working in maintenance for two years, Rami faced setbacks when his equipment broke, preventing him from accepting job offers. Economic hardships encouraged him to attempt a return to maintenance, but the high equipment costs was the challenge.

Upon learning about the Micro Projects Program, he eagerly applied for support. The program provided essential equipment; a solar panel for alternative energy and a laptop for mobile phone programming, alongside the needed glass for his shop. Empowered by this assistance, Rami not only resumed maintenance work but expanded his business. The program alleviated his financial struggles, enabling him to enhance services, boost income, and uplift his family's living standards. 

Akram, a resilient young man, found himself displaced from his home in Bab Al-Sebaa due to the brutal war. Alongside his parents, they navigated through several neighborhoods in Homs before finally settling in Al-Hamidia, renting a new home. In 2019, Akram ventured into the world of printing, advertising, and promotion, learning essential skills from YouTube and honing them through practical experience.

By 2022, he relocated his project to a vibrant neighborhood near the university, expanding its services to include college requirements, souvenirs, and printing. Despite serving the university students, he faced a significant challenge; the shortage of electricity, crucial for his project. 

He heard about the Micro Projects Program, encouraging him to prepare a feasibility study. Armed with the experience needed to run his project, he applied for assistance, specifically seeking a solar power system, a new paper printer, and additional goods for his shop.

His determination and entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with the support from the Micro Projects Program, enabled Akram to continue providing valuable services in the area, ensuring the thrive of his small business. 

Simon faced numerous challenges as a farmer in Al-Maamoura village. As the sole provider for his wife, two children, and elderly parents living with them, he struggled to make ends meet. His almond and olive land needed rehabilitation, but he lacked the necessary financial ability to prepare the soil and plant new seedlings. Determined to improve his family's circumstances, Simon took on additional jobs as an employee and worked at a food shop in the evenings to generate extra income.

Realizing that the key to a sustainable future lay in the revival of his land, he decided to apply to the Micro Projects Program. He believed that with support, he could rehabilitate his farm, cultivate it once more, and create a stable livelihood for his family. Hope filled his heart as he envisioned a prosperous future where he could provide for his loved ones without the burden of multiple jobs.

Fortunately, Simon's application to the Micro Projects Program was approved. With the provided help, he begins the laborious process of preparing his land. Digging holes and planting new seedlings become a daily routine as Simon works tirelessly, fueled by his determination and love for his family.

As time passes, the once-desolate land will become a symbol of hope and resilience. his dedication and hard work will pay off, and the farm will start to yield a bountiful harvest.

With the revitalized land, his income will increase significantly. The rehabilitated farm will become their sustainable source of livelihood, allowing Simon to focus on his role as a father and husband. He will finally be able to provide his children with the quality education they deserve and ensure that his elderly parents receive the care they need.

In Al-Dwair village, a family of four lived together happily and didn’t know the meaning of loss until the cruel war began. The parents and their two sons lived on the bounties of their farmland and everything was going well. 

Today, George, the youngest son became his mother's only family after their life was turned upside down; his older brother Elias was kidnapped and since that day, unfortunately, no one heard from him! Their house was destroyed and they were displaced until the situation stabilized, they waited in hopes that Elias might return, and in 2020, George's father passed away leaving him and his mother alone, they are taking care of their land, which is planted with wheat, barley, and olive trees. 

When George finished studying at the faculty of law, he began practicing this profession with the help of a lawyer. However, during this period, he won't be able to generate an income and his father's land will be his only way for a living.

He applied to improve production and guarantee a decent income, although life was unfair with this family, George is doing his best to ensure his mother a dignified life, hoping for better days to come. 

Mttanos and Ranim, who got married in 2015, built their life together in Fairouza village. With two children, they settled in a rented house, far from the harrowing memories of Al-Qusayr, Mttanos' hometown, which had witnessed the horrors of war.

In 2011, he was called upon for nine years of mandatory military service, leaving his parents behind in Al-Qusayr. Their family's livelihood depended on their land, and their house was severely affected by the war.

When he was discharged in 2020, he lacked any professional experience. He found work as a driver at a carton factory in Fairouza, earning just enough to cover their basic needs. However, he looked for a way to secure a brighter future for his family.

Determined to improve their circumstances, he applied to the Micro Projects Program and succeeded in acquiring a mini pick-up truck. This vehicle not only enhanced his job at the carton factory but also paved the way for a promising tomorrow.

With this new opportunity, Mttanos and his family were on the path to stability, ensuring good living for their children. 

Living in Fairouza village with his wife Rita and their son Mikhail, Ibrahim has always been the provider for his family. However, his life took many turns before he found his passion in motorcycle repairing. 

After trying his skills in various professions, from restaurants to construction, his health issues forced him to seek a change. In 2012, he ventured to Lebanon in search of better opportunities, only to return in 2016 due to life's challenges there. It was then that he decided to become a self-taught motorcycle repairman, acquiring his skills through the internet.

With only some old equipment and the help of his son Mikhail, he set up his own workshop. To ensure a stable source of power, he relied on his brother's electric generator during power outages. 

When Ibrahim learned about the Micro Projects Program, he applied for essential equipment and an electric generator to secure his family's only means of livelihood. With the support he received, his small motorcycle repair workshop continued to thrive, providing a steady income and a better livelihood for his family.

In 2008, Thanaa's world was shattered when her beloved husband surrendered to cancer after a two-year battle. Yet, this was only the beginning of her struggle. When the war started in her hometown of Homs, her family faced great suffering. Their home in Bustan Al-Diwan neighborhood was not only stolen but also burned. The heartache intensified as her son was martyred, and it took two and a half months for his body to be returned to the family. All this weighed heavily on Thanaa, who had endured heart surgery and had a fragile heart.

Forced to seek refuge with relatives, she searched for stability in Homs. The local church stepped in to help her and her sons repair their damaged home, allowing them to return. Today, her son Rawad serves his mandatory military service, while her other son, Danny, suffers from a disc condition, as result of his tiring work in floor tiling. His condition barely allows him to work, further straining their financial situation.

Before the war, Thanaa and her husband ran a modest grocery shop, but it was forced to close its doors due to the conflict. Determined to regain her independence, she began preparing homemade food for sale. 

When she saw a poster about the Micro Projects Program, it rekindled a glimmer of hope in her heart. With unwavering determination, she gathered the necessary documents and a project study, and she swiftly applied.

Thanaa's vision is to open a mini-market, taking into account her age and her son's health. With this small shop, she hopes to create a sustainable income source for their family. This project not only promises financial independence but also the opportunity to have a dignified life.

Louay's life took an unexpected turn when a work-related injury ended his 20-year career in floor grinding and polishing. In 2020, he had to sell his equipment and started a small shop, selling frozen chicken, olives, pickles, and barbecue essentials. This was his new source of livelihood for his wife, three children, and his mother.

But adversity struck again when his shop's freezer broke down a year ago, and financial constraints prevented him from purchasing a new one. The electricity shortages left him without any alternative, as he couldn't afford an electric generator.

His hopes were rekindled when he learned about the Micro Projects Program. He saw it as an opportunity to revive his small business. He applied for assistance, requesting a new freezer, a solar power system, and a meat dicing machine to enhance his project.

With the support of the program, his shop was back in business, offering frozen goods, and fresh cuts of meat, with a reliable power source. He could once again provide for his family and continue to serve his community with the products they relied on. Louay's determination and the Micro Projects Program gave him a second chance to secure a better living for his loved ones. 

Bishara, the sole provider for his wife and three children in Fairouza village, faced daunting challenges when he moved from Al-Aalyat. He sold a part of his land in 2022 to start a new life in Fairouza, but encountered a severe water crisis due to post-war conditions in Homs and its villages. The water grid deteriorated, and strict rationing was applied, forcing families to purchase water for daily needs.

Despite his job as a government employee, Bishara's income fell short of his family's growing demands. He saw an opportunity to use his tractor and water tanker to sell water to his community during these tough times. There was one major obstacle; the worn-out tires of his tractor made it dangerous to operate, and replacing them was unaffordable.

He turned to the Micro Projects program, seeking assistance to purchase new tires and restore his vehicle. This simple yet vital support would enable him to provide for his family and offer help to others in need. 

When someone has been through terrible trauma and they’re starting a new life from scratch, it’s not easy for them to recover especially if they were living in a post-war period like the case of Yazan Sayegh.

He is 25 and lives with his parents and sister in Kashkoul. Yazan was 18 when the family received the news of his brother’s death during his military service in Aleppo. Such news was devastating for the whole family especially Yazan who had to stay steady for his parents whose health was affected badly as a result.

Yazan found himself at the age of 18, responsible for his family, and had to work in order to afford the living demands. He started to work as a barber and learned about the profession but despite all his hard work, it was hard for him to save any money and establish his own work due to the increasing prices which made him struggle to afford the basic livelihood for his family. Yazan started to think of traveling abroad in order to make a decent career and living but he didn't want to leave his parents alone especially since they lost their first son.

Out of its endeavor to preserve the Christian families in the county, Hope Center supported Yazan in purchasing all the tools and equipment needed to have his own barber shop to provide him with a sustainable source of income to overcome his obstacles and improve his living hoping that this project will help in keeping him in the country beside his beloved family.

Mariam always believed that there is no limit to what she could accomplish despite all the difficulties she had been through

She is 40 years old, divorced, and originally from Tartous but lives alone in a small room in Damascus. Mariam got married at a young age but after seven years she got divorced and returned with her kids to live at her parents' house in Tartous. She didn’t hesitate to continue her education and was enrolled at the trade and economics university and started to work at the same time to afford her living.

Her brother passed away in 2013 leaving her, her parents, and four sisters heartbroken, Things changed a lot after his death as her parents’ psychological condition was affected badly and Maryam had to increase her income to support them.

She decided to move to Damascus in order to find better job opportunities seeking for better income to support herself and her family in Tartous. Mariam tried many jobs but she wasn’t lucky. she was good at trading so she started to work in online marketing because she wasn’t able to afford her own shop but it wasn’t profitable enough to afford a proper living. 

Through the help of Hope-center, Mariam was supported to have her own perfume and cosmetics shop which she considered the life chance that would improve her living conditions and help her to secure a decent life. 

Maram Mahfoud 31, is an independent, hardworking woman, who was always strong enough to stand alone in the face of difficult circumstances.

She lives with her parents in an old room in Bab Sharqi. Her father used to work at a sanitary maintenance workshop but after getting old, his health didn’t allow him to keep working which affected their financial conditions. Despite her young age, Maram decided to start working and support her parents so she enrolled in a make-up course at the church and started to work in this field then in 2017 her friend bought a Laser cutting machine and asked Maram to help him. She quickly learned to work on the machine, trained on its programs, and became excellent at running the work alone. However, her salary was low in comparison with the hard work she was doing so in her spare time she kept working in make-up in order to increase her income and afford the living expenses.

Maram wanted to rely on herself and have her own project because she believed in achieving her goals through determination and perseverance so she applied at the Micro-project office asking for support.

Now, after the fund, Maram is so grateful to have her own laser workshop and started to do marketing to enhance her work full of faith that she will succeed in this project and her living situation will be improved.

Johnny Fallouh is 33 years old, he is newly married and soon to be a father. In 2006, he started his career as a pastry chef and was passionate about this job but in 2011 he was called to join the military service and thought that it would be for two years and then he would go back to continue his normal life and the work he loves.

Unfortunately, his service coincided with the beginning of the war in Syria, it extended to 10 years under difficult conditions and at critical times as he served in Al-Hasaka city which was one of the most severe war locations. 

However, in 2021 Johnny was discharged and went back home, but the postwar period was not easy and he couldn’t return to his old job as a Chef because it was no longer enough to meet the household demands. 

Johnny had no choice but to find another career so he started working as a salesman, he also got married and wanted to establish a family which was difficult especially since his wife got pregnant and they are waiting now for their first baby.

Supporting this newly established family was always one of the Hope-Center goals. Johnny was supported with the mini-van in order to improve his work and income, help preserve his dignity and fulfill his responsibility towards his wife and newborn baby.

With a deep wound in his heart, Jan Samaan was struggling each day to continue his life journey and improve his condition.

Jan was worked as a carpenter since 1990 as he established a carpentry workshop in partnership with his friend specializing in the field of kitchens and bedrooms. Together they worked hard to improve their business.

However, during the war, the carpentry work decreased and their income became not enough for both of them so his friend decided to end the partnership and work on his own which forced Jan to take his machines and equipment and start his own workshop in Dwalaa trying to preserve his career from declining.

During that period, Jan got married to Shereen Deeb and they had their first baby Joseph in 2016.

Soon after his son’s birth, he was diagnosed with abdominal cancer at a critical level making Jan feels as if his world was about to collapse. He started to focus on treating his son which was a difficult period in their life and cost a lot but Jan didn’t hesitate to spend all his savings for that purpose then he sold his workshop machines to handle the high cost of his son’s treatment. Unfortunately, all of those endeavors didn’t save his son and he passed away in 2020 the same year that Jan and his wife had their daughter Marita whose birth played a major role in getting her parents out of their state of grief.

With Marits's birth, Jan decided to travel to Sudan seeking to find better job opportunities to compensate for his losses but he wasn’t that lucky so he went back to Syria working in several workshops trying his best to secure a proper living for his family.

Bypassing all his circumstances, Jan decided to apply to the Micro-project asking for support and that what he gained as he was supported with the carpentry machines and necessary equipment that will enable him of having his own workshop so he could revive his profession and secure a decent living for his family.

“All the incidents we went through during the years of war were no harder than holding my son bleeding and seeing him fighting death to survive”

This is how Samer explained his tragedies during the Syrian war.

Samer Deeb is 49 years old, married to Roula Memary, and has two sons Elias born in 2004 and Gabi born in 2006. He lives with his family and sick mother at a modest flat in Dwalaa area.

Before the crisis, Samer was working as a waiter and then became a hall supervisor in different restaurants in Bab Touma until the year 2020 when his health started to deteriorate and he became unable to stand for long hours so he started to work as a salesperson, driving a pickup car and delivering vegetables and goods to shops and markets.

Samer’s financial condition was very bad, especially after the incident his son Gabi went through, as in the year 2013, Gabi was shot in the head while they were on their way to the village, he was transferred to Tartous Hospital where he remained under operations for six fateful hours until the surgeons were able to rescue him.

Although Gabi survived, he suffered many psychological effects and asthma, which took him many years to recover and continue his study. 

On the other hand, his second son Elias finished his baccalaureate exam and started to work as a hairdresser trainee trying as much as possible to reduce his expenses and support his father.

Samer was in desperate need of a new chance in his life and through the micro-projects, he was able to get it. 

Today after being funded with the pick-up, he started to restore his independence and dignity and he is willing to work as long hours as he could to provide his family with proper living conditions.

Firas had to face enormous difficulties in his life as he was responsible for his sick mother and disabled sister in addition to the household demands so he started working as a mini-bus driver at a young age seeking direct income to afford the living expenses.

He was working on Darayya-Damascus transportation line but after the start of the war, it became very dangerous to work there then the area was closed due to the armed conflict making Firas lose his job. 

Firas didn’t hesitate to work in a different fields because he was the breadwinner of the house and can’t stay jobless so he started working as a salesperson with a percentage of profit.

During that period Firas got married to Riham Asfour and had their kids Tatiana and Carlos. Together, Firas and his wife were working to secure the basic living needs for their kids and his wife was also helping in taking care of Firas’s mother and sister while he was doing his best to work hard and handle the increasing costs of living.

Firas realized that improving his income was uneasy because he was working for other employers and he needed his own project so he applied for the Pick-up truck project depending on his sufficient experience and wide knowledge of the market and customers.

this project will enable him from buying products and goods which will reflect positively on his income and help in improving his living conditions. 

As a talented musician, George's career started in 2006, he was playing his favorite instrument “the Electric Keyboard” in various locations performing beautiful musical sets.

George had a great passion for music and wanted to deliver his music love to everyone believing that this is an important message in his life, so he took classes at many schools and started teaching music to children until 2014 when the situation deteriorated badly and the teaching income was very low compared to the increased living expenses.

As a result, George had to focus more on his work as a musician in order to be able to afford the living needs of his family but although he was a musician for a long time, George has never had the ability to purchase his own instrument and had to rent an electric keyboard every time he has a job.

He also had to pay half of his wage to the instrument owner in addition to being restricted in choosing times and places of work.

Thanks to Hope Center, George was supported to buy his own Electric Keyboard which added great value to his career as he is able now to take any job opportunity without having to share his income with anyone and that will definitely improve his financial condition and secure a better livelihood.

Samaan is 35, unmarried, and lives with his parents and his grandmother. He has three brothers; Alaa and Jalal are married and live separately while Bashar is in military service which made Samaan the breadwinner of the house and responsible for his parents and his sick granny.

Before the war, his family lived in the village of Al-Adeedah, his father was a blacksmith so after turning 15, he started to help him at the workshop and learned the profession, in 2008 he was called for military service and when the crises started in Syria he was obliged to stay as a reserved soldier until his discharge in 2019.

Those 10 years prevented Samaan from making any steps in his life or building anything for the future but he kept on practicing his profession whenever he had time during his service.

However, after being discharged from the service,he returned to his village and started working at several workshops but due to the lack of opportunities there he decided to move with his family and live in Damascus; Soon after, he got to know many contractors and started working with them, especially in setting the solar power bases but most of them didn’t give Samaan fair wages because he doesn’t have his own equipment which make it very difficult to get good income.

With the help of Hope Center, Samaan got the proper fund to establish his own blacksmithing workshop with all the tools and machines required to improve his work and enable him to increase his income and have better living conditions.

As a determined man, age was never an obstacle in Youssef’s life.

He was a hard-working employee for more than 23 years at a governmental institution then he retired and started to do freelance work, seeking one target in his life which is providing his kids with a safe and comfortable environment.

During the crises, the situation started to decline and his income became unstable so he decided to collect his savings and start a small stationary shop in the neighborhood to ensure a sustainable income.

However, this wise decision helped Youssef during the years of war to preserve his dignity and afford the living demands of his family, he wanted to improve his work by adding a printer and other tools but he couldn't because three years ago, his daughter Katia was diagnosed of having Multiple sclerosis which was devastating news for Youssef and his family.

Youssef tried to empower himself for the sake of his daughter to support her during her treatment journey but the pain attacks she suffered from were very tiring for him and his health also deteriorated.

However, that tough period affected Youssef’s work, as he spent most of his income on his daughter’s treatment which made his stationary shop poor in goods and equipment.

With the help of Hope Center, Youssef was supported to purchase a new printer and some equipment to improve his stationary work and secure a better income for his family.

Nabil Farhat, a shoemaker for more than 25 years, is originally from Lebanon, came to Syria in the late eighties, learned the profession of shoemaking, and decided to continue his life in this beloved country.

He got married and had three kids and was very known in his field as many factories were dealing with him due to his meticulous professional work and kind attitude with customers, he considered Syria as his homeland and was feeling grateful to this country who gave him all the good things in his life.

Even after the war, Nabil refused to go back to his country Lebanon and challenged all the difficult conditions and the lack of security and stayed in Syria with great faith that things will get better.

During the crisis, Nabil worked at several factories and workshops trying to secure the basic living needs for his family and supported his kids to continue their education, and was looking forward to teaching his son the profession of shoemaking.

However, in the past couple of years, the work market declined and the demand for well-made shoes decreased due to the high costs of production which made Nabil decide to start a home-based workshop using an old sewing machine and worked at his own expense but he faced many challenges from the lack of electricity to the frequent machine malfunctions that affected his craft and became unable to meet the customers’ demands.

Nabil was so passionate about his profession and was seeking a way to revive it so he sought help from Hope Center and was supported to purchase different kinds of sewing machines in addition to the batteries that will provide him with electricity in order to increase his production and help in bringing him back to the market with a competitive shoes’ quality which will improve his work and living condition.

Rabee has always been an expert at sewing, he had even owned his own workshop since 2003 in a small village, where he lived with his wife and three kids.

However, trouble came knocking at his door when an armed group attacked the area. Rabee and his family had to flee for their lives, leaving behind their rented small house and all their belongings, including his beloved sewing workshop.

Rabee had to start from scratch and find a way to provide for his family. He decided to move to Damascus, where he heard that it was a safer place to live. He went from one workshop to another, working as a laborer, to put food on the table and find a safe place to live, But he didn't give up on his dream of owning a sewing workshop again.

With the help of the micro project in Damascus, Rabee got all the tools and equipment he needed to start his own workshop again. He was grateful for the opportunity to recover his lost livelihood and finally earn a living for his family.

Rabee is now able to provide a better life for his family, thanks to his hard work and determination. He would never forget the hardships he and his family had faced, but he is proud that he persevered through it all.