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.


702

Aleppo

704

Homs

324

Damascus

Dental Lab


Art can take many forms, you can find it in paintings, sculptures, movies and even in songs, whereas Sarkis found art in dental prostheses making.

Sarkis Bertizian is a dental prosthesis fabricator who lives in the city of Aleppo. His love for art and dentistry was united in his profession. During the war years, Sarkis’s father died after battling with cancer. The loss of his father was very hard on him, he found himself responsible of his family and although he...


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Nursing Kit


Rizk-Allah Rawik is an ambitious 24-year-old, since he was a little boy, he always dreamt of treating the ill and helping those in need. Thus, when he grew up, he decided to become a nurse, he studied for two years in a healthcare institution, and currently, he works night shifts in a hospital, but still; working for 3 days a week isn’t enough to make him a decent income. 

After the economy of the country collapsed, providing a decent life for...


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Barbershop Equipment


Antranig is a kind and talented barber who has a small salon in the city of Aleppo, he started his career in 2003, and his good reputation in the neighborhood played a huge role in the launch of his career. The war didn’t stop Antranig from doing his job but at the same time working in a dangerous city had many tragic consequences, someone like Antranig could leave his house in the morning without knowing if he would ever be...


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Winding Engines and Motors


George Armenag is a 48-year-old man living with his sister in their parents' house. He used to work in his own shop in Aleppo fixing engines and selling electrical supplies.

When the war started George’s shop was destroyed and robbed, therefore he had to sell his shop at a very low value. With this small amount of money, George and his sister managed to maintain a decent living and keep the household running.

With no income, George knew he had to do...


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Potato Cutting Machine


Enad Dahdal is a 36 years, from Aleppo, he finished his military service in 2018 after serving for 8 years. During this time Enad was located in a dangerous area very close to fire lines, one night while he was up protecting the civilians an attack occurred where Enad got injured in his knee. He underwent 3 operations to recover the injury, and luckily with many physiotherapy sessions, he was able to walk again.

Going through such hard times, Enad faced...


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Homemade Sweets


Nihad Ghazal is a 65-year-old with a passion for baking and making pastry since her childhood; she used to make all different types of pastries and give them to her friends at school to try.

As she grew older her love for pastry grew bigger, she used to help her mother with cooking and doing kitchen chores, that’s how she learned her mother’s baking recipes, her secrets and tricks for a perfect bake.

The Ghazal sisters suffered from the war, but unlike...


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Beauty Center


Alina is a young woman who lives with her parents; her father works as a car mechanic in a rental shop. Alina’s family traveled to Armenia from 2015 to 2017. Her brother stayed there. After her return, she completed her studies and obtained a baccalaureate degree. In 2021, she took courses related to the field of cosmetics. it all started as a hobby then she started working in a beauty center where she practiced and gained experience.

Aina wants to be the boss of her own project, but she was hesitant to open a salon because of her financial situation and the coordination between her job at the beauty center and her own business.

Thanks to Hope Center Alina became hopeful again, it helped her gain independence for owning a business and now she is ready to thrive.

Recording Studio Equipment


During the war in Syria, Antoine and his family faced many life-threatening moments;“One day, me and my family was coming back home, after parking our car, we heard a loud explosion so we immediately ran to safety, after checking that everyone was okay, we were shocked that a shell had hit our car and it was entirely destroyed.” Surviving such a traumatizing event left the family in a terrible state, they also had to evacuate their house and move to...


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Dental Clinic


Carla Ishak is an ambitious dentist who recently graduated from Aleppo university, being a dentist was her long-lasting dream. When she was a little girl, she used to go to her father’s clinic to watch him at his job while pretending to be his assistant.

Going through the war in Syria was harsh for Carla and her family, as they had to evacuate their home due to several bombings. The prolonged fights and the damage it caused forced the family to...


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Charcoal Workshop


After a devastating ten years of war and an awful earthquake, Fares Jesri found himself and his pregnant wife lost in a chaotic situation full of challenges. 

Fares used to earn his living working as a waiter in a café in Aleppo when out of nowhere the devastating earthquake that caused massive destruction and disrupted the livelihoods of many has cost Fares his source of income.

His strong will to provide for his family that was about to grow with the baby...


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Tailoring Workshop


In 1989, out of many professions “young Bedros” decided to follow his passion for making suits and designing men's clothing.

Life was peaceful and prosperous for Bedros and his family, his business was growing and he was making a good name for himself, especially when he moved from Idleb to Aleppo to work with larger tailoring workshops that were located in the city. 

When the war started Bedros lost everything in his hometown; his house, his small shop and all that he...


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Sweets and Pastries


In the early days of the war, Dolly's family was among the first to leave Aleppo. Faced with loss, fear, and danger, they made the bold decision to move to Beirut. Living there for six years was not easy for a family of four. Both Dolly and her husband worked tirelessly to provide for their family. Dolly had the opportunity to work in a bakery in Beirut, where she gained valuable experience. However, when the crisis started, the family had...


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Cosmetics Shop


Sawsan, a wife and mother of two, faced the challenges of her husband's tiring profession in stone cladding, which took a toll on his health. Despite the hardships, he persevered, as there seemed to be no alternative. Witnessing his struggles, Sawsan decided to take matters into her own hands to support their family.

However, fate had other plans when she suffered a stroke, leaving her unable to work or exert herself. Determined to find a solution, she wanted to open a...


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Coffee Shop


After her husband's tragic death, Rimonda became the sole provider for their four children. Working for 8 years in a local coffee and sweets shop, she faced another blow when the shop owner decided to close it. Determined to secure a stable income for her family, she discovered the Micro Projects Program.

Realizing this could be her long-awaited opportunity, she envisioned establishing her own project, especially considering their village, Qattinah, had no other coffee shops. Rimonda applied for a coffee shop that would offer fresh coffee, chocolates, and juice. 

Fortunately, her project was approved, now, as an independent micro-business owner, Rimonda has not only created a source of income for her family, but also ensured a dignified life for them.

Electronic Devices Maintenance


Adnan, a retired electronic engineer living in Fairouza village, faced financial challenges after retirement, relying solely on a modest pension to support his family. Undeterred, he turned to his lifelong passion for electronic devices maintenance, a skill he cultivated since 1995. However, his work was hindered by the severe lack of electricity in his area and the absence of a suitable chair for his tasks.

Adnan, being the sole provider for his eighth-grade son, improved his work when a solar power...


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Sewing Machines


Manal, a skilled seamstress, faced challenges after leaving her job due to the war in Homs, because she couldn’t travel every day between her village Qattinah and Homs city. 

Determined to support her family, she turned to her sewing expertise; despite having old machines, she lacked the means to start her small business. 

With perseverance, she sought assistance from the Micro Projects Program. Today, thanks to this support, Manal has the tools she needs, with renewed hope, she stitches together a brighter days for her husband Bashar and their two children in Qattinah. 

Mini-Market


In Fairouza village, Nassouh and his wife Fahima work side by side, jointly managing a mini-market they established in 2020 to provide for their family. Their younger son seeks better opportunities in Lebanon, while the eldest, resides with them in the village. 

The mini-market offers a variety of food commodities and dairy products. Recently, their thriving business encountered a challenge when the refrigerator stopped due to an unreliable energy supply. The inadequate power led to the spoilage of numerous dairy products,...


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Mini-Market


Amany and Khalil, residents of Qattinah village, opened their mini-market back in 2005 in partnership with Khalil's brother, aiming to support their three daughters and son. 

In 2023, the couple had to take the full responsibility of the shop. Unfortunately, this weakened their capital, leading to a scarcity of goods and impacting their income. 

Desperate to save their livelihood, Amany turned to the Micro Projects Program and her application was approved, breathing new life into their mini-market. 

Now, restocked and thriving, the shop stands as their hope of securing a good life for their family. 

Olive, Almond, and Beans Land


In Qattinah village, Elias a farmer and family man, works tirelessly to provide for his wife and three children. 

Between the beans, olive, and almond trees in his precious land, he faced the challenge of soaring agricultural expenses, particularly the escalating costs of plowing that consumed his hard-earned profits. Being the sole provider, he juggled his time between farming and a mini-market job, just to ensure his family a dignified life.

The solution to this problem laid in having a mini-cultivator, an...


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Welding Workshop


Salim's life took a drastic turn with the outbreak of war in 2011. A skilled car mechanic with a thriving workshop in the industrial area of Homs, he owned a house in Al-Sabeel neighborhood and a car. However, when conflict forced Salim, his wife, and their three children to seek refuge in Al-Arman neighborhood, his stable life crumbled.

Jobless and facing the harsh reality of war, he resorted to selling his car for survival. As chaos intensified, their house in Al-Sabeel...


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Olive Land


Elias, a husband and father in the village of Qattinah, found himself facing financial strain as he and his wife, Nazha, worked tirelessly to provide for their family. With two sons living in Lebanon, he took on the responsibility of caring for their olive land. The cost of plowing weighed heavily on his shoulders, threatening their main source of livelihood.

Determined to overcome this challenge, Elias turned to the Micro Projects Program for support. Applying for a mini-cultivator proved to be...


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Hairstyling


Nidaa, a retired civil engineer, and her husband, a retired teacher, faced financial challenges as their two sons pursued university education. In 2016, she took a bold step to work in a hair salon, learning basic hairstyling skills. However, due to insufficient income and the inability to work independently, she left in 2020. 

With the deepening economic crisis, Nidaa, determined to contribute to her family's income, decided to utilize her hairdressing skills at home, operating with minimal tools, which proved challenging,...


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Floor Grinding and Polishing


Mamdouh and his wife Faten have faced many challenges since they were displaced from their home village, Al-Dwair, in 2013. With two children, they rebuilt their lives in Al-Arman neighborhood, residing in a rented apartment. 

The loss of their home, his job, car, and motorcycle were a devastating loss. He is a dedicated teacher since 1985, also had a career in floor grinding and polishing since 1976. However, his work was hampered by the lack of electricity and essential tools. The...


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Floor Grinding and Polishing


Nano has been working in floor grinding and polishing since 1995, he faced numerous challenges over the years. With a family to support, including his wife and two children, his primary goal was to secure a stable income.

In 2013, the unthinkable happened, his family was displaced from their home in Al-Dwair village due to the war and forced to relocate to Fairouza village. Amidst the chaos, he managed to carry his equipment with him, a valuable asset he had preserved...


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Laser Machine


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...


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Mini-Van


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...


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Wood Cutting Factory


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...


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Pick-up Truck


“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...


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Pick-up Truck


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...


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Electric Keyboard


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...


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Blacksmith Workshop


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...


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Stationery Shop


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...


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Shoe-making Workshop


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...


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Sewing Workshop


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...


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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...


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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...


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