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...


Read More

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...


Read More

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...


Read More

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...


Read More

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...


Read More

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...


Read More

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...


Read More

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...


Read More

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...


Read More

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...


Read More

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...


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

Electronic Devices Maintenance


Akram, a retired teacher, found new purpose in his Electronic Devices Maintenance workshop, sustaining his family since 1987.

With a wife and two daughters, his delicate work required uninterrupted power. The Micro Projects program became his beacon of hope. A solar power system revived his workshop during blackouts, providing the precise lighting he needed. 

This transformed his craft, ensuring accuracy and reliability. Akram's dedication to his family's well-being and his pursuit of excellence now shines brighter.

Sprayer-Trailer for Almond Land


Elias, a devoted husband and father from Al-Hamra village, owns an almond farm alongside with his three brothers.

Each of Elias and his three brothers made significant contributions to the almond farm, ensuring it became a complete and successful project. They utilized their resources and expertise, with each brother providing the necessary equipment and tools to enhance the efficiency of their work. United by their shared labor and efforts, they sought a solution to the mounting costs of spraying pesticides and...


Read More

Nail Care Kit


Safaa's journey into nail care began with a training course and a year refining her skills at another's salon. In 2021, driven by the need to support her family, she launched her home-based nail care micro-project using minimal tools and the experience she had gathered. Married to Jihad, a taxi driver, and blessed with two daughters, they shared a modest life in a rented Fairouza village apartment.

Seeking to further enhance her project and elevate her family's circumstances, the selfless mother...


Read More

Falafel Shop


Firas is a dedicated husband and father to three precious daughters, who is residing with his wife, daughters, and elderly mother. He has upheld his father's legacy by running a cherished falafel shop since 1983. However, his journey has been marked by many challenges.

Amidst severe electricity shortages, Firas struggled to operate his shop's refrigerators. The high fuel costs of using electric generators made his situation harder. Forced to prepare limited falafel quantities due to storage constraints, his earnings suffered. As...


Read More

Wheat and Vegetables Land


Elias, a retired employee and lifelong farmer from Qattinah village, resides with his wife, two daughters, son, and five-year-old grandson. 

With a passion for farming since his youth, Elias filled his land with wheat and vegetables, blessed with a water well. However, the harshness of war took his sprayers for irrigation. 

Elias turned to the Micro Projects Program, seeking seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and new sprayers. Fortunately, his application found approval, and the needed support arrived. The devoted farmer regained hope, with seeds and sprayers, his land thrived, showcasing the power of determination.

Agricultural Vehicle


A beautiful land planted with almond trees is the only source of livelihood for Mttanos, his mother, and his sister. They come from a family of farmers and lived in their home village Al-Maamoura for generations.

Mttanos's father and uncle bought a tractor many years ago and used it together to plow and water their land. However, its tires became very old over time, and driving this vehicle became dangerous.

What stood in his way of buying new tires and benefitting from...


Read More

Olive, Vegetables, and Grape Land


Jihad is a divorced man and a devoted father to his young son, following the destruction of his two clothing shops in Homs city due to the devastating explosions during war, he returned with his son to his home village of Maskanah to settle down with his mother and brother, aiming to rebuild their lives all over again.

The bustling city life he once knew was replaced by the quiet life of rural Maskanah. Embracing his roots, he transformed into a...


Read More

Sewing Machines


Nada lives with her elderly parents and wall-painter brother. Her journey began as a skilled seamstress in 2003, working for a reputable cotton clothing company until 2010. In 2014, circumstances led her to sew from home, allowing her to care for her family. In 2019, life tested her resilience as cancer struck her body. After a successful battle, Nada emerged stronger post-hysterectomy but unable to endure physical strain. Her sewing talent became her power. Investing in a sewing machine, she...


Read More

Mini-Market


Starting as his father's assistant in his plumbing workshop in 2006, their partnership was unfortunately cut short by his father's passing in 2009. Hussam bravely carried on, until the onset of war disrupted everything. Displaced to his mother's village, he patiently weathered the storm until 2018, when he embraced a new chapter by marrying and returning to Homs.

With his growing family, Hussam's job as a salesman at an agricultural company was barely sufficient for his family's needs. Fueled by determination,...


Read More

Mini-Van


Success isn’t always about greatness, most of the time, it is about strong will and hard work.

Like the case of Fares Al-Sbeih who is 29, single, and lives with his family at his uncle’s house in Damascus.

Fares was one of many who became adults during a critical time in Syria, a time of war, destruction, and fear but he didn’t accept to let despair sneak into his heart.

On the contrary, he started working at a young age to handle his...


Read More

Taxi


For most of his life, Simon had to count on himself to encounter the great responsibilities he was holding as his parents’ health was unwell and he was the breadwinner of the house and the supporter for his four sisters.

As a result, he traveled to Libya at a young age and worked as a goldsmith for about four years, then he had to return to Syria because his father had to undergo Heart surgery and he had to look after...


Read More

Sewing Workshop


“It's really unfortunate when you have everything you dream about to wake up the next day and find it's all gone.

We were living in Alzabadani town in prosperity as we owned land planted with walnut trees, a villa with a swimming pool, a carpentry workshop, and a wood warehouse.

My husband was a carpenter and our financial situation was very good, but all of that disappeared overnight and we found ourselves fleeing under bombing and sniping, with only our clothes on,...


Read More

Pick-up Car


"I feel like I am living as an extra number in this cruel world", it was with great sadness and despair that Hassan said these words.

He is a 31-year-old single man who lives with his mother and brother in an old house in Jaramana. Hassan worked any available job to afford the daily food for his family as his father had passed away leaving him to be responsible for his mother and younger brother.

During the first years of the war,...


Read More

Makeup Kit


Caroline Akkawi is a self-made girl who chose to rely on herself rather than being dependent on others. She is 27 and lives with her parents and her brother Antoun at their grandfather’s house in the Al-Dwalaa neighborhood while her second brother, Basil, is still at the military service in Qatana area, Damascus countryside.

Since her childhood, the financial situation of her family was critical, but she never complained and always thanked God for the blessings in her life, especially since...


Read More

Rock Carving


Ibrahim could never have imagined the way his life turned out. From being a rock carver for four years, he transitioned into a soldier after he received the call to go into military service for five years.

Serving in the army had been a particularly challenging period of his life, but he had persevered through it.

During his service, he received the sad news that the war had hit their town of Maalola, his family had to move to Damascus till the...


Read More

Taxi


War calamities were tough on everyone, especially those who are still suffering from its impact till now like the case of Mikhael Kousa who was exposed to a shell explosion during his service in Jobar, his entire body was penetrated by the shell’s shrapnel which put him in critical condition as he had to undergo several medical surgeries to survive, but he didn't recover completely which prevented him from living normally or working.

However, when Mikhael was discharged from the service,...


Read More

Pickup Car


Bassem Al-Mousa is 31 unmarried young man who used to live with his family in their small village. His father was blind and unable to work due to his condition, while his two siblings suffered from Joint Erosion and needed a lot of treatment, which forced Bassem at a young age to start working. At first, he worked at a prosthodontic laboratory then began working as a farmer cultivating the land and selling the crops trying to support his family...


Read More

Taxi


For a thalassemia patient, Najeeb was full of energy and determination to live like any normal person.

He is 30 years old and lives in an old house in Al-Tabala neighborhood. After he graduated from the agricultural institute in 2013, he volunteered at the SSSD association as a part-time job, then in 2016, he volunteered with the Al-Safina Association for People with Special Needs at the paper recycling center, he also worked as a painting worker at the weekends trying his...


Read More

Mini-Van


George Bershan was one of the people who lost a lot during the war in Syria; not only his home and his job, but he also lost members of his family, which left him broken-hearted and sad.

George is 31, he used to live in a small village in the countryside of Aleppo and worked as an assistant bus driver on the international road. After the start of the war, their village was besieged by armed groups who started to spread...


Read More

Taxi


Sarkis Sadeq used to live with his family in Maaloula town, Damascus countryside, and was working with his brothers in their sweets shop which was the source of income for the entire family..

After the start of the war, as Maaloula town was one of the most affected places in Syria, and most of its residents were exposed to killing, kidnapping, and the destroying and looting of their houses, which forced Sarkis and his family to be displaced out of the...


Read More

Maintenance Center


Hanna Hallaq is an active and hardworking 28-year-old young man who used to live with his family in Yabroud town, Damascus countryside.

Hanna graduated from the Mechanics and Electricity Institute and began working directly in the field of maintenance. after a while, he was employed by a telecommunications company as a specialist in the maintenance of coverage towers, but the low salary prevented him from continuing because Hanna was responsible for the house expenses and for his parents and sisters, so...


Read More