Zawin is a hardworking person who strive for his family; his wife and two sons.

Zawin has been working in the production and upholstery of cars since 2005 and has added through his experience in the production of Arab Majlis seating. Zawin had to make a lot of sacrifices in his work, 5 years ago the place where he works was exposed to a fire that resulted in the loss of all existing equipment and goods. 

Living a decent life and supporting his family has become a constant struggle for Zawin, which forced him to borrow a machine from one of his friends in order for the family to survive, and he also works in a factory for the production and upholstery of car furnishing, his permanent goal in life is to obtain complete and permanent independence.

Zawin felt very grateful and joyful for the support, today he is motivated to achieve his goal in life and help his family to secure a dignified living. 

“Where words fail, music speaks.” That’s how George replied when we asked him about the reason behind his love for music. 

Since he was an 8-year-old, George was fascinated by music and the industry in general.

His parents decided to enroll him in a music institute where he chose to learn Cello, his love for music didn’t stop there, he used to go to his uncle’s studio to watch him produce music for many artists. After a short time, he started helping his uncle with his work for 15 years till the war started.

In 2011 George joined the army and served his country for 10 years, in this decade a lot changed; during this time, he lost many of his friends in the army and his family was in danger back home, it was very tough for him to go through all that by himself.

After finishing his service George found himself back at the starting point, not knowing what to do and where to head. Despite everything, he refused to give up and decided to follow his passion for music and try to turn it into a career.

With a big dream and lots of plans, he applied for the Micro-Projects program to get the support he needed to start. Now George has a small studio in which he records and produces music for many local artists.

George is married and has worked in the carpentry profession since childhood with more than 40 years of experience, he had a full workshop with a kit, but because of the war he lost the workshop with the entire equipment, unfortunately, he cannot return to his former work area because its still under control of armed groups.

During war his home was exposed to a shell explosion, which led to great damage to the house, as a result, the family was displaced for more than 10 years. 

Because of his great experience in His profession and his desire to develop his business, George applied to the Micro Projects in order to buy a machine that helps him save time and increase his income, George launched his project and added new models to his work that helped him bring new customers, which led to an increase in his monthly profits.

The Micro Projects Program was able to achieve one of George's goals, to help him strive to work harder and develop faster. 

Hilda is a lovely married woman who works in the church and her husband works as a driver for the church as well, because of the difficult life that Syrian families are going through, Hilda's family went through harsh conditions, which led to financial burdens, the earthquak made things worse because their house was greatly damaged.

when we are exposed to immense loss, we try to look for any small light in order to start a new chapter in life even if it is delayed; Hilda started working in knitting and she was sending the pieces that need a stitch and a knit to a sewing shop, as she does not have the necessary machines, which was for her a waste of time and great difficulty in receiving a larger number of customers, so Hilda decided to apply to the center to develop her small project in home sewing, in order to save time and increase her family's income.

Micro Projects Program was able to help Hilda to be able to take a step forward in her field of work and to overcome the difficulties she faces in her daily life. 

Elias is an example of the patient and strong father who faces life’s challenges for his family, Elias is married and has two sons, one of whom is serving in military, life challenged Elias differently at each stage, in the period of war he was displaced from his home, and his son was exposed to a war injury during his mandatory service time. 

Corona came to be one of the most difficult periods he went through; it kept him away from his work and family, but as Elias said:  "Our Mother Mary did not abandon me and helped me overcome this ordeal." Elias now works as a guard in a private school in Aleppo with a low salary, he wants to improve his income, so he decided to apply for a taxi, which he sees as a strong source in order to meet the requirements of life and his family's expenses.

At the end of the meeting Elias said that his dream is to be able to buy a taxi so he can be more financially independent, and he achieved this dream to be his first strong step in the face of life hardships.

The years of war were not easy for Fadi's family, however, it didn't stop them from pursuing their dreams of living in peace and stability. Fadi’s family suffered a lot during the war, especially in the first years as Fadi is a resident of the village of Al-Jadeeda in the Idlib countryside, which is one of the Christian villages in the city of Idlib. He was displaced with his family from the village after they were besieged by armed groups.

At the beginning of the war in 2011, Fadi volunteered to defend his land against the armed groups, then He was discharged from the army in 2021 after serving for ten years.

Before the war, Fadi worked in the aluminum craft in his village. He had a shop since 2004, but he lost it afyer leaving the village towards Kasab. In his last years of service, he worked in this profession during his spare hours intending to return to it after service..

After his discharge, he moved to Aleppo to settle there and began working in the aluminum field, but his income was not enough to secure the family’s needs, and he strived hard to start his project to secure a sufficient source of income for his family.

The Micro Projects Program was able to fulfill this family's dream of stability, and Fadi now has his own shop, which will enable him to provide a decent life for his family.

Elias is a strong man who defied the difficulties of life for the sake of his family’s happiness despite all the harsh circumstances he went through. 

Elias is married and has three children, he suffered a lot during the war; he had a taxi in 2014, but unfortunately it was destroyed by a shell in 2016, despite the difficulty of the situation he was able to overcome this incident for the sake of his children and started working as a driver for a local institution with a modest salary.

Elias held-on to hope, his many losses during the war did not disappoint him, and despite the suffering of life, he was not satisfied with his little income, he kept searching for an opportunity to improve his situation and a ray of hope that would change his life; for him it was a taxi that he would work on after his shift to help him secure a better income, Elias applied for micro projects and upon approval his joy was indescribable. Today Elias looks forward to starting a new life chapter full of hope and blessings.

Naeem is an example of strong personality who will face crises with positive adaptation without suppression or confusion, married and has two sons, he works in the field of sanitary installations, solar energy installation and electricity extension.

Naeem tried to develop himself in his domain of work despite all the difficulties and challenges he faced, he is a creative person who added with his experience of more than 15 years working in the field of central heating, he rented a shop in order to start a stable life and a small family. 

Despite many difficulties and the war that hit Aleppo, Naeem did not leave the city and remained working hard to secure a good future for his children, his house was damaged by the earthquake and he did not despair and was able to restore it.

Naeem applied for the necessary equipment which will help him increase his income and secure the needs of his family. He believes that everything will turn out for the best, and that tomorrow is more beautiful, Hopefully this project will be the beginning of beautiful days for him and his family.

Samar is a mother of three children and a clinical nutritionist, she obtained her degree in food technical engineering from the city of Aleppo, and works in the field of food engineering in several clinics affiliated with the churches. 

Samar is a persistent woman; despite all the difficulties and challenges, she completed her studies during war, and did not give up her childhood dream. She had a strong desire to open her own center, specializing in following up the conditions of pregnant women and also cases of growth in children, diabetes, in addition to Botox injections in the stomach to treat obesity. 

The war was harsh on Samar and her family, in 2013 her husband was kidnapped and they had tp pay a ransom of  5000$, her husband's factory was robbed in 2014, the family was also displaced to Latakia because their area of residence was unsafe, Samar did not despair despite all the hardships, she was able to work in the National Hospital in Latakia for 3 years and then returned to Aleppo in 2019 

Samar applied to the center to get support for her project with the needed devices. The new phase in Samar's life has now begun with ambition and determination to continue her passion in life

Dr. Ghassan have been working in the clinic for more than 30 years, he has extensive experience in the field of dentistry, his work was greatly affected during the war because his place was exposed to a lot of shells, and when the area became safe, he decided to develop his clinic's devices because the equipment was worn-out that it became dilapidated.

The earthquake destroyed all Ghassan’s dreams for the enhancement of his clinic and his house from which he and his family were able to get out safe and sound, and because life must go on, Ghassan decided to submit an application in order to develop his project with support from the Micro Projects.

Ghassan held-on to hope despite all the difficulties of life that he faced in the past, the strength that he possesses despite all the challenges and crises that he went through, his patience and will can overcome every painful hardship.

Dr. Ghassan launched his project with the new devices that helped him develop the clinic and achieve part of his dreams that he patiently longed for. 

Since childhood, Masses has been ambitious snd creative, he works in the field of women's hairdressing, his profession depends on good taste in order to satisfy customers, he has practiced this profession since childhood with at least 30 years of experience, Masses wants to develop his long-standing project, however, the equipment that he has is old and worn out due to daily use but he cannot afford a new set. 

“in our days the generator fees is consuming our inccome but we cannot work without it”.

Masses decided to work on an alternative plan in order to reduce this attrition and bring a generator that helps him increase his income from the project, and he also applied for the support of the necessary equipment.

Masses overcame all the difficulties he faced in his field of work economically and even in terms of the crisis he went through after his house was damaged by the earthquake, which was severe damage that prevented him from returning to his home, which is considered unsafe for hsbitstion to this day, All these difficulties increased his determination to move forward with a smile of hope facing all life challenges.

Shant is a passionate person, aspiring to be proficient in his work, self-reliant, in order to secure a decent life for his family; Shant is married and a father of two, he works day and night for the wellness of his family.

Shant works in the profession of car spraying, and has extensive experience in this field, he currently works in a workshop but the equipment is not his, and the wage he receives is not commensurate with his experience and insufficient for the requirements of life.

During war people are exposed to many material and physical losses, this period was difficult for Shant, he lost his shop and equipment. His mother, father and sister were injured in the war, Shant wants to be independent in his work, so the idea of applying for his own project through the Micro Projects Support was a ray of hope, Shant started his project and is now working with passion and enthusiasm in order to achieve his life goals and take good care of his loving family.

Georgette, a skilled seamstress, has dedicated over three decades to working and providing for her family of five. Her husband, Maher, works in various fields with unstable income. 

Their village, Fairouza, faces poor electricity supply, hindering her productivity, in an effort to overcome this challenge, she purchased manual motors for her sewing machines, though they fell short of her expectations. Then, a ray of hope appeared in the form of the Micro Projects Program. Georgette seized the opportunity to secure a sustainable solution, so she applied for a solar power system and new sewing machine, aiming to enhance her work.

Her hard work shines through as she shoulders the primary responsibility for her family's income. Her skills, coupled with the newfound support, promise a brighter future for her, Maher, and their three children. Now, she is equipped with a solar power system and a new sewing machine, ensuring a brighter future for her family.

From 2003 to 2022, Ragheb worked tirelessly in various jobs to provide for his family, all with the support of his wife Katia, a dedicated school teacher, the couple have lovely twin boys, who are second-graders.

Their lives took an unexpected turn in 2011 when war started in their hometown of Homs. Forced to flee due to the damage of their home in Wadi Al-Sayeh neighborhood, the family sought refuge in Fairouza village, where Ragheb took a bold step; In 2012, he opened a mini-market, striving to create stability amid the chaos.

For four years, Ragheb and his family persevered in Fairouza. When they returned to Homs, they settled in a relative's house. The hardworking man didn't give up; in 2020, he rented a shop and reopened his mini-market. However, inflation struck hard, making it challenging for him to restock his shelves due to skyrocketing prices.

Recognizing the importance of this shop for his family's survival, he applied for support from the Micro Projects Program. With the assistance, he aimed to safeguard his family's primary source of livelihood.

Suzy and Najeeb's love story began seven years ago, they got married in Lebanon, and embarked on a journey together. Najeeb worked tirelessly as a plumber while Suzy initially enjoyed her passion for makeup as a hobby.

However, as Lebanon's situation worsened, she found herself needing to use her special beauty skills to support her family. She worked in a beauty salon, honing her craft and even attending specialized courses to further enrich her skills. With no workplace of her own, she offered her makeup expertise on request and also became a trainer, sharing her knowledge with others. Moreover, she attended a nail care training and acquired all the needed skills, without being able to have the essential kit.

She dreamt of owning her own beauty salon. Unfortunately, financial constraints held her back from realizing this dream. Her heart longed to provide a better life for her husband and two children.

That's when she discovered the Micro Projects Program, a glimmer of hope on her path. Suzy eagerly applied, holding onto the dream she had nurtured for years. With the program's support, she turned her passion into a thriving business and, now, she has her very own beauty salon, a place where her skills and creativity could shine.

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 with a decent living.

In 2017, she made a brave move, moving her pharmacy to Al-Hamidia neighborhood. Here, she faced numerous challenges, particularly the scarcity of medications and the skyrocketing prices, which took a toll on her small business as she struggled to maintain the sustainability.

She sought assistance from the Micro Projects Program to strengthen her pharmacy and stock it with essential medications. With the support, her pharmacy thrived, offering vital medications to her community, and ensuring a better future for her family.

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 obstacle, Ghattas applied to the Micro Projects Program.

His application was for a mini-cultivator, which would help him save on plowing and spraying costs. Additionally, he sought assistance for a trailer and fertilizers tank. With this support, he could secure his family's financial stability and ensure the prosperity of their olive land.

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. They delved into this idea with the guidance of an experienced mentor in the field. Being from an agricultural area, he recognized the potential in vermicompost, a form of organic fertilizer produced through earthworm farming.

With unwavering determination, Ammar set his sights on creating a sustainable source of income for his family. He designed a project that revolved around two key aspects, producing high-quality compost and breeding earthworms. The vermicasts produced by these earthworms were rich in vital nutrients, making them ideal fertilizers that improved soil quality.

To bring his vision to life, Ammar needed specific resources such as tanks, earthworms, concrete tank construction, water tanks, a battery, water hoses, and a weighing scale. However, his financial situation posed a significant obstacle.

In his quest to overcome these challenges, he applied to the Micro Projects Program, with the provided support, Ammar obtained the necessary resources to launch his vermicompost project. As the earthworms multiplied and the project expanded, his dream transformed into a flourishing business, providing a better future for his family.

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 the workshop closed its doors in 2016.

Despite challenges, Georgette didn’t give up on her passion, repairing clothes at home with an old machine. Her dream of a small business became stronger and she aspired to assist her husband in providing a better life.

A positive turning point came when she applied to the Micro Projects Program. Her request for sewing machines and a solar power system was granted. With renewed hope, she could now work with dignity and generate a stable income, contributing to a brighter future for both her and Hosn. 

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 training under the guidance of a skilled nail care specialist. She practiced her newfound skills at home, using her trainer's kit as she couldn't afford her own.

Her dream was to start her micro-project, allowing her to provide for her family during these tough times. Her application to the Micro Projects Program was approved, and now she has her own kit, ready to offer her services and secure a brighter future for her family and all her effort and hard work will shine as she embarks on this new journey. 

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 assistant photographer for Suboro TV, a remarkable opportunity that further honed his craft.

Determined to make his own path, Samer resorted to social media to start his small photography business, initially by renting cameras to fulfill his customers requirements. 

His family, unable to afford a camera, relied on his father, a nurse at a medical laboratory, as the sole provider. Samer's dream was to ease the burden on his aging father, who supported his mother and sister.

His work encompassed a wide range of services, from photography in various domains to product and food marketing, alongside his role at Suboro TV. His goal was to have his own camera and equipment, transforming his passion into a sustainable livelihood.

In pursuit of this dream, Samer applied to the Micro Projects Program for support, with the assistance, he now possesses his own camera, enabling him to contribute significantly to his family's well-being. Samer's hard work has turned his passion into a source of hope and support for his loved ones. 

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 rebuild their lives. Recognizing her strength and potential, she applied to the Micro Projects Program for assistance. With the support she received, Sanaa invested in a battery to enhance her handmade pieces and secured essential raw materials for crafting candles and souvenirs.

Through hardship and loss, Sanaa's resilience prevailed. With the Micro Projects Program's help, she rebuilt her shop, proving that determination can conquer adversity.

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, symbolized her determination to build a better life. Her dream was to expand her business, offering not just sewing but also designing and clothing repairs. This was her path to improved productivity.

Hope came in the form of the Micro Projects Program. Despite the hardships she had endured, Matile saw a ray of hope through this program, a chance to turn her dreams into reality and provide a better living for her family. 

"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, Hassan was called for military service where he was injured by shrapnel in his left arm from a shell explosion which led at the beginning to a complete disability in the arm, but after many sessions of physical therapy, it recovered to 50% of mobility. 

However, as a result of the injury, Hassan was discharged from service, but when he tried to work, he found himself unable to perform many jobs due to his health condition which also affected his psychological situation as he felt helpless because he was unable to cover his family's daily expenses.  he was on the edge of despair, not knowing what to do with his life when the priest told him about the Micro Project program in Damascus and how it supports Christian families.

Hassan didn't hesitate and immediately applied for the pickup car, it was the only project suitable for his health condition, and that provided a quick and good income so that he could cover life’s expenses and improve his conditions.

"This help is what I needed to feel that I am not alone, that someone is standing by my side, and that no matter how difficult things are, the Lord always gives us hope to start again'

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 she had a talent for drawing, which prompted her, after she finished her university studies, to learn the profession of makeup and begin working in this field in order to secure her own expenses.

However, during the war, her older brother was called for military service, which affected the financial situation of her family, so she worked as a secretary in the morning, and in the afternoon she received customers at home, trying as much as possible to support her family and secure living expenses.

It was very tiring for Caroline to work two jobs a day and for long hours; she wanted to focus more on being a makeup artist which was her greatest passion, but the materials she used were modest and hindered her from expanding her work.

Through the Hope Center, this ambitious, strong-willed young woman was supported with a cosmetic and makeup kit with all the necessary tools so that she could expand her work and receive more customers in order to achieve her passion, and at the same time obtain a greater income that would improve the living conditions of her family.

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 situation stabilized. After finishing, he rented a small room in Damascus searching for job, he returned to his passion for rock carving; determined to support his family, he worked harder and longer hours to bring home food as he became the sole breadwinner to his parents after his brother joined the army.

The tools he was funded with by Micro-project in Damascus gave him the opportunity to transport his rock carvings across different towns and markets. He no longer had to worry about renting and losing income and can now focus entirely on carving and earning more money to cover his family's expenses.

Ibrahim feels proud of his achievements and is grateful for the opportunity to take care of his family. The tools were indeed a game-changer, paving the way for a brighter future for Ibrahim and his family.

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, he tried to take any available job to afford the livelihood demands so he worked washing dishes at a restaurant and tried to work as a taxi driver but he wasn’t able to pay the high taxi rent and working as a dishwasher became tiring for him and the income was very low.

Mikhael became desperate because during the last few months, he and his family were living on support from his family and in-laws and he was in need of having his own source of income, especially after having a newborn baby.

With the help of Hope Center, Mikhael was supported to purchase his own taxi because it was the only project suitable for his health condition and that will form a great opportunity for him to be independent and have a sustainable source of income to improve his living.

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 and provide them with a decent life. However, the war quickly overpowered his efforts as he was called for military service, and for the next ten years, he knew nothing but dangers, as his service was in the most severe locations such as Aleppo, Barzeh, and Qaboun.

During those ten years, his family’s situation was greatly affected, as their village was in direct contact with the fights, so they were forced to flee to Damascus and live in a small house in the Al-Dwalaa area, relying on aid from churches and associations.

In 2021, Bassem was discharged from military service, and during that period, his father was diagnosed with skin cancer so Bassem didn’t hesitate to spend the entire amount of the service allowance on his father’s treatment. After that, he returned to working in agriculture and transporting crops from the village to the city, bearing all the possible risks in order to extricate his family from the miserable situation in which they lived.

Despite all the tragedies that Bassem experienced, he was full of faith and hope, and this led him to apply for the pickup car project at the Micro Project Center in Damascus as he was supported to obtain his own pickup car, through which he transported vegetables and goods between the city and the village, which saved him effort and provided him with a better source of income. Hopefully, this project will be an opportunity to improve Bassem's financial situation and help him secure the best means of life for his family.

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 best to secure a good income.

Despite his health condition, which requires a lot of care and rest, Najeeb did not hesitate to take up a lot of work in order to be self-reliant and afford his living expenses in addition to his medication costs which he was taking daily to stay alive.

As time passed, working at painting workshops started to affect his health condition so he worked as a rented taxi driver which was suitable for his health condition but the income wasn’t enough because he had to pay high percentage to the car owner.

Najeeb was full of optimism when he applied for the taxi project at the Micro-project Center in Damascus.

With the help of Hope Center, Najeeb was supported to purchase his own taxi which was the best project that suited his condition and at the same time provided him with a decent income to preserve his living.

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 killing and violence all over the area, so George and his family had no choice but to flee, leaving everything behind to preserve their lives. They moved to live in a rented house in the Kashkoul area in Damascus but the area was hit by daily shells and unfortunately, George’s sister was injured by one of them and passed away as a result. 

This incident has plunged the family into great sadness, especially George’s father, who was subsequently afflicted with cancer and died two years later.

George was burdened with sorrows and worries. He had become responsible for his mother and sister and had to protect them, especially during the severe security events in the region. So he decided to move to another place in search of safety. During that period, George worked as a sales representative for several companies. He also worked for a period as a private driver and as a minibus driver, trying his best to afford his family's expenses.

After George visited the micro-project center in Damascus and applied for the Mini-van, he was supported to purchase his own mini-van, because it would enable him to become self-reliant and have the ability to improve his income and provide his family with a decent living.

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 country in 2012, as they took shelter in his in-laws’ house in Zahle, Lebanon.  Sarkis worked there in rock carving and installing until the economic and security conditions began to deteriorate in Lebanon, so Sarkis decided to return with his family to Syria and settle in Jaramana in Damascus countryside.

Sarkis lived with his family and mother-in-law, who was suffering with her health and taking medications constantly. During that period, his brothers decided to start their project again in the Kashkul area and they tried to work together like before, but unfortunately, the work was very little and the income was not enough to support them all, so Sarkis left work with his brothers and began to work as a bus driver.

He was working more than sixteen hours a day to afford his family’s living but things were getting harder and he was seeking to have his own project to improve his conditions.

“If it wasn’t for you, my situation would never have changed” These were Sarkis words upon being approved to be supported with the taxi project.

Hopefully, this taxi will help provide the family with a proper income to afford the livelihood demands and preserve their dignity. 

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 he decided to move to Damascus and start working in several workshops trying as much as possible to secure a better income to meet his family’s needs and to save some money in order to start his own project and improve his condition.

Unfortunately, this wish was unattainable under the the difficult economic conditions that the country was going through, but Hanna did not let despair creep into his heart. When he learned about the Micro Project Center, he applied for support, full of faith, and hope.

indeed, his request was approved and he was supported to purchase the maintenance machines and tools so that he could start his own maintenance center for washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners, which will enable him to obtain a better income to improve his living conditions and secure a promising future for him and his family.

Working in the marketing field was all that Khalil known for his entire life, he is 39, married, and has two kids Youssef and Yohanna. Before the war started, Khalil was living with his family in Al-Jdaideh area and his job was selling lockers and keys to the shops. However, soon after the war began, he lost his job and became unable to pay the house rent so he moved with his family to live at his mother-in-law’s house in Jaramana.

Khalil didn’t take long to start a new job as a salesman and started driving late hours daily to distribute food products for shops and markets, but his salary was low compared to the living expenses. His wife wanted to work and support her husband but her mother was suffering from nerve disease so she had to stay beside her.

Khalil was trying hard to secure a decent living for his family but with the deteriorating conditions his income was barely enough to cover the daily living, so when he learned about the Micro project program in Damascus, he didn’t hesitate to apply for the pickup car because having this chance will save the expensive car rent and enable him to work independently. Having this project will provide Khalil with a better and more sustainable income to improve his family's living situation.

Suad Alawadh 32, is one of the strong women who was willing to do her best for the sake of her family. She is married to Samir Demmar and they have two sons and a daughter. Her husband works as a car mechanic and they live in a small room at her in-law's house in Bab Tomah. 

During the years of war, Suad and her family went through financial hardships as her husband was called for the reserve service which affected their life. At that point, Suad couldn’t keep watching her husband struggling alone and decided to support him so she enrolled at Al-Mammon Institute and took many courses in the nail care domain until she got the required experience to start working and support her husband in affording the livelihood demands.

Even with the limited tools she had, she didn’t hesitate to work for nail salons to gain more experience and increase her income, but staying out working for long hours was getting very hard and she wanted to be close to her kids so she could take care of them and work at the same time.

Supporting this determined woman with the materials and equipment to start her own nail care salon was one of Hope Center’s goals in supporting women and empowering them within these difficult conditions to have their own source of income and preserve their dignity.

Ranin is a 26-year-old woman, married to Murad Kasuha and they have wonderful kids Pamella and Faydh. Ranin and her family live in a modest small flat in Jaramana and her husband works in a nuts shop for most of the day trying his best to secure a decent living for his family which was quite difficult during the past years due to the economic deterioration and the increasing costs of living.

Out of her loyalty to her family, Ranin couldn’t just sit and watch her husband struggle to afford the daily food so she learned the profession of nail care and started to work at a beauty Salon for two years; it was difficult for her to leave her kids alone long hours a day for low salary so she quit and started to work from her house trying her best to help her husband though the current circumstances.

Ranin gained a lot of experience and she wanted to have her own salon in order to have more customers and improve her income so she applied at the Hope Center to achieve this endeavor.

Today, Ranin is so grateful that she was supported with the necessary materials and tools to have her own nail care salon which will enable this strong lady to stand by her husband in the face of all difficulties and work together for the sake of their kids.