Manar, armed with a PHD in children's education, embarked on a mission to address a pressing need in her community, a haven where parents could entrust their children for specific durations. In October 2022, she unveiled her micro-project in a modest rented space, with enthusiasm. Despite its compact size, the center offered enriching toys and games, from sand games to mental challenges, catering to every child's interests.

Juggling her role as a mother of two daughters and her husband's absence due to military service, she poured her heart into nurturing this venture. As the children joyfully played in the vibrant space, Manar had dreams of expansion. However, financial constraints were large, hindering her aspirations.

Determined to fuel her vision, she turned to the Micro Projects Program for a lifeline. With their support, she acquired additional toys, games, and even a much-needed battery for lighting. With this assistance, she seized the opportunity to rent the nearby shop, to realize her dream of an expanded space for the children.

Maya, a diligent young woman from Qattinah village, faced challenges in pursuing her passion for nail care. With determination, she juggled her studies in chemistry at Al-Baath University while honing her skills through training courses. Five years ago, she embarked on a journey, initially working from home until the borrowed tools were reclaimed, leaving her jobless. Undeterred, she sought employment at a salon to help in sustaining her family of five.

For two years, she worked tirelessly, accumulating experience. Yet, Maya yearned for independence. Despite her father's modest pension, she aspired to alleviate the financial strain on her family. With unwavering resolve, she ventured to establish her own nail care small business.

Through perseverance, dedication and hard work, Maya not only covered her educational and living expenses but also empowered herself and inspired those around her.

Maryanne, a determined young woman from Fairouza village, took an essential role in her family's well-being. With her father's plumbing income and her mother who is a housewife, their life was modest. 

In November 2022, aided by her sister and father, she opened a shoe and bag store in a rented shop balancing her studies with managing the store was challenging, but Maryanne persisted. However, as economic strains tightened, restocking the shop became hard. 

Hope surged when she received assistance from the Micro Projects Program. With renewed stock, the store flourished, easing the family's financial burden. Maryanne's dedication, while balancing her responsibilities as a baccalaureate student and an entrepreneur, not only contributed to securing her family's dignity but also inspired others in Fairouza village.

Mowafak, a skilled wall painter with over 24 years of experience from Fairouza village. He's honed his craft between different locations like Homs, Damascus, and Lebanon, gaining a wealth of skills. 

He shoulders the responsibility of being the sole breadwinner for his family, including his wife and three children. He also cares for his ailing mother-in-law, who has been living with them since a stroke left her paralyzed, in addition to his mother.

Recognizing the seasonal nature of house wall painting, he decided to diversify his income. In 2022, he took on a role as a taxi driver, earning a percentage of the profits from the vehicle owner. However, his ambition was to open a spraying workshop, a dream that seemed financially out of reach.

With hope in his heart, Mowafak applied to the Micro Projects Program, and his application was approved. Today, he stands proud as the owner of his very own spraying workshop. This project ensures a steady income throughout the year, offering stability and security for his beloved family and their future.

Following his divorce, Milad lived alone in Fairouza village, in a farm owned by one of his acquaintance who lives in America, and he diligently cared for the property.

Since 1995, he had made a living as a skilled wall painter and sprayer. But misfortune struck when his equipment was stolen from a construction site. With resilience, he decided to rent an electric generator and an air compressor to continue his work. However, this decision meant a significant drain on his income.

The economic crisis made it nearly impossible for him to recover from his loss. His daily struggle to make ends meet was a constant burden. It was during these difficult times that he learned about the Micro Projects Program. With hope in his heart, he applied for the essential equipment that could save his livelihood and secure a dignified living for himself.

Youssef Halaweh was born in 1989 in Dwalaa, Damascus city, his father, once a photographer, planted in him a passion for artistic expression to become a talented hairdresser.

Youssef's career as a hairstylist began in 2010, initially focusing on women's hairdressing before transitioning to work as a hairstylist for presenters on television channels like Talaqi and Sama. Despite the professional success, his personal life was fraught with difficulty as his mother battled breast cancer and the financial condition of his family was declining.

In 2016, driven by ambition and seeking new horizons, Youssef ventured to Lebanon. For four years, he plied his career, providing hairstyling services while shouldering the financial burden of his mother's treatment. Amidst the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, he returned to Syria in 2020, where he continued his journey as a hairstylist despite his father's unemployment and his mother's ongoing battle, Youssef remained steadfast in his commitment to his career and his family seeking an opportunity to start his own hairdressing salon where he could be his own boss and has the chance to show his skills and improve his income.

With help from Hope Center, Youssef was able to equip his salon with essential tools and an electricity generator to start a new chapter of his life, full of determination and hope for a better future.

Meneam Salloum's life was marked by hardships but with his strong determination he was able to rise above all the challenges he faced.

he is living in Al-Abbasein with his retired father and two brothers, and together they faced numerous setbacks from losing his mother to grappling with unstable security conditions during the crisis, but he never let circumstances define him. 

Before the war started, he was working at his own shoe-making workshop in Jobar, but after few months of the war, the area was subjected to numerous incidents and his workshop was burgled making him lose everything he worked for in the previous years.

unfortunately, when Meneam decided to move his work to his living area in Al-Abbasein, he was sniped in the flank which put him in bed for several months until he recovered.

after that incident, Meneam decided to quit his profession and started working at cars office and then as a taxi driver, and later becoming a salesperson at shoes store, trying his best to afford the livelihood demands for his family and preserve their dignity.

Despite all financial strains that Meneam and his family faced, Yet he refused to succumb to despair, so he applied for the pick-up project at the Micro Project center.

Receiving funding for his project marked a new chapter—one filled with possibilities. It wasn't merely about starting a business; it symbolized resilience, hope, and the triumph of the human strong will over calamities.

Rafy Al-Sahwy, born in 1982 and residing in Al-Dwalaa, faced numerous challenges in life. With his parents deceased and siblings married, he lived with his brother, striving to make ends meet. His journey through different jobs—from being a taxi driver to a private chauffeur and later distributing charcoal by bicycle—reflects his resilience amidst hardships.

The war and his father's illness forced Rafy to abandon his farming work at the village and return to live with his family in Damascus. Despite various setbacks, he ventured into charcoal distribution, utilizing a meager capital. However, soaring prices abruptly halted his work, leaving him with loss.

For Rafy, the taxi project he applied for, symbolized hope and stability in turbulent times, and having support to purchase his own taxi potentially rescued him from the brink of financial ruin.

It wasn't merely about financial gains for him; it was about reclaiming control over his life and promising a brighter tomorrow.

Jean Baghdady, born in 1997, lives with his family in Jaramana. His father, Antoun, works diligently as a maintenance worker at Saint Paul Monastery trying to put food on the table at the end of the day.

Jean's journey through work has been diverse; from volunteering at the UN in 2017 to becoming a photographer's assistant from 2018 until the present day, he has explored various professional avenues. Additionally, he has been employed as a receptionist at Alberto Monastery since 2021. Despite his workload, Jean managed to pursue accounting and marketing courses in 2019.

He commenced his career as a photographer in 2019, honing his skills and preparing to be an independent photographer full of ambitions to start his business alongside collaborating with other professionals, trying to gain as much experience as possible.

While their household and furnishings are modest, Jean's family supports him as he navigates his career path. Receiving support from Hope Center, marks a turning point for Jean, offering him the opportunity to expand his own business, enhance his skills, and elevate his income.

For Jean, this support isn't just financial aid—it's his life dream, propelling him towards independence and self-improvement to secure a better future for himself and his family.

Raneen Al-Eid is originally from Daraa, her journey took a turn when she shifted to Damascus to pursue her studies in commerce and economics back in 2010. However, her aspirations were rerouted as she got married in 2013.

Her husband worked in a cooling and refrigeration company, and he was trying his best to provide for his family but with the company closure, Raneen and her husband found themselves in the face of financial hardships.

With determination to support her family, Raneen started working as a saleswoman at a cosmetic store, from 2017 to 2021, during which she curved her skills by undertaking courses on nail care, hairdressing, and makeup at Al-Rida Institute, alongside project management at GOPA.

Unfortunately, Raneen's marriage faced severe storms that ended with separation to find herself living in a room, devoid of even the most basic amenities, with two children under her care.

Raneen's resilience shone through her relentless pursuit of self-improvement amid adversities illustrated by her unwavering spirit and her resolve to provide a better life for her kids propelled her towards a new endeavor; a makeup and nail care corner within her modest home, as soon as the idea took shape in her mind, she applied for support at the Micro Project program.

Today, after being supported to start her own project, Raneen is aware of the challenges and responsibilities ahead, but her spirit remains unyielding, driven by her love for her children and the pursuit of a brighter tomorrow.