Abdullah Hatem, a hardworking 31-year-old with an entrepreneurial mindset, started his journey from a young age. He worked alongside his father, who owned a car mechanic workshop, but Abdullah did not envision himself working in the same field. Instead, he developed a keen interest in the art of garment printing. In 2012, he embarked on his journey and worked towards starting his own project and owning a workshop.

Abdullah's determination and hard work allowed him to save every penny he earned, aiming to purchase his very own shop. Initially, he rented a small space, but through persistent efforts, he eventually managed to buy his own workshop. However, the outbreak of war disrupted his business, causing a significant decline in his income. Additionally, he faced the challenge of acquiring the necessary printing equipment.

Abdullah made investments with a friend in an attempt to increase his income, but unfortunately, it did not yield favorable returns. Faced with these setbacks, he found himself in need of a helping hand to provide the push he required. With the assistance of Hope Center and access to essential equipment and materials, he aimed to boost the productivity and quality of his project. He found solace and guidance, which restored hope and determination to overcome all hardships.

Kevork is a 53-year-old skilled mechanic with over 30 years of experience in car maintenance and mechanics. He used to work in his workshop, which he owned since 2005. However, when the war started, his house in Aleppo was damaged by the ongoing shelling. As a result, he was forced to make the difficult decision of selling the equipment he had acquired through years of hard work and moving to Lebanon with his family.

From 2015 onwards, he resided in Lebanon along with his wife and his two sons. In 2018, he returned to Aleppo. Relying on his years of experience, he was determined to support his family.

Despite the challenges he faced, living with his parents, he remained committed to provide for his loved ones. With the assistance of the Hope Center, Kevork was able to obtain all the essential equipment he needed. With his revived business and experience, he was able to rebuild his thriving business.

Bassil Mssedy, a dedicated father in his 50s, worked as a blacksmith for 15 years in the industrial city of Aleppo. Unfortunately, the aftermath of the war made him jobless. The industrial area, once thriving, now lay in ruins.

Bassil and his wife used to reside in a rented house in Al Midan, an area that was heavily bombarded during the war. Tragedy struck one fateful day when a missile destroyed their home. Miraculously, they had left the house just an hour prior, escaping unharmed. Although relieved that their lives were spared, their house suffered significant damage, so they had to move in with their parents in 2014.

Despite their challenging circumstance and unemployment, Bassil managed to secure a position as a church keeper, working part-time. However, his income was barely sufficient to support his family. His wife worked at the airport to help her husband. Unfortunately, she also battled diabetes, adding further strain to their finances due to medical expenses.

Ensuring their basic needs became a daily challenge, as putting food on the table proved to be a constant struggle. They heavily relied on food baskets and cash aids to make ends meet. 

In the depths of despair, Bassil was filled with hope when he received assistance from the Hope Center. With the new taxi he received, he was able to increase his resilience and income, which brought stability to his life.

George Tabbakh is a skilled CNC machinist with 15 years of experience. He began his career in 1997 until 2002 when he decided to start his own business and invest in a metal lathing machine. George has always had a passion for personal development and enjoys immersing himself in new learning experiences. Aware of the potential of 3D printing and mechanical drawing, he attended numerous workshops and courses to enhance his skills with software like SolidWorks.

In 2008, George purchased his own 3D printer. Things were going well until the outbreak of war significantly impacted his business. Faced with financial challenges and a scarcity of jobs, George was forced to sell his equipment. However, in 2015, he resolved to rebuild his career and opened a new shop with the hope of reestablishing his work.

George encountered a multitude of difficulties and challenges. Despite working tirelessly to increase his income, the majority of his earnings were consumed by electricity bills, leaving little to provide for his family of three. His work particularly suffered from the absence of a CNC machine. Whenever a customer requested a small sample, George had to rely on others who owned such machines, often waiting for a month just to receive a sample due to the machine's scarcity in the city.

George and his wife made the conscious decision to stay in Aleppo, despite numerous opportunities to relocate. His wife also contributes to the family's income, supporting her husband through these challenging times. While they have hopes for better prospects in Syria, they are concerned about the low salaries and inflation.

With the support of hope centers, George finally obtained the necessary equipment for his job. The availability of the CNC machine has been a game-changer for his business, allowing him to produce samples quickly and efficiently. George remains dedicated to his craft, determined to make the most of this newfound opportunity to improve his financial situation and provide for his family.

Vahe Tashjian is a 56-year-old mechanic with 23 years of experience. In his younger years, he worked in Kuwait, but he later moved to Aleppo, where he found employment in various companies. Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of war, the companies closed down, leaving him jobless. 

Vahe has always dreamt of owning his own workshop, but his previous attempts were unsuccessful due to the need for financial resources, in 2022, he briefly went to Dubai but got very ill. In less than a year, Vahe returned to Aleppo with great hopes and determination to establish his livelihood. Given his extensive experience, he no longer wanted to work as an employee. 

Luckily, through a friend, he managed to secure a temporary workshop without having to pay rent. As Vahe took his first steps in this new workspace, the recent earthquake impacting the already struggling job market and resulted in a severe decline in customers. This situation left him with no choice but to take matters into his own hands. In order to cut costs, he had to let go of his workers and do the hard physical work himself, which put strain on his health.

 After receiving approval for his project, Vahe felt a sense of relief. He could now bring back his dedicated workers and once again immerse himself in the job he loved. No longer needing to rely on borrowed equipment from others, Vahe was finally able to invest in his own tools and resources. He could provide for his family and generate a more substantial income.

Aziz is a determined young man, recently married to Rasha and waiting for their first born child.

He worked as a driver since 2009 and continued working in this job during his ten-years military service in Damascus, Rasha works as a nurse in a hospital and they live in a modest rented house. 

During his service aziz was injured in the leg then he was discharged and he started looking for a job to secure his life and future. His parents decided to travel and leave the country but Aziz decided to stay and he started looking for a job to secure his life; he started working night shifts at a beverage shop in a local neighborhood but the salary was low and the job included many troubles so he kept his faith and determined to search for a solution to enhance his situation. 

After getting married, Aziz responsibilities got bigger and he found the micro program as the best opportunity to get back to his original career as a driver, with the support he got the taxi and he can now improve his income and provide a good life for his wife and awaited child. 

Antoine had a good life before the war working as a hairdresser with great skill and many customers, in 2013 he was called for military service and had to serve for nine long years in Aleppo's suburbs which affected his health greatly as he was subject to many injuries from explosions.

Antoine suffered from a neurological condition that caused trembling in his hands and he no longer was able to continue in his original career of hairstyling, even grabbing the scissors became the most difficult task for him.

However, he didn't surrender and was determined to find a way to secure his livelihood especially that he is the breadwinner of the household that he shares with his parents and he looks after them; the family had to sell their house in Midan area after the brother was called to service so they can afford the increasing livelihood expenses.

He started working in a blacksmithing workshop but the income was insufficient and it demanded a lot of physical effort. With the support of the Micro Projects program, Antoine got a taxi that would help him make a better living and at the same time it is the most suitable job for his health condition, hopefully it will be the start of a better days to come for him and his loved ones. 

Haytham's journey in the world of tailoring began in 1988, Aleppo, During the war Haytham faced a great loss when his workshop in Shekh Maksoud was completely destroyed and all of his sewing machines and tools were stolen. He used to work alongside his brother for a short period of time, but circumstances led them to separate and focus on their individual projects. Haytham received his share of the profits, which he had planned for his own project, but instead, his wife got very sick so he had to use the money for her surgery. Unfortunately, destiny had a cruel twist in store for him as his beloved wife passed away after a heart surgery in 2014, leaving him devastated and alone.

In Haytham's time of despair, a friend suggested that he rent a workshop. Thankfully, the owners were understanding and charged him a minimal amount of rent, which was a relief considering the financial burden Haytham was already facing. However, there were additional expenses that Haytham had to bear, especially the high monthly private electricity bills. Most of his hard-earned income seemed to disappear into these bills, leaving him with little income to support himself.

Recently, Haytham received devastating news that the owners of the workshop were planning to sell the workshop, without even considering the impact it would have on him and on his son George. Determined not to let this happen, Haytham made the decision to upgrade the workshop in an attempt to prevent the owners from selling it. He planned to replace the outdated sewing machines with new ones that consumed only less electricity. This upgrade would not only modernize his workshop but also significantly reduce the electricity consumption.

With over 35 years of experience, Haytham has mastered the art of creating a wide variety of cotton-wear clothing, to both men and women, including pajamas and robes. As for his personal life, he and his son George live in a rented house. However, Haytham strives to provide the best life possible for his son and wishes to ensure a stable and successful future for him. Haytham's determination and drive are truly admirable. Growing up as an orphan, he experienced hardships at a very young age; however, his determination and passion for his craft have always been the driving forces in his life. Today, with the new machines and support from the Hope Center that Haytham has received, he has overcome challenges and secured a better future for himself and his beloved son, George.

Antoine is 28 years old, married and a father of a 1 year old lovely boy, he has served in the military for almost the last ten years of his life which has robbed him of any opportunity to pursue a career and build a future for his family.

with no experience and a very harsh economic situation of the country, Antoine put a lot of thinking of his next step in life, he looked for any job that would help him provide a decent life for his wife and newborn son, he started working in a soap factory but the salary is very low and not sufficient to make ends meet. 

The earthquake had a huge impact on this family, they lived in fear and were affected by the damages, the church helped them and continues to deliver a small monthly aid, unfortunately the situation is deteriorating with the inflation and the increasing living costs. 

Antoine found hope in the Micro Projects program when he applied for a taxi as it doesn't require a former experience and at the same time he can work long hours and make a better income to improve the livelihood of his loved ones. 

Salem Kadah, a 40-year-old tailor, chose to follow in his father's footsteps and become a tailor himself. Before the war, he worked alongside his father. However, after his father passed away in 2003, Salem forged his own path and began working in jeans production, distributing products to high-end brands. Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of war, his business was disrupted, which forced him to look for alternative sources of income.

In 2016-2017, Salem attempted to revive jeans production but faced significant challenges due to low-profit margins. Consequently, he shifted his focus to tailoring and repairing clothes, utilizing his father's shop. Unfortunately, outdated sewing machines consumed substantial amounts of electricity, the cost of electricity bills was eating into his already modest income.

Despite the difficult circumstances during the war when work opportunities were scarce, Salem always found a way to make ends meet and worked tirelessly; however, minimal income broke his thrive.

Today, with the support he received and his unwavering dedication, Salem now feels confident that his hardships will no longer go to waste on excessive bills. His wife also works and supports him, while together, they provide for their family. Salem seeks to upgrade his workshop, aiming to increase his income by expanding production rather than solely relying on clothes repair.

Upgrading his machinery will undoubtedly lower electricity consumption and save time and effort. Today with the support of Hope Center Salem's 20 years of experience and hard work have not been in vain. With renewed hope, he aspires to resume his job and provide good living for his family.

Mardiros a young barber with seven years of experience, he lives with his mother and bears the sole responsibility of being the family's breadwinner. As a talent in his craft, Mardiros was longing for the security and independence that came with owning his own barbershop. However, the lack of supportive environment and economic challenges of the country left him hesitant to take the leap. He meticulously calculated every aspect, and despite numerous attempts, he remained doubtful as it posed a significant risk.

Having endured the frustration of earning minimum salaries while working for others, Mardiros knew he needed his own equipment to establish his resilience. Mardiros had an idea to minimize the cost of rent, Mardiros's current barbershop decided to offer him the opportunity to rent a chair in their salon for his own customers. This arrangement enabled him to reduce rental expenses while still generating a steady source of income.

With the approval from the Hope Center, Mardiros received an incredible boost in confidence and support. Finally, he could embark on his journey towards independence. The burst of hope and opportunity provided by the Hope Center gave Mardiros the courage to chase his dreams, ensuring a brighter future for himself and his family. 

Nancy Samaan, an ambitious young girl from Tartous, graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts and later relocated with her family to Aleppo. Nancy always had a clear vision of her passion for graphic design and poured her heart and soul into her work.

At a young age, in 2018, Nancy started her career as a graphic designer. However, she soon realized that her previous job didn't provide the opportunities she needed to improve her skills and profession. Determined to grow, she embarked on a new job that allowed her to explore photography, expanding her abilities and opening up diverse avenues in graphic design. She delved into areas like social media content creation and product advertisement.

After gaining five years of experience in the field, Nancy desired to work independently, driven by her longing for financial independence. She planned to achieve her goals step by step and began by building an impressive portfolio of her work, which earned her positive feedback from customers who admired her talent and expressed a desire to collaborate. Nancy leveraged social media platforms to showcase her work and gain recognition in the job market. With unwavering confidence and fearlessness, Nancy's ultimate dream career was to become an interior designer.

However, the unavailability of a laptop became the only obstacle hindering her success; One day, while working from home, Nancy's laptop suddenly stopped functioning due to a surge in electricity, resulting in the loss of all her files and documents.

Standing as Nancy's number one supporter, her mother is immensely proud of her daughter's determination and unwavering belief in her abilities. With the support she received from the CHC team, Nancy regained her confidence with her new laptop and took the first step towards realizing her dream and unleashing her boundless creativity to pursue a fulfilling career.

Malek first began working in the industrial area in 1988, where he learned the profession. His abilities grew over time, and he eventually began working with well-known car agencies, which allowed him to get specialized experience in fixing cars.

In 2011, the unsafe conditions in Homs, which were brought about by the cruel war, made Malek stay for two years without work since the company he was working for closed. He was finally able to restart a car repair workshop in 2013 with some basic tools, but due to a legal requirement, he had to relocate his business to the industrial area of Fairouza village.

Malek's project was approved, and he received the necessary support to purchase the needed devices and tools for his car repair workshop. With the new equipment, his business will expand, and he will be able to increase his income and ensure a good life.

Having more than one source of income has become vital as a result of the economic situation in Syria, which has made it difficult for people to meet their basic necessities.

The impacts of this crisis were affected Ghania and her husband Samir, and they even had to sell some of their belongings to survive, until she decided it was time to work and support her husband, who is her only family.

In 2019, she offered very basic at-home nail and skin care services and received specialized training in order to develop her skills. Later, a friend of hers assisted her by lending her some tools, and the two of them opened a salon and worked together. However, when Ghania's partner left the country, Ghania was in a difficult situation because she lacked the necessary tools to continue working on her own while also didn't have the money to buy them.

She closed the salon and resumed working from home, but due to her need of materials and equipment, she unfortunately, lost many clients. Samir left for Lebanon in an effort to improve their living conditions, while Ghania remained in their rented house in Fairouza village. 

The provided support will make a significant difference in the lives of Ghania and Samir. By helping Ghania reopen her salon, she will not only be provided with the necessary equipment to restart her business but also give this family a chance to make a better future.

As the eldest daughter in her family, Angel chose to work and rely on herself after she finished her studies at the engineering institute.

She lives with her father, who is a retired janitor; her stepmother, who works in an accessory store, and her brother and sister, who are students.

In a specialized salon, Angel acquired the necessary skills for nail care, but due to her family's challenging financial situation, she was unable to start her own project or afford to purchase the necessary equipment.

The ambitious young lady aspires to work and help in providing for her family to guarantee that her siblings get a proper education. She applied to the Micro Projects Program that supported her to have the main equipment, and began working at home, hoping for better days to come. 

Ahd and his wife are like many Syrian parents who have had to live without their children due to the devastating war. They have been separated from their children for years and are now living in their small house in Homs, hoping to one day be reunited with their family.

Ahd is the father of three, two sons and a daughter. Before the war, he worked for more than twenty years in a hotel, which ended with his retirement.

The family of five traveled to Lebanon seeking a better life; however, life there was not easy, and Ahd couldn’t find a suitable job for a man his age, so he went back with his wife Farida to their country, and his journey of finding work continued. Despite his extensive experience in the hotel industry, he struggled to find employment opportunities due to his age and the effects of the war on the economy. 

He has strong relationships with many traders, especially the owners of mini-markets and grocery shops, based on his former experience in the hotel, which encouraged him to apply for a mini pick-up truck that would allow him to provide a sufficient income for his wife and himself without needing any help.

He started delivering goods to these shops, and his business will expand to include a wider range of services. Ahd's hard work and dedication paid off, and he was able to provide a comfortable life for his family.

In the war-torn city of Homs, amidst the ashes of destruction, a resilient woman named Rimaz embarked on a journey of survival and hope. Widowed in 2011, she found herself shouldering the responsibility of providing for her two children, Mark and Malak. With unwavering determination, she embraced her role as a seamstress, utilizing her skills to repair clothes and make ends meet.

Living in a modest rented apartment, Rimaz's dreams of stability were shattered when their family home fell victim to the ravages of war. Undeterred, she tirelessly worked in sewing workshops gaining valuable experience. In 2020, she finally realized her dream of opening her own workshop.

However, the harsh economic situation that plagued the country was cruel to Rimaz's emerging business. After just two years, she was forced to close her workshop, selling off the machines she had once cherished. The loss of her livelihood left her and her children filled with despair. Rimaz sought solace in working at someone else's workshop, but the difficulty of transportation made it an unsustainable option.

Hope flickered anew when Rimaz discovered the Micro Projects Program, a ray of light that could reignite her dreams. She applied, yearning for the opportunity to reclaim her independence and secure a dignified living for her beloved children. With the support of the program, she aimed to reopen her workshop, where her skilled hands could fashion beauty from fabric once more. Rimaz's parents had offered a helping hand in the past, but her resilient spirit longed to stand on her own feet and provide for her family independently. Her vision was clear, she needed assistance to purchase the machines, a battery, and various sewing requirements.

With her workshop revived and the support of the Micro Projects Program, Rimaz resumed her work as a skilled seamstress and each stitch became a symbol of resilience and hope for her small family. 

Imad learned this profession from his father and developed his skills over time, he used to work with him before the military service that lasted for nine years.

He lives with his parents and brother; he immediately resumed working when he was discharged in order to help in providing for the family.

His craft heavily relies on electricity, which was the thing that hindered Imad's productivity during the current circumstances. He tried to carry on working while using an electric generator that he had rented, but he missed many work chances when renting was not possible.

Imad is determined to overcome the challenges brought by the crisis and achieve his goals, in hopes that with the new equipment, he will not only be able to provide for his family but also save up for his dream of working independently.

Elian, a construction worker who struggled due to the mounting financial obligations and lack of opportunities, thought of a way to increase his income and added another service to his work, which involves lifting construction materials with a mini-winch that he bought with some friends' assistance.

He lives with his brother Adel after their parents passed away and all of their siblings got married and went into their own lives.

But Elian's inability to generate a sufficient income was actually hindered by the lack of electricity, and he couldn't afford the cost of an electric generator.

He wanted the generator to continue working because, as he gets older, his construction work will become more difficult and exhausting, and the mini-winch will ensure he has a source of income because it requires less physical effort.

Shireen represents the strong working woman and the selfless mother who devoted her entire life for her family and didn’t give up no matter how hard the circumstances were.

She is married and the mother of three children, two boys and a girl, and her family is originally from the war-torn village of Al-Qaryatein. 

2015 was the year Shireen and her family were kidnapped by the armed groups that attacked their home village and deprived them of the peaceful life they used to live. Fortunately, they were able to escape and make it to Fairouza village, where they began to rebuild their lives from scratch, just like many other displaced families.

Today, Shireen shares a home with her husband, who is an employee, her only daughter, who is a high school student, her mother-in-law, and her brother-in-law, while the two sons left to find their own paths. She couldn't just stand by and watch, so she made the decision to utilize her sewing skills. Since the experienced seamstress has a long history of working in this industry both teaching and working in it. 

While switching between several workshops in Fairouza over the previous few years, working for others didn’t provide decent living for the family until she applied to the Micro Projects Program in 2022, where she got the needed support to buy the main machines and start practicing her profession at home.

Life was tough on Shireen and her family, and having a project will preserve her dignity and allow her to secure a better income.

Maria and her family were left with a lot of responsibility, but the resilient young woman has shown strength in overcoming all the difficulties following her father's tragic passing.

She lives with her mother and older brother, Alaa, while her younger brother, Elie, traveled abroad to seek his opportunities.

Maria had previously worked for six years in the field of selling accessories and clothes, which helped her gain valuable expertise, and encouraged her to start a business, and in order to assure the project's success, she also drew on her older brother's extensive sales experience. 

The two of them launched a simple accessory shop in 2020 with the goal of finding a way to support the family, which had good profits over the first few months, but in 2021, when the family lost their sole provider, it ended up being their only source of livelihood.

The situation of the country, especially the huge inflation, had an impact on the project, but the true obstacle in their path was the rental expenses, which had recently risen and increased their financial burdens.

Maria and Alaa studied the possibility of developing their shop and decided to apply new ideas, including selling handmade accessories. Based on that, Maria applied for the essential tools required for that and some merchandise to support it, in the hopes that the family's business would succeed and secure them a better future.

Subhi left school at an early age and immediately started looking for a source of livelihood in order to support his family as the only son of his parents. He tried a variety of professions before his brother-in-law taught him about electrical installation, and they began working together in 2014.

Today, Subhi lives in Fairouza village with his wife and their 3-year-old son, along with his elderly parents.

After nine years of working in this field, Subhi managed to acquire all the required skills to work independently, but due to his financial responsibilities, he was unable to buy his own tools and was barely able to provide for his family's basic necessities.

By providing him with the equipment he needs, Subhi will be able to work independently and ensure a better income.

No matter how harsh and difficult the conditions are, there is nothing more difficult than the bitterness of death.

This is what the twenty-three-year-old Naya Al-Freijat believes, who experienced death in its worst forms; in 2016, during the brutal wartime, her older brother Yazan was working at Al-Badia Cement Factory in Dumayr, when the armed groups attacked the area, and when they knew that Yazan was Christian, they executed him.

The impact of this tragedy was devastating for Naya and her family, especially her father, who could not handle the loss of his son in such a horrible way and was subjected to a severe shock that led to his death.

Naya's mother also suffered from severe psychological trauma after losing her son and husband and her health started to deteriorate as she had diabetes and high blood pressure.

In the face of all these tragedies, Naya and her sisters suddenly found themselves heartbroken and lonely without a supporter. They had to take care of their sick mother and younger sister Hanin who was still in school so they decided to study and work, Marwa graduated from the faculty of pharmacy and started working as a trainer and Naya graduated from the technical arts institute with a specialization in photography and started working as a photographer.

She had practical experience for two years that enhanced her skills in taking photos in addition to learning the Photoshop program, and when she started to have external photography requests, she would borrow a camera from her friend or from the center in which she works.

Naya has always wished to have her own camera so that she could have more work and increase her income, but the harsh circumstances she has been through made that dream impossible.

" Nothing is impossible with God " Luke 1;37

through the Micro-project initiative, Naya was funded to have her own camera and equipment that will allow her to receive more customers requests which will improve the conditions of the family and now she dreams that this camera will be the first step to success in her life and to have her own business "Naya Photography”.

Starting from scratch is always difficult, especially during wartime, while being responsible for little kids, and not knowing how to keep them safe and secure.

That’s how Norma Elias 44, expressed her journey during the years of war. She is married to Ziad Alhomsi and they have three children Lady 2001, Elias 2004, and Larita 2009. 

Her husband used to have his own workshop in Aldekhanieh area, Damascus suburbs, and his income was good enough to provide the livelihood demands of the family.

However, Aldekhanieh was among the areas that were affected by the war calamities as it was hit daily by many shells, which forced Norma’s husband to flee leaving everything behind, and he never had the chance to restore any of his machines or equipment. That year in 2014, Norma and her husband lost their source of income. Her husband returned to be a worker and Norma didn’t hesitate to support him so she took some courses in handicrafts and cooking at the church and then started to work from home and help with the living expenses.

Soon after, she began to rent tables at the church exhibitions to display her products which were quite profitable at the time but during the last few years, the economic situation had a devastating impact on all people including Norma and her family as she became unable to buy the materials necessary for her work and at the same time her husband income couldn't meet the living demands so she decided to apply at the micro-project for support.

Now after having all the required tools and materials, Norma is preparing beautiful handicrafts for Christmas with all hope that her business will thrive and she will be able to help her family and improve their condition. 

While retiring can be a reward for years of hard work, Hussam Maroni 60 years old, found it very difficult for him after thirty years of working to be jobless with no proper income.

He is married to Mouna Qarrout and have adorable three daughters Zoya, Jessica, and Solin, and for most of his life, he was doing his best to secure a decent living for his family and provide them with love and care.

Hussam is an agriculture engineer who worked at a governmental agricultural institution from 1990 until his retirement in 2021. He tried to afford the living expenses and his daughters’ education because he wanted them to be independent and educated women to depend on themselves in the face of the difficult circumstances. 

Indeed, he gained what he sought, as his daughter Zoya has graduated from Pharmacy college and started working and his other daughters are also advanced in their studies. However, life isn’t always fair as the health of his wife Mouna, started to deteriorate and she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she went through chemotherapy and had to undergo surgery to remove the tumor.

Hussam and his daughters lived a great depression and were trying as much as possible to empower her to overcome her disease and were praying to God to cure her.

During that period, Hussam was seeking to work and cope with the living difficulties and challenges since he is responsible for his wife’s medication and his daughters’ education so he applied to the micro project program for an agriculture store where he could apply his strong experience, and at the same time have a sustainable and proper income for his family’s future.

Rana Nofal is a hardworking mother, who dedicated her entire life to keeping her family united and secured.

She is 40 years old, divorced, and a mother of four sons; Joseph born in 2003, Tony 2006, Johnny 2009 and Ward in 2014. 

Although Rana didn’t have a good marriage experience, she handled all the difficulties and abuse for the sake of her sons and didn’t hesitate to work and support herself and her husband with the living expenses but her husband kept pushing and forced her to take medicines that led to having a hysterectomy and many health issues so she decided to ask for a divorce and move to live alone.

After that, Rana rented a small room in Jaramana close to her parents and her eldest son Joseph moved to live with her. Together, Rana and Joseph started working and taking care of each other with the living expenses, but she wanted her son to continue his education so she was seeking a job that will enable her to handle all the living demands.

However, despite all that she had been through and her deteriorating health,Rana kept a strong faith that tomorrow will be better, so she gathered her strength and visited our office to apply for a mini-market project and didn’t hesitate to attend a business management course that we offered to empower herself and her project.

After being funded with the mini market project, Rana is full of hope that this project is the first step to having a good income and improve her situation and reunite her children again.

The year 2013 was a turning point in the life of Maaloula’s citizens, this ancient Christian village in the countryside of Damascus was attacked by the armed groups who destroyed most of the town’s historic homes, churches, and monasteries in addition to the looting, kidnapping and killing incidents which forced its people to flee.

Among them was Milad Zakhem and his family, they only had a few minutes to decide between fleeing or being killed which prevented them from taking any of their possessions or belonging.

Milad and his family moved to Jaramana where they rented a small house and found themselves starting from scratch which forced Milad (who was at the age of 19) to work and support his family instead of completing his education.

He started to work at an elevator maintenance office and soon after he learned the profession without the need of a supervisor. Milad was working long hours and gaining experience hoping that one day he will have his own workshop but living expenses were increasing year after year and his father started to suffer from heart disease and needed to undergo surgery which cost a lot of money.

Sorrowfully, a few months after his father’s recovery, he was hit by a motorcycle in the neighborhood and died which was a great loss for the family. Milad became responsible for his mother and sister and was doing his best to secure a decent living for them, but no matter how hard he worked the salary was a lot less than his expenses.

He wanted to establish his workshop so he applied to the Micro-project holding great faith in his heart and he was funded with all the equipment, tools, and electric generator that allowed him to start his own workshop hoping to improve his situation and establish a better future.  

Nuha Noah is married to Mersel Atta, and has three children Elias 22, Sharbel 20, and Taqla 17.

Before the war, they were lived in Shaqra village in Daraa governorate, Nuha worked as an assistant midwife, her husband was a government employee and their situation was stable.

However, after the start of the war, the village was surrounded by armed groups who terrified the people and spread violence, then they entered Nuha’s house and took her husband and son as hostages where they were exposed to beating and humiliation and then released after taking their car in 2013. After this incident, Nuha and her family fled from the village and lived at her in-laws house in Dwalaa trying to get over what they've been through and start from scratch to restore what the war took from them.

Nuha started to work as a teacher at a kindergarten and supported her children to continue their education but unfortunately in 2019, she was diagnosed with spinal cord cancer and had to undergo surgery and radiology sessions which weakened her body and forced her to quit her job at the kindergarten.

Thanks to God, Nuha got better and she never hesitated with her strong will to help her family as their financial situation was deteriorating quickly. she was unable to return to her previous job and needed to have a project of her own where she can manage her work without affecting her health, so she applied to the Micro project program for the mini-market project and took a business management course to improve her knowledge.

Funding Nuha with the mini-market will not just help in providing the family with better income, but it will also help in proving that nothing can stop in the way of this fighting mother who is willing to defy all difficulties for the sake of her family.

Hussam Jarrouj is 30 years old, married to Abeer Mesherqi and they have a toddler daughter called Joule born in 2021, they live at his in-laws’ house in Kashkoul, Damascus suburbs.

Hussam graduated from the faculty of agriculture engineering and started working in the city of Homs until the year 2015 when the situation deteriorated in the city and it was not safe to stay and work there, so he moved to the city of Damascus where he worked in a restaurant for about a year and decided to travel to Lebanon in 2017 where he worked as a salesman in an electronic device store, and stayed there for three years.

Hussam  returned to Syria and was hired as a salesman in a company but after about two years he decided to quit because the income was low so he rented a pick-up car and began to tour between stores and areas selling goods and products. His income was getting better and he started to build a strong base of relationships between traders and buyers, but the car rent was rising and soon he found himself paying half of his income to the car owner.

Hussam’s financial situation was deteriorating, so he applied for the pickup car at the Micro-project program and didn’t hesitate to take a business management course.

After being funded, Hussam is enthusiastic about the upcoming days and planning to increase his customers and get the best benefits from his project, which will definitely improve his living conditions.

It is a great blessing to reach your sixties and still have the determination of youth to work with great confidence and belief that the Lord supports you in all your life circumstances.

This is what you feel after meeting with Alice Khoury, with her deep wrinkles and crutch that never leaves her. She always was full of strength to work and rely on herself to support her family.

In 2000, Alice and her husband Antoun started a small grocery shop from their savings, and they worked hand to hand in order to secure their expenses and raise their only daughter in good living conditions. Even in difficult times, the couple did not give up on their project and did their best to continue working and living. 

However, in the years of war, they suffered a lot from mortar shells that were raining on them in Bab Sharqi area as their house and shop were damaged many times but they never lost hope and kept fighting against the obstacles.

Unfortunately, two years ago, her husband was diagnosed with leukemia, and he began the long and painful treatment journey, which cost the couple twenty years of savings, in addition to selling most of the goods to pay for chemotherapy sessions and long-term treatment.

Alice stood by her husband in his illness and when he started to recover, she wanted to keep working but their mini-market was empty so she applied to the Micro projects to support her small grocery shop with goods and other products so that she could secure the daily food and a decent life.

Christine Fanouneh is 39 years old, she lives with her mother and brother in Jaramana, Damascus suburbs.

During her childhood, Christine lived in a very harmful environment as her father used to abuse her mother on daily basis in front of her and her sister, her brother was born with Down’s syndrome in addition to many health problems which made him in a continuous of medication and lots of love, care, and attention that the family was missing.

When Christine and her sister became adults, they stood in the face of their father defending their mother which angered him so he kicked them out of the house. Christine didn’t sit around feeling sorry for herself, on the contrary, she started working as a seamstress assistant and took care of the house expenses and her brother's medicine costs.

In 2009, Christine decided to start a job at a telecommunications company where she could meet people and have a social life until 2019 when she volunteered at the GOPA DERD organization.

During those years she kept working in sewing as a part-time job and managed to continue her education and graduate from the faculty of English literature.

Unfortunately, the health condition of her brother Elias was deteriorating and he needed intensive care that her mother couldn’t handle alone as she was not in a good mental situation and suffering from a lack of concentration due to the severe abuse that she was exposed to during her life with her husband, which forced Christine to miss many work days so she can be with her mom and brother.

Christine realized that she needs a job where she could manage her time and look after her family at the same time. She found her way to the micro-projects initiative and applied for a sewing machines, tools, and equipment that will enable her to have a new start in this field hoping that this opportunity will help her provide a proper income to look after her family.

Elie Istanboly, 30 years old, is like many young men of his age who had to spend years of the war facing dangers and horrors during their military service, and in Elie's case, it took nine difficult years of his youth.

Before the war began, Elie worked as a taxi driver and after he was discharged in 2019, he wanted to learn a profession so he could have a career for the future and make up for the previous years.

Elie started working at a metal casting workshop and in the afternoon, he continued working as a taxi driver trying his best to pay all his expenses and provide the living demands for his family.

However, the metal casting profession affected his health as he was exposed to lung poisoning due to inhaling poisoned gases. After his treatment, his doctor recommended that he doesn't go back to the same job because his lungs were damaged, and continuing in the same work might lead to serious outcomes.

But working as a taxi driver wasn’t enough to meet the livelihood costs because he had to give half of his income to the taxi owner, which forced him to sacrifice his health and face the dangers of keep working in the metal workshop for the sake of his family.

Elie was seeking any chance to improve his situation so he applied for the Micro-projects program for a taxi hoping that his life would change for the better.

Today after being funded to buy a taxi, Elie is delighted to have a project of his own. At the same time, he can work harder and improve his living conditions to provide his family and kids with a decent life.

Rami Yacoub, his mother, and three sisters accumulated courage by surviving difficult times and challenging conditions.

When he was only thirteen, Rami’s father passed away, which didn’t just affect the family and made them live in sorrow and grief, but also forced Rami to leave his school, abandon his childhood, and start working to afford the daily living demands.

He took a job as a worker in a medical shoe workshop to support his mother who was also working long hours at a shoe-making workshop trying as much as possible to secure a decent living for her kids. Together, Rami and his mother were fighting against the life hardships and the difficult living circumstances especially since his elder sister became a widow and returned along with her son to live with them.

Rami became responsible for three sisters, a young nephew, and a sick mother whose job was very difficult and affected her health. He tried to start a shoe workshops but it cost was very high and the demand for medical shoes declined due to the increases in the prices of the materials that prevented normal people to purchase them which made him quit this profession.

Yet, Rami didn’t hesitate to learn another profession so he took a men's barbering course and worked at many salons but the low wages he took made it impossible which led him to apply at the micro projects program to become independent and have his own salon.

"During all those tough years, I always felt God lighting my way and leading me to a better place”

this is how Rami expressed his feelings after his project was funded, now he is able to work, have a proper income and provide his mother and sisters with decent living conditions.

Shafy Bashour is 38 years old, married to Nadine Maqsoud and they have two adorable kids, George born in 2012, and Rimon in 2016.

Before the war in Syria, Shafy was working as a tiling worker in Qatar and he returned to Syria in 2011 to get married and start his own family but unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned; his marriage coincided with the start of the crisis in Syria which prevented him from returning to Qatar and he found himself suddenly in a critical situation without any source of income.

Yet his determination never faded, and he decided to take any job to secure his living; he worked as a taxi driver between Syria and Lebanon and his situation started to enhance. He didn’t care about the bad security situation or any dangers he might face on the road, because his main concern was about providing his family with decent living. Until one day, in 2016, he went to Lebanon and couldn’t get back as he was called for the reserve military service for more than two years.

He stayed unemployed until his brother decided to serve instead of him so Shafy could be released and return to his house and family. However, Shafi couldn’t go back to his job due to the corona virus and the borders restrictions so he started to work locally and had to pay most of his income to the taxi owner, but he had no other choice during the giving circumstances.

Supporting Shafy to have his own taxi, had a great impact on his life, as he became independent and started to have his own source of income which enabled him to improve his conditions.