Micro-Projects is a livelihood-support program which helps family providers who had either lost their livelihood during the war, or aspire to be a productive and financially independent part of the community by starting their own income generating business. By financing their micro-projects, Christian Hope Center is helping Christian families to have a sustainable source of income, through the provision of equipment, machinery and tools. This will eventually mitigate the economic harm caused by increasing poverty and insecurity, preserve their dignity, and alleviate the calamities of war and the economic crisis, which will ultimately preserve the existence of an active Christian community in Syria. In addition to the Micro-Projects supported in Cities of Aleppo, Homs and Damascus, the program also supports families who rely on agriculture as their principal source of income in rural Homs.


702

Aleppo

704

Homs

324

Damascus

Dental Lab


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

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


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Nursing Kit


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

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


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Barbershop Equipment


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


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Winding Engines and Motors


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

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

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


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Potato Cutting Machine


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

Going through such hard times, Enad faced...


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Homemade Sweets


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

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

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


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Beauty Center


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

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

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

Recording Studio Equipment


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


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Dental Clinic


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

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


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Charcoal Workshop


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

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

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


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Tailoring Workshop


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

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

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


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Sweets and Pastries


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


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Stationery Store


Norma, a devoted wife and mother of two, embarked on a journey of resilience and hope. In 2021, alongside her husband and son, she established a small stationery store. 

This endeavor aimed to secure their livelihood. Despite facing adversity, they had experienced the theft of a previous store during their displacement from Bab Al-Sebaa neighborhood due to war.

Their new store, strategically positioned near a school, garnered a steady stream of customers. her determination led her to seek growth opportunities. She applied to the Micro Projects Program, aspiring to expand their venture. With the program's support, she acquired a scanner, a printer, and additional stationery. This assistance breathed new life into their micro-project, enabling it to flourish.

Laser Cutting Machine


Georgette's journey through the world of handmade crafts and candle making began in 1993, within the cozy corners of her home in Bustan Al-Diwan neighborhood. With dedication, she honed her skills, nurturing her small business with tools, molds, and boundless creativity. However, the onset of a brutal war brought devastation, robbing her of her tools and her ability to work. Adding to her trials, Georgette faced health setbacks, enduring two strokes that impaired her hearing and drained the family's resources.

Despite...


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Olive and Walnut Land


Nahed, a retired employee living in Qattinah village, relies on his small olive and walnut land to support his family; his wife, two sons, and ailing father. 

His modest pension barely covers their needs, so the land income is essential. Equipped with a water well and pump, he dreamed of owning a mini-cultivator, trailer, tank, pesticide, and fertilizer sprayer to reduce plowing and spraying costs. However, the economic challenges made this dream very distant. 

Seeking a solution, Nahed turned to the Micro...


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Beans & Grains Shop


Nouhad, a devoted wife and mother of three, resides in Fairouza village. While her third son pursues a brighter future abroad, she cares for her husband and two remaining sons. Her husband's health struggles, including diabetes, have rendered him unable to work, forcing her to take charge. 

With a simple shop, she embarked on a journey selling grains, spices, and her homemade traditional dishes. Her shop provides various spices, frozen meats, cheese, and snacks.

Yet, Nouhad's ambition sought more. Recognizing an opportunity,...


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Aluminum Workshop


Akram, a dedicated family man in Homs, owns an aluminum workshop since 1987. 

However, with the economic crisis affecting the country, he struggled to afford an electric generator and necessary equipment for his business. Living with his wife, daughter, and granddaughter, he turned to the Micro Projects Program for help.

 He was supported to upgrade his workshop, ensuring a stable electricity supply and providing essential equipment. Akram's business flourished, securing a better future for his family.

Vegetables and Wheat Land


Amer, a hardworking man in Qattinah, has a loving wife, three children, and a job at a factory. 

He inherited a fertile land for farming from his father many years ago and with his brother they planted wheat and vegetables, but lack of irrigation limits their success. Hope arose when he applied to the Micro Projects Program, receiving a water pump, seeds, and fertilizers. 

The farm thrived, and with increased productivity, they will lead a prosperous project, ensuring a better future for their children. 

Vegetables, Wheat, and Olive Land


Dergham, a devoted single man, selflessly cares for his elderly father and sister with special needs in Qattinah village.

 As a hardworking farmer and employee, he strives to provide for their needs. On his land, planted with olive, vegetables, and wheat, he has a well and water pump. To enhance crop yields and save costs, Dergham dreams of owning a mini-cultivator and a trailer that's why he applied to the Micro Projects Program. 

With this equipment, he envisions a brighter future for his family, where they can overcome the challenges they face as a result of the hard situation in the country.

Wheat, Potato, and Vegetables Land


In Qattinah village, brothers Wadih and Rabih were partners in a project that revolved around their shared love for farming and fishing. They resided in their family home with their parents while their brother, Rol, is serving his mandatory military service.

Rabih had dedicated eight years of his life to serving in the army. Meanwhile, Wadih traveled to Lebanon in pursuit of improving his family's circumstances. However, the unstable situation there compelled him to return home in 2018.

With their land lovingly...


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Dermatologist's Clinic


Hala's determination to make a difference in her community was unwavering. With a master's degree in dermatology from the University of Aleppo, she was dedicated to providing the best healthcare. Married to Elie, a hardworking lawyer, and with two young children, Danny and Faya, she had the loving support she needed.

Her rented clinic in the heart of Homs city center, where she offered treatments and skincare's services. But she knew she could do more. 

Eager to improve her clinic, she applied...


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Mini-Market


Yazan and his family have faced many challenges due to the devastating war that tore their city apart. Once living in the vibrant Bustan Al-Diwan neighborhood, they lost everything they owned during the conflict. Now, they reside in a modest rented apartment, striving to rebuild their lives from scratch.

He is a devoted husband and father, works diligently to provide for his family. During the day, he serves as an accountant for a local trader, ensuring the financial stability of the...


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Vegetables and Wheat Land


Philip and his loving wife, Siham, raised their three children with great care and dedication in their home village Qattinah. He had a long career at the laboratory of Homs University, serving diligently until his retirement in 2017. Since then, he embraced farming as his new passion.

However, life wasn't easy as he was the sole provider for his family. His main source of income was his land, where he cultivated wheat during winter and vegetables during summer. The main difficulty...


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Mini-Market


Nabil's world crumbled when cancer took his beloved wife, leaving him to shoulder the weight of raising their three children alone. 

In Homs city, he fought tirelessly to make ends meet, opening a mini-market in 2015 as a lifeline for his struggling family. But hardships persisted as costs increased and prices fluctuated, hindering his progress. He sought help from the Micro Projects Program, hoping for support to revive his small shop, their only source of livelihood.

With hope in his heart, Nabil's application was accepted. The program's aid revived his mini-market, allowing him to afford the needed supplies. Slowly but surely, his business will flourish, ensuring a dignified living for this family.

Taxi


Being a driver is the only job that Maher has ever known, at the beginning of his twenties, he traveled to Lebanon and started working as a private driver at Al-Fursan organization for Disabled People, his income was good enough to provide him with a decent living, and save some for his future.

However, as a result of the crisis in Syria, his mother and siblings fled to live with him in Lebanon depending on him for all their expenses which...


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Sewing Workshop


Wissam had always been a hard worker. It was something that had been ingrained in him since childhood. His parents had both passed away when he was young, leaving him to fend for himself. But that didn't stop him from succeeding in life. After years of working as a sewing apprentice, he had eventually become a work partner in a small sewing workshop.

Things were going well for Wissam and his family until tragedy struck. In 2001, his partner passed away,...


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Mobile maintenance shop


Fouad Sioufy is 26 years old and lives with his mother and brother in a rented flat in Jaramana, his mother is an employee at Alzahrawi Hospital and her salary is very low and his brother is still in the first year of Business Management college.

Since his childhood, Fouad and his siblings used to see their parents fighting, and soon after his father left the house and ignored all responsibilities toward his family and kids which forced Fouad to be...


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Taxi


At the age of 67, Antoun was still fighting against life difficulties as he was forced to work day and night so he could put food on the table at the end of the day.

For most of his life Antoun worked as a driver on different vehicles and gained a lot of experience, he was determined on providing his family with good living and tried his best to secure their future.

Unfortunately, such an aim was not available in his condition...


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Taxi


For more than 30 years, Farhan Alkhalil was driving around streets day and night, trying to cope with changing circumstances and provide his kids and wife with the best living conditions.

Such endeavors might be easy for many, but surviving was the main issue that all people sought in Syria during the past few years.

Farhan Alkhalil is 56 years old; he was married to Georgina Harrouq but they got separated six years ago. He has two sons Jerios born in 1999...


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Pick-up Truck


Subhi grew up in the small village of Elmismyah, surrounded by rolling hills and fields of green. As a young man, he worked hard in his construction business and owned several tools to help him with his trade. Life was good, and Subhi was proud of all that he had accomplished.

But in 2013, everything changed. The armed groups entered the area and took everything that Subhi had worked so hard for. Overnight, he found himself without a business and without...


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Dental prosthesis laboratory


Mousa grew up in a small, loving family in a town that was known for its olive plantations. His father works as a government employee, his mother is a dedicated housewife, and his sister is attending college. Although they were not wealthy, they lived a comfortable life, full of laughter and love.

After completing his education in Dental Prosthetics, Mousa had to face the harsh reality of finding a job. With no opportunities in his hometown, he decided to move to...


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Taxi


George had always been a hard-working man who lived his life with unwavering grit and determination. He spent his entire career working as a government employee, saving every penny he earned to offer a better life to his family. He lives with his parents, wife, and daughter in small two rooms that he shared with his divorced sister, whom he supported financially.

In 2010, George decided to take a leap of faith and purchased a taxi. He had taken a loan...


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Sewing Workshop


Jamila had always been a hardworking woman. For over two decades, she and her husband had been working tirelessly in the sewing industry. They had started out working for Jamila's sister who owned her own sewing workshop. It was there that Jamila and her husband developed their skills and learned everything they needed to know about the business.

In 2017, after working for so long and having learned everything, they decided that it was time to open their own workshop. They...


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Pick-up Truck


George had shouldered a lot of responsibilities at a young age. He lives with his disabled father, mother, his wife, and her sister, all under one roof. His wife works as a teacher in a public school while her sister works at a wax factory for people with special needs, but their combined income barely makes ends meet.

George had finished high school and went straight to the army, where he served for seven long years. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when he...


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Mini-Van


Bassam Fallouh is 34, unmarried, lives alone at a small and modest house in Jaramana while his old parents live in the village.

For more than 10 years, Bassam was an employee with a low but stable income at a governmental institution, his job didn’t allow him to make a difference in his life but he kept working because during the crisis in Syria, it was hard for anyone to find a job.

Unfortunately, in 2021 He suffered a stroke, which caused...


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Taxi


“It is a splendid feeling after four years of retirement and being dependent on my son and daughters for all my living expenses, to have this life-changing chance that allowed me to work and secure my own income’

This is how Nicola Alhaddad explained his feeling after being funded with the taxi project.

Nicola is 64 years old; he is married to Sofia Fadhel and has two daughters and a son.

For more than 30 years Nicola worked as an employee at an...


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