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.

“Either you challenge life or let it defeat you”

The words of a woman who was hit by life’s hardships many times and came out stronger and wiser.

Clemance Akhras is 46, a widowed mother of two, Mouna 23, and Naser 22. She used to live happily with her family in Aleppo, working as a seamstress to help her husband with the living expenses.

With the start of war in 2011, her husband passed away from a heart attack, leaving Clemance heartbroken and alone in face of the horrors of war. She did not have time to mourn her husband, as the crisis struck the city of Aleppo and soon violence and death spread all over the city, then her house was destroyed by the shells and she couldn’t take any of her belongings out. she and her kids escaped with only their clothes to find themselves scared with no shelter or support.

Clemance decided to resort to the church where she stayed for two weeks then she moved with her children to Damascus hoping to have a new start there. With the help of the priest and the nuns, Clemance was able to rent a small flat in Al-Dwalaa and got employed at the Good Shepherd center as a children’s supervisor. In the afternoons, she worked as a seamstress at a sewing workshop.

Clemance worked day and night to provide her kids with proper education and basic living needs, but no matter how much she was trying, new challenges emerged; the workshop was closed and her income became much less than the increasing living demands. 

“I just want to grow old with my son and daughter beside me, not in a faraway country”.

This little dream of Clemance is our main purpose in the Hope Center, she was supported to have her own sewing workshop so this strong lady could have her independency, a sustainable and decent income to improve her living, and hopefully keep her children by her side. 

Firas Haddad, 46, lives with his mother in a modest house in Jaramana, Damascus countryside.

as a child, Firas went through very difficult circumstances as he was exposed to a fire accident in his childhood that caused severe burns on his hands and face. He has undergone many surgeries since then and still suffers from deformities, but it didn't prevent him from working or having a normal life.

In 2010, Firas started working as a salesperson using his small car, and even during the period of war, he continued to tour on the roads, trying his best to afford his living expenses and take care of his sick mother; secure her medicines as she suffers from severe back pains and osteoporosis which needs lots of attention and permanent treatment.

This situation continued until the year 2020, when Firas had a health problem, as a result of which he had to go through a stents placement operation, then he had to stay at home to rest. During that period, his financial situation was affected greatly, especially after the high treatment costs and the increasing living expenses, after his recovery, he wanted to start working again, but the prices had risen dramatically, and that prevented him from buying any new goods.

Firas and his mother became reliant on the church’s relief support, he kept looking with all hope for a way to restore his old life. It was when the church's priest told him about the Micro-project program, so he applied to be financed with the goods and materials to get his job back, secure a decent income for him and his mother, and become an independent and productive person once again.

Life is about moving on, accepting changes, and looking forward to what makes you stronger and more complete.

That’s what could be concluded from the life journey of Wassim Nanaa, a 37-year-old man who was struggling for the last decade to survive. Wassim was living along with his mother and two brothers in Al-Dwalaa area, working as a hairstylist with his brother and their work was good enough to secure them a decent life.

Wassim was like any young man of his age, dreaming about having a home and starting a family without knowing he was about to face many dark days that will change his life completely with the first months of the war outbreak, he got called to serve the military in the city of Aleppo, the center of the darkest battles in the country.

Soon after, his brother had to close the Salon and travel to Erbil, while the third one stayed with their mother whose health deteriorated from fear for her sons' future. During the first years of his service, Wassim went through very hard circumstances and escaped death many times.

In 2016, Wassim was transferred to serve in the city of Damascus, where he became close to his family and neighborhood so he began to do any work available to secure his income and improve his family's living conditions, then he started working as an English tutor at home in addition to some freelance-translation work.

Wassim was finally discharged from the military service last year, so he volunteered at St. Elias Church in Al-Dwalaa teaching English to needy students who couldn't afford private lessons, but despite his long working hours, his income wasn’t meeting the increasing living expenses.

Through the Micro-project program, Wassim was able to transform a room in his house into a teaching class and prepare it with the tools and equipment to give lessons and secure a sustainable income. 

“Some of us matured early because life showed us the worst side of the world”. This is what best describes Melham Ibrahim, who, despite his young age, has the experience of an old soul.

Melham was born in 1998, and by the age of 13 the war was ravishing Syria, like many of his age, he lost the opportunity of enjoying his childhood due to the severe violent acts and destruction, he was also deprived of education because his father’s shop was robbed in 2013 and he had to sell his car and spend all the family’s savings so they could survive within those difficult circumstances.

Melham’s family was struggling financially, so he started working as a photographer's assistant, and his skills developed by learning to improve his career and income.

Soon after, he became the provider of the house and took care of his parents whose health began to deteriorate; as his father had a clot in his leg and was suffering from asthma while unfortunately his mother was diagnosed with cancer and went through a long treatment journey that needed a lot of money and care.

Melham was alone, facing all of those difficulties with little income because half of his profit was going straight to the equipment owners and the money left was barely enough for the basic living needs, yet he was strong enough to encounter the obstacles. 

“I just need a camera of my own and some proper equipment, I have confidence in my skills that no matter what situation I face, I will succeed”. The Micro project initiative has the same trust in Melham; that’s why he was supported with a camera and proper photography equipment that will enable him of writing his own success story in life.

Walid Al-Bethreh, is married and lives in a small, modest house in Al Tabbaleh neighborhood in Damascus. He worked as a jeweler in a workshop since 1999, he did everything he could to provide his family with the best living, but things changed after the outbreak of war, as the Goldsmithing work began to gradually diminish until it stopped in 2014 due to the lack of demand and the workshop was closed.

Walid didn't hesitate to start in a different profession and he started working as an employee at a beverage shop in Bab Sharqi area, but in 2015 a shell exploded near his house and his eye was injured by shrapnel as a result of the explosion, which caused severe damage to the eye cornea. This incident had a great impact on Walid’s psychological and health condition, he was suffering, but he did not give in to despair and continued to work in the beverage shop until the owner traveled in 2021. 

Walid found himself helpless without a job, or someone to support him as his son was discharged from military service and was barely able to support himself.  this strong-willed man refused to rely on others, so he started going from one store to another, collecting empty bottles and reselling them trying to afford his family's basic needs. 

Walid and his family were in a deplorable state, suffering from poverty, waiting for the mercy of God to take them out of their abyss. 

“Though we may not always realize it, life’s struggles can sometimes inspire us to strive for achievements that we may not have reached otherwise”

Walid found his way to the Micro Projects initiative and was supported to open his mini-market in Dwalaa neighborhood, now he can finally restore his independence and be able to secure a decent life for his family. 

Many challenges in life may seem insurmountable and limiting, but humans have always proven that obstacles are made to overcome.

Tariq Al-Nadafa, born in 1988, is married to Rudaina and lives with his parents and brother in a small house in the Kashkoul area - Damascus countryside.

Tariq is one of the young men whose youth was drained by the Syrian war as he served for ten difficult and cruel years. After he was discharged, he found himself without a real profession or work, responsible for his elderly sick parents at a time the country was going through a stifling economic crisis.

Moreover, his wife had complications after a medical operation, which led to her losing the ability to have children in the future. Overburdened by his misfortunes, Tariq decided not to let despair block his way, so he started working as a data entry employee in a private company, and after the end of his shift, he worked in whatever he could, including repairs, paint workshops, and other things, to secure as much possible for the necessary living expenses in addition to his parents’ medicine costs.

Tariq and his family were living under harsh conditions and depriving themselves of the simplest requirements of life, their circumstances were getting worse as the costs of livelihood were increasing, but Tariq kept encouraging himself and looking forward to improving his reality.

Today, after he was supported by the Micro-projects program to purchase his own Pickup Truck, Tariq will hopefully overcome his past hardships and have a new start in life.

"I always trust God’s will in my life and reconcile with all my struggles, the one who believes…. will always survive” With those words, Emil began telling us his tragic story.

Emil Philips is 51 years old, married with two kids Thomas and Maroska. Emil and his family are Egyptians living in Syria; he originally came to Syria from his home country Egypt in 2010 to find better career opportunities. He got employed as a food officer at Albal Hotel in the Old Damascus area and his income was good enough to provide him with a good living style.

Emil’s job didn’t last for long; as after a year of his arrival, the crisis in Syria started and the first to be affected were the hotels as the tourism movement stopped and his hotel was one of many that lost a lot of their income and started to discharge their employees. Unfortunately, Emil was among those who were fired, he found himself jobless in a completely new country within a brutal and severe war. 

Emil didn’t let despair enter his life, so he rented a small shop and started to sell beverages, and even when his income didn’t level with the living expenses, he didn’t hesitate to add a display table for selling vegetables and fruit.

No matter how hard Emil tried, life kept getting challenging; his wife Shery was diagnosed with cancer and had to go through intensive treatment between Syria and Egypt which cost a lot of money and put the family in a critical financial situation. Despite all that pain and loss, Emil thanked God for curing his wife and had the faith that tomorrow will be better. 

Through the Micro Projects initiation, Emil now has his own Pickup truck that will develop his work at the shop by getting fresh vegetables daily, and at the same time provide him with an additional source of income to improve his living conditions.

Wissam Wakim is married to Rasha Mousa, together they have a cute little kid called Marcus.

Wissam has worked as a goldsmith since 1996, but after the beginning of the war in Syria this profession became unprofitable so he traveled to Lebanon in 2011 and started to work as a private driver for a Lebanese family. 

Unfortunately, after about four years, the family traveled abroad and Wissam became jobless, so he returned to Syria where he got employed as a driver between Syria and Lebanon. His income was enough to meet his household but a few months after his son’s birth in 2019, the corona pandemic started and because of the long quarantine period and the borders restrictions, the travel movement between Syria and Lebanon shut down, and once again Wissam found himself under the toughest conditions.

Wissam started working as a taxi driver for very long hours, but despite how hard he worked, two-thirds of his income was going straight to the taxi owner which made it very difficult to afford the increasing expenses, especially with a little kid, house rent, and daily living needs.

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have”

Wissam was in very bad circumstances but his will never weakened, and when he heard about the Micro-Project program he didn’t hesitate to apply for the taxi hoping to improve his reality. Indeed, Wissam’s request was approved and he got his own taxi. Now he can be independent and secure a sustainable source of living for his family.

Whenever you go to Al-Dwalaa neighborhood, you see Mousa Barhoum smiling, full of determination, standing beside a small kiosk next to the sidewalk from early morning hours until late evening, selling goods, on one leg after losing the other due to a health problem.

Mousa was working as a maintenance and procurement worker in Al-Mashrabiya restaurant in Bab Touma, his income was good enough to meet his family's expenses and his daughters’ education. But In 2015, Mousa suffered from vascular ischemia in his right foot, and his condition was so bad that doctors had to amputate it; this incident was a turning point in Mousa’s life, losing his only source of income, as he had to stay at home for a long period to recover.

Shortly after, his wife was diagnosed with cancer, and she had to undergo a surgical operation with a long treatment that is still ongoing until this day. These misfortunes are enough to lead any person to lose hope in life, but Mousa‘s faith was strong, and he did not allow despair to creep into his life.

“Life is like a book. If you never turn the page, you will never know what the next chapter holds.”

Mousa received a little help from his friends and the Red Cross supporting program, he was able to start a small kiosk in Al-Dwalaa neighborhood and he became known for his good reputation and his kindness to everyone.

Unfortunately, his goods weren’t enough to cover his expenses and improve his work at the same time, so he started to spend all his profits to secure his family’s needs without being able to renew the goods.

With the help of the Micro-project program, he was supported to have enough quantity of goods that will enable him to increase his income and stay optimistic with a hopeful smile on his face. 

Fady Yazjy, 47 years, is married and has two kids; George born in 2006, and Mary-belle born in 2011.

Fady and his family used to live in Alkabbas area in Damascus, but during the crisis, the area was surrounded by armed groups and hit daily by dozens of mortar shells which caused huge damage to the family's house, so they had to flee to another area without being able to take any of their belongings or furniture out of the house. 

Unfortunately, after that incident, their stable life turned to insecurity and constant moving between many rented houses living in the worst conditions under the terrible financial situation. However, Fady and his family had to overcome all of those struggles and continue their life hoping things will improve in the future.

During that period Fady was working as an employee at a Tobacco company, but he was discharged in 2018 and became jobless, then he worked in the Cathedral of Lady of El Nayah in Damascus as a receptionist and maintenance worker but his salary wasn’t enough to meet living expenses or his children’s education costs. 

Fady was also responsible for his elderly parents which put him in a difficult situation. He had no time to feel despair because he was the only supporter of his family and parents, he kept working day and night trying to secure the most necessary requirements. 

“Having faith in God is the best hope and assurance that everything will be okay, as long as he is there for us even in the most difficult times”

Fady’s faith wasn't disappointed, as he got supported to buy his own Pickup Truck which will provide him with a sustainable source of income and reflect a big improvement over the whole family’s circumstances.

Not everyone has the opportunity to determine their own lifestyle, some are forced since birth to deal with a hardship and spend a lifetime just trying to overcome it, such as Naji Gerious; who was born with a benign Tumor on the face, ever since that day his struggling journey began to live and look normal like any other person.

After graduating from the computer institute, Naji learned the shoemaking profession and for seven years he worked as a cobbler in a workshop while at the same period, he had to go through three difficult surgeries which unfortunately weren't successful. But he wasn’t discouraged and kept searching for a solution to his situation until he got the chance of paid medical treatment in Germany; in 1998, Naji traveled there and spent a long treatment journey of twelve years, during which he went through nine critical surgeries, but in the end, it was worth all the pain and Naji recovered. 

Naji returned to Syria in 2010 full of faith and enthusiasm, ready to start a new chapter of his life. His brother helped him to open his own shoemaking workshop and Naji finally began to achieve his dream which sadly didn’t last for long; as with the beginning of the war in Syria, this profession was no longer profitable and Naji's financial situation dropped down quickly forcing him to sell his equipment in order to afford his living expenses.

Supporting Naji with the needed equipment in addition to the important tools and materials will allow him to have his workshop back again and have a secure living source. 

“No matter what has happened to me in the past or what difficulties I am living now, God will always be on my side guiding me through life for the best” Naji Gerious

"The hardest moment in life is when your daughters ask for a simple thing, but you are unable to afford it." with these painful words, Salimeh told her story.

Salimeh Al-Mailaa, 35 years old, got married at a young age escaping her difficult childhood to face a harder reality of being responsible for a house and two little daughters. However, she accepted the situation and started working to help her husband in securing the living expenses. Despite her weak body structure, she was persistent in cleaning work for more than 10 years, to pay the house rent, which was rising year after year, and to pay off the debts of the high costs of living during wartime. 

Salimeh and her husband worked very hard to secure the basic house demands for their daughters who are now at a critical period in their studies, but the income was very little in comparison to the livelihood costs. However, Salimeh was more determined to strive for other opportunities to support her family during the tough circumstances.

Through the Micro initiation, Salimeh found the opportunity she was looking for; where she and her husband can put their efforts together in their own mini-market business which would preserve their dignity, achieve stability, and secure their future.

"We put our hope in this project and put the plans to run it successfully, but we believe in God's will whom we owe all the credit in our life."