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.

For more than twenty years, Samer worked as a tiler for long hours to secure his family the best possible living.

Samer is 45 years old, married to Eivon Makhoul and they have two kids.

Samer and his family couldn’t afford to rent their own flat so they lived in a small room in his parent’s house in the Aldwallaa neighborhood. He was also responsible for taking care of his old parents and securing their expenses which overwhelmed him with high living costs.

He didn’t mind doubling his efforts for his family's sake and even in wartime, under the shelling and explosions, he kept his faith in God and his will and kept struggling to survive and live in dignity.

However, at the beginning of 2022, all his endeavors vanished in a blink of an eye when the iron cutting machine broke and the grinding wheel hit his left arm which led to the rupture of the tendons of his hand and caused severe injury to his nerves and bones.

After that incident, Samer went through long sessions of treatment and became unable to continue his previous work; for the following nine months, he was with no income, living with the help of his relatives and the church’s support. 

His psychological situation was affected badly since he never used to need anyone’s help and used to work and feed his family from his efforts.

Samer started to deliver vegetables and other products to shops and although his income was very low, he insisted to work to support his family.

he applied for the pickup truck project seeking work that suits his health condition and at the same time secures him a sustainable source of income to improve his livelihood situation.

Micheline Halal, 44 years old, is married to Fadi Francis, and they have two sons and a daughter.

Micheline and her family are from a small village called Maaloula in the countryside of Damascus where they used to live and work in their grocery store. Her husband worked as a mural artist, and they were living in stability and safety until the fierce war began and its impact reached the village of Maaloula, which forced the family to close the grocery store, leave their home, and flee out.

Micheline and her children moved to live in her sister's house in Damascus, and her husband traveled to Lebanon to work and secure an income for his family hoping that the war would end quickly so that they could return to their hometown. Two years later, Micheline decided to rent a house in Jaramana and move to live there with her family, especially after she knew that her house in Maaloula was completely damaged and all the furniture was stolen.

During that period, her husband returned from Lebanon, and the whole family participated to secure the living costs, even though their children were working part-time jobs after school to help with the household expenses but their conditions were still deteriorating.

With the help of Hope center, Micheline had the chance to have a mini-market with all the needed equipment and goods, and she is now able to work and support her family to improve their situation and have a decent life.

Maria Al-Samaan is the eldest daughter in a family of five, her father has retired due to a disability and his pension was their only income for many years in addition to the help of relatives.

however, their circumstances were never easy, and during the years of war, they suffered precarious conditions and financial hardships, in addition to her mother's illness with breast cancer.

All this did not weaken Maria's determination to complete her education, as she was able to enter the Faculty of Architectural Engineering, and since her first year at the university, she started working in the profession of nail beauty with the help of her aunt so that she could afford her university expenses.

After graduating from the university, she was employed at Syriatel telecommunication company as an engineer, and at the same time, she continued working in nail beauty because her salary was very low and was barely sufficient to cover the house demands.

Over time, Maria found that her work in Syriatel was draining her time and energy, and her salary was very low compared to the house obligations, so she decided to resign and work full-time in the profession of nail beauty.

unfortunately, this work also has disadvantages, as she was diagnosed of having sciatic nerve inflammation and neck beaks, and she was no longer able to keep working and needed an income-generation project to cover the livelihood demands.

Maria was concerned because she is the eldest daughter and she is responsible for the house and her siblings, but with the help of the Micro-project program, she was able to start her own cosmetic store to sell nail beauty and cosmetic materials, which will relieve her of the hard work and provide her with sustainable income to live in dignity.

Rafy is 45 and married to Rania Al-Asaad and they have two sons Fady born in 2005 and Hady born in 2009.

Before the war, the family lived in Maaloula village and they were in a good financial situation as they had a mini-market on the main street where Rafy and his wife used to work and at the weekends Rafy used to work at wall-painting workshops to increase their income.

However, after 2011, their life changed completely as the armed groups attacked Maaloula, entered the city, and began spreading the killing and violent acts everywhere. In 2013, the family was forced to flee to Damascus and live at the wife’s family house in Al-Dwallaa area, as their house in Maaloula was hit by a shell which caused its destruction, and the shop was looted and burned.

However, Rafy didn't let desperation sneak into his heart, so he decided to overcome all the incidents they have been through and start a new mini-market in Kashkoul and named it "Al-Maalouly" but soon after he was called for the reserve military service and for the next six years he was serving in Alqtaifa and his wife was running the mini market until his discharge in 2019.

He was very concerned about the fate of his sons and he decided to travel to Erbil with his family to seek better living conditions but that decision coincided with the Corona pandemic and he lost all of his savings in Erbil and went back to Syria despaired. 

upon his return, Rafy started to work as a driver but of his bad luck he had a car accident and was hurt but several injuries that caused him a 60% deficit and a long period of treatment.

he was devastated and lost so he decided to hold his last hope and apply to the Micro-project program for the mini-market project.

After the fund, Rafy is so grateful and feels blessed that God has made up for all the calamities he went through and he is determent to restore his life balance and work to improve his living conditions.

Elias Faddoul, 56, is married to Carmen Jarrous and they share living with his siblings at the family's old house in Bab Touma.

Before the war, Elias had a small store for selling holy icons and rosaries, he loved his work a lot and was always creating new designs, but with the beginning of the war, the difficult economic conditions affected his job as the demand for icons was no longer required because people were barely able to afford the basic demands so his business deteriorated and ended with closing the store in 2015.

However, Elias didn't despair and was ready to start over; he took many courses at the church including project management, design, and many others then volunteered to work with special-needs people and trained them to do wax modeling and handicrafts. He also started a workshop affiliated with the Greek Catholic Church in 2018 to recycle and sell candles, and all the profit went to charity work.

Elias was very passionate about his profession and wanted to start his own workshop especially since his wife had experience in the field of crochet and handicraft work, but the tools they owned were old and worn out, and their financial conditions hindered them from achieving this dream.

With great faith, Elias applied to the Micro-project program to start his workshop and he was funded with equipment, machines, and materials that will revive his work and secure better and more sustainable income for the future.

Sami Hartak is a determined and hardworking young man, he is 31 and lives with his old parents and sisters in a modest house in Al-Dwallaa neighborhood.

He graduated from the faculty of agricultural engineering during wartime which made it so difficult for him especially since his parents are old and retired so he was responsible for his expenses and the house obligations at the same time under some very harsh circumstances.

Sami wasn’t lucky to find a suitable job that meets the high costs of living but he got employed in the morning as an agricultural engineer and took a part-time job as a photographer assistant in the afternoon. He soon became passionate about this profession and took many courses to enhance his skills then he volunteered to do all the media work for the Maronite church and the hope charity related to sisters Jesus and Mary and gained practical experience.

Although Sami loved working with the church, his financial condition was falling apart and he needed to have an income to afford the living demands so he applied to the micro-project program and took a project management course to improve his management skills so he could be able to run his own project.

Now after the fund, Sami started to see life through his camera’s lenses, and he is not only doing the work he loves but also benefiting and securing his future.

George Dahdal, 31 years old, lives along with his father, brother, grandma, and aunt in a small house in Al- Dwalaa area.

Before the war, George was working with his father at the family mini-market until the beginning of the crisis in Syria which affected their work so his father decided to close the mini-market and started to work as a pick-up driver.

During that period, their village became invaded by the armed groups, and George’s grandmother and aunt were displaced and came to live with George’s family in Al-Dwalaa which increased the responsibilities since they are both disabled and needed a lot of care and medication.

In 2014, George was feeling hopeless and decided to go to Lebanon to work and he stayed there for six years working at a restaurant and sending money to his family until 2020 when he got the news about his mother’s disease as she was diagnosed with cancer. George decided to quit his job and return to Syria to stay beside his mother during her treatment journey that took two difficult and painful years and ended up with her death in 2022 which was a great shock for the entire family.

During those two years, George tried to find a proper job to support his family with the house expenses but most jobs' income wasn’t matching the high costs of living so he decided to apply for the mini-market project since he has an experience in that field.

He also took a project management course and did everything he could to improve his chances and in return, his project was funded with all the needed tools, goods, and products.

George now is looking forward to improving his business and planning to expand his project for the future.

Fady Ibrahim is 30 years old, married to Mariam Altheib and they have three cute little girls, Georgette born in 2017, Cathren 2019, and Yara 2021. They live in a rented flat in Kashkoul, Damascus suburbs.

With the first sparks of war, Fady was still at the beginning of his life journey, full of youthful enthusiasm, but he didn’t have the time or choice to start a new chapter of his life because in 2011 he was called for military service until 2021.

Ten harsh years drained his dreams and energy, as he was serving during the toughest circumstances especially since his concerns and responsibilities increased after getting married and having his three daughters.

However, after his discharge in 2021, he found himself in the prime of his life without any profession or experience so he worked many jobs such as a taxi driver, a worker at an aluminum workshop, and a pickup car driver. Fady was a hardworking man and his employers were very pleased with his work and tried to support him.

He didn’t mind working three jobs a day so he could live in dignity and afford all his obligations and living expenses but the post-war years were very tough, and being a family provider wasn’t an easy job because no matter how hard he worked the income was still not enough to match the living demands. Fady wanted a chance to have his own project.

Having a taxi made him feel independent and responsible for his own income and gave him the power to work even harder trying to change his family’s livelihood for the better.

Although the war is over, but its calamities has remained in the heart of each one of us, as a painful reminder of what we have been through especially since many are still suffering from its effects such as Emad Dawood and others from the war-wounded individuals.

Emad is 31 years old, married to Nour Sbaih and they have three adorable kids, Rosseil born in 2017, and the twins Roy and Junior born in 2022.

Before the war, he worked as a tiler and was dreaming of improving himself and have an independent business but unfortunately, the war came to rob all his dreams as he was called for military service and he had to serve in the most dangerous places in the countryside of Damascus until 2014 when he was injured by more than one shot.

His injury was severe as he had to undergo many surgeries that led to a complete removal of the spleen, part of the colon, and part of the stomach, leading to a 40 percent of disability as a result, so he was discharged from the military service. However, Because of his disability, Emad was unable to return to his old profession so he started working at Bab sharqi cemetery in 2017 then he worked as a salesperson in a dairy shop until its closure in 2019 when he took a job as a delivery-man for a restaurant.

Emad was fighting for the sake of his family and didn’t hesitate to work more than 16 hours a day, yet he wasn’t able to provide even the milk for his newborn twins or the livelihood demands of his family. he was looking for a chance so he applied for the mini-market project.

Now, After being funded, Emad finally feels that God is leading him to the best and he is willing to work hard to improve the family's life.

Wasim Abou Saab is 33 years old, married to Majdoleen Albahry with two kids Lamitta born in 2017, and Elia born in 2019, and the couple are waiting to welcome their twins after a few months.

Before the war, Wasim graduated from the faculty of economics and trade, then worked at a company for three years until 2011, as he was called for military service and wasn’t discharged until 9 years later.

During that period Wasim got married and started a family with the help of his parents and his in-laws, then after his discharge, he started working during the anise season as he used to transport the anise crops from Hieneh village to Damascus but his income was very little and exclusively during the harvest seasons so his friend loaned him a taxi to work on as a part-time job so he could be able to meet his obligations and expenses especially since his wife is suffering from back disc pain and Periphera neuropathy and she needs medicines on daily basis.

Wasim was struggling; working many jobs to provide his family with a decent living but during the previous years the situation deteriorated quickly and he was seeking a project of his own to secure his livelihood.

He applied for the pick-up truck because it will help in his seasonal work and also for transporting goods which will increase his income and provide him and his family with better living conditions.

For many years of his life, Shar Alabdoun, worked hard taking every possible opportunity to have an income and live in dignity.

He graduated from a tourism institute and started to work as a cook, and when he had a job vacancy in the Caribbean islands he didn’t hesitate to travel and work there, then when he saved some money he decided to return to Syria and have his own project.

For his bad luck, he returned in 2011 and started his restaurant in the countryside of Damascus unknowing that the timing was terrible because that very year, the war broke out and all the suburbs were attacked which led to the destruction of his restaurant and losing all the money he saved in the past years.

However, Shar decided to start over from scratch and returned to work as a chef at different restaurants trying to have a proper income to afford his living and save for the future, he even traveled to Lebanon seeking better job opportunities but the high costs of living there were unbearable.

In 2019, Shar got married to Majd Alnehmeh, and they had their son Sharbel who brightened their life.

Shar was always searching for a chance to be independent and has his own income so he sold the wedding rings and started a mini-market but the heart problems he suffered from after that and the surgery he went through affected his financial situation and made him unable to make any improvement at his project.

With the help of Hope center, Shar didn’t lose his mini-market because he was funded with the necessary goods and products that will give him a strong push to expand his mini-market and work for improving his conditions and provide his family with a decent living. 

It is never easy to hold responsibility of a family at a very young age, especially during war times, but Maroun Fares proved that strong faith and hard work always overcome obstacles.

Maroun is 24 years old, he lives with his mother and three younger sisters in a 50-meters, unfurnished and modest flat in Jaramana. They used to live in Bloudan, Damascus suburbs and during the wartime, they suffered a lot from many dangers in addition to the lack of all life necessities which forced him at a very young age to work and help his family with the livelihood demands.

Unfortunately, his father’s health deteriorated as he was diagnosed with cancer which was a shock for the family, Maroun had to face this reality and accompany his father during his long treatment journey until he passed away in 2018. Maroon was still eighteen at that time but he became the man of the house and decided to bury his grief deep in his heart and take responsibility for the sake of his mom and sisters.

He started to work at many workshops and continued his study at the same time so he was able to support his sisters to continue their education and also afford the house expenses. 

He worked hard at a detergent manufacturing workshop and learned everything about the detergents industry then took a course about this profession at Damascus university; because he was dreaming to have his own workshop and he was able to achieve that dream with the help of Hope center as he was funded by the manufacturing machines and the materials needed which will provide him with sustainable income and help improve his living conditions.