Fidaa, a devoted French language teacher, lives a simple yet fulfilling life in the village of Qattinah. He is happily married to his wife, Gladys, who works as an employee, and together they have two beautiful daughters.

The couples' income was insufficient for their basic needs and they struggled to make ends meet. Fidaa knew that relying solely on their salaries would not provide a comfortable life for his family, so he turned to the ancestral profession of farming. Inheritors of a long-standing tradition, his family had been farmers for generations.

He had ownership of various land parcels within the village. One plot measuring 2 dunams was abundant with thriving olive trees. Another piece of land, spanning 2 dunams as well, was solely dedicated to cultivating almond trees. Additionally, he diligently tended to a 7 dunams plot where he cultivated wheat, beans, and peas. And additional 5 dunams were specifically designated for wheat. Moreover, he took on the responsibility of caring for an additional 11 dunams of wheat on behalf of his brother, who was abroad.

In order to effectively manage his lands and reduce expenses, Fidaa relied on his trusty tractor. However, after years of dedicated service, the tractor had worn-out tires and finally came to a halt. He found himself unable to use it, which posed a significant setback for his farming endeavors.

He turned to the Micro Projects Program, applying for new tires and a pesticide tanker that he could attach to his tractor. With these additions, he aimed to eliminate the high costs associated with plowing and spraying his lands, allowing him to allocate his hard-earned money towards other pressing family needs.

With new tires for his tractor and a pesticide tanker at his disposal, Fidaa resumed his work with renewed energy and efficiency. He felt a sense of relief knowing that he could now manage his lands more independently, reducing costs and maximizing the harvest from his beloved olive and almond trees.

Aksam and Ibtisam, a retired couple from Qattinah village, had always been pillars of strength for their family. Aksam hailed from a long line of skilled farmers, and even after his retirement as a teacher, he continued to work the land, cultivating crops and tending to his animals. Ibtisam, a retired school teacher herself, had devoted her life to education and instilled a love for learning in their three children.

Their children, two sons, and a daughter, all pursued education in medicine, inspired by their parents' hard work and dedication. The parents took great pride in their children's accomplishments, despite facing financial hardships after the war. 

The war that erupted in 2011 brought hardship to their situation. Aksam's barley land was devastated by fire, and a warehouse he owned was destroyed. Undeterred, he decided to transform the land by planting wheat, potatoes, vegetables, and olive trees, using his farming expertise to make the best of the situation.

However, the cost of plowing the land became a heavy burden. Determined to find a solution, he applied to the Micro Projects Program for assistance. He requested a mini-cultivator and spraying equipment that would eliminate the need to rent a tractor, thereby reducing costs significantly.

His application was approved, and he received the needed support. He can now continue his farming activities with greater ease and efficiency.

Wael, a dedicated farmer from Qattinah village, has been toiling in the fields for over 25 years. Despite the challenges, he always managed to provide for his loving wife and two children. His wife, a government employee, offered her unwavering support to supplement the family's income.

However, their lives took a devastating turn when his wife was diagnosed with cancer. This news cast a shadow of despair over their small family. The cost of her treatments and the need for permanent medication added an overwhelming burden to their already strained finances.

His wheat land held the promise of sustenance, but it lacked a vital component, a water pump to extract water from the well. Recognizing the importance of efficient irrigation, he applied to the Micro Projects Program for assistance.Thankfully, the value of his hard work was valued and he was provided with the needed water pump. This transformative intervention promised better irrigation for his land, ensuring increased productivity and a brighter future for his family.

Now with the new water pump, Wael can cultivate his land more effectively, maximizing his harvest and securing a stable income. 

Duraid, a devoted husband and father, resides in the village of Qattinah with his wife Abeer and their two precious children, a daughter and a son. While the mother dedicates herself to educating the youth as a passionate school teacher, the father tirelessly toils as an employee and farmer to supplement their income.

However, their lives took a dramatic turn during the ravages of war. Duraid's once thriving land, where he cultivated potatoes, wheat, and various vegetables, was cruelly stolen from him. Along with the loss of his land, his water sprayers and essential agricultural equipment were also stolen.

In the face of these challenges, he persevered. Though plowing the land had become a serious obstacle, as he lacked a tractor, he would occasionally rent one at a considerable expense. Duraid's livelihood, along with that of his two brothers, depended heavily on their shared land, making the situation even more pressing.

Realizing the urgent need to improve his land's condition and reduce plowing costs, he sought assistance from the Micro Projects Program. With hope in his heart, he applied for a mini-cultivator, which would prove invaluable in his journey towards reclaiming his livelihood and providing a brighter future for his family.

Through the Micro Projects Program, Duraid's application was approved. The mini-cultivator became a motive for change, rekindling his aspirations and empowering him to cultivate his land efficiently once again. With this transformative tool, his dedication and hard work flourished, resulting in improved yields and a renewed sense of hope.

The mini-cultivator not only saved him from the burdensome costs of renting machinery but also allowed him to nurture his land and restore its fertility. With each passing season, the bountiful harvests brought a sense of stability and prosperity back to Duraid's household.

Hala's journey as an entrepreneur has been filled with ups and downs, but her determination to provide for her family has never wavered. With a family of six to support, she knows that relying solely on her husband's income is not enough, especially with his reduced ability to work.

In 2010, she opened a clothes shop, hoping it would be a successful venture. For almost a decade, the shop sustained her family, but as inflation soared, people's spending habits shifted, resulting in a decline in clothing purchases. Undeterred by the setback, she made a bold decision to switch gears.

Recognizing the demand for basic necessities, Hala transformed her shop into a vegetable store in 2020. The transition proved fruitful, and she managed to provide for her family during challenging times. However, her ambition doesn't stop there. Realizing the potential of expanding her small business further, she decides to convert her vegetable store into a mini-market. However, her shop needed additional support to survive the economic crisis in the country, which is why she applies to the Micro Projects Program. With their assistance, she acquired a refrigerator to offer dairy products and drinks, an electric generator to ensure a constant power supply, and additional commodities to enhance the variety of products available.

Her family works together, with each member contributing their efforts to keep the shop running smoothly, often working late into the night. Now, the shelves are stocked with a wide range of products. The success of the mini-market will have a positive impact on Hala's family. With the additional income, they will be able to afford to meet their daily needs and provide better care for Nicola, their eldest son with special needs. Naseem, their hardworking son, and Maria, their youngest daughter, who will be lending a helping hand whenever needed.

Thaer’s work life began in his village of Basir, where he worked the land and drove trucks for various employers, doing his best to provide for his family. This was not an easy task, as his life was marked by numerous challenges related to his children's health.  

His eldest son, Wajed, had to undergo surgery for varicose veins. The middle son, Zein, had a malignant tumor removed from his eye and requires annual check-ups. The youngest, Majed, has undergone multiple surgeries and needs ongoing special care.  

As a result, Thaer had to move with his family to Damascus to better address his children's health needs, especially Majed, whose condition required him to attend a special school.

Since moving to Damascus, Thaer has worked as a taxi driver, earning only a quarter of the daily profits while the rest went to the taxi owner. He also worked on a pick-up truck and took on electrical work, despite not being well-versed in the field, simply to make ends meet. His wife, Yara, also started working, and together they strive to provide for their children and cover the high medical expenses.

Thaer's financial and emotional burden was immense, and he often felt helpless. Determined to improve his situation, he applied for support from the Micro Projects Center, aiming to obtain his own taxi for a steady income and more stability.  

Fortunately, Thaer's request was approved, and he received support to purchase a taxi. This development has significantly improved his financial and mental state, giving him hope and a sense of relief. With this newfound stability, Thaer can now better support his family's needs and look forward to a more secure future.

Eleia Al-Khouri, 38, is married to Tareiz Zakhem, and they live with their newborn daughter, his mother, and sister in a small modest house in Jaramana. 

During wartime, Elias volunteered at the Social Defense from 2011 to 2016 in order to protect his neighborhood and worked as a driver for several employers in addition to working as a taxi driver from 2018 to 2021.

However, in 2012, his brother was serving military service in Homs when he was injured badly and suffered from paralysis in his leg as a result, making him unable to do any physical effort including work, due to this incident and after the decease of his father, Eleia became the primary provider for his mother, sister, and his family so he was doing his best to make ends meet. 

In 2021, he was employed at a detergent company as a driver alongside his war-injured brother, and both worked together in distributing products to markets but the meager salary they were taking affected their financial conditions so he started taking additional work, such as moving furniture, to provide for his family but the burden of debt and the reliance on assistance from relatives weigh heavily on him, making it difficult to secure even the basic necessities for his family. 

Despite the hardships, Eleia’s prayers were answered when the Hope Center provided him with the support needed to purchase a vehicle for distributing goods. This assistance marked a turning point in his life. For the first time, Eleia felt a sense of ownership and dignity. With renewed enthusiasm and commitment, he embarked on this new chapter, determined to improve his conditions and secure a better living for his family.

Raghad Makhoul's life had been a series of challenges, his father's absence loomed large over their modest household, while Raghad's mother, burdened by ailments, lived in the village and relied on medications to ease her pains.

Raghad has also gotten his share of war as during his military service that started in 2011, he found himself serving in the heart of chaos as Aleppo became under siege for many months. 

However, despite he survived that adversity, a fateful injury in 2014 caused his cornea irreparable damage and surgeons worked tirelessly to graft a new cornea onto his eye. It was a long and painful road to recovery, one that stretched until 2016, leaving Raghad physically and emotionally drained.

After his discharge, Raghad returned to Tartous and worked with his father in seaside restaurants but fate shocked him with another loss when his father succumbed to illness in 2022. With responsibilities weighing heavy on his shoulders, Raghad returned to Damascus, taking up any job available and trying his best to make ends meet.

Raghad found himself behind the wheel of a taxi, touring streets day and night to provide for himself and send whatever little he could spare to his mother and brother in the village, but he ended up working just to cover the high rent cost of the taxi.

With the help of Micro Project program, Raghad was supported to purchase a taxi and have stability in his income with all hope that this project will secure a decent living for himself and his family.

Amer's life took unexpected turns as he grew older and struggled to make ends meet for a family of nine; with seven children ranging from the oldest born in 2012 to the youngest born in 2021, the household expenses were solely dependent on Amer's income.

Before the war, Amer worked as a driver at a local factory, but as the conflict escalated and job opportunities dwindled, he was forced to explore alternative means of earning a livelihood. In 2012, he opened a grocery shop which became his source of income until 2021 when he was compelled to shut it down due to soaring rent prices, plunging the family into further financial distress.

Amer's wife, Georget, used to work as a cleaner at a Monastery but had to leave the job because of the responsibilities of caring for their growing family. 

Unfortunately, their situation became dire, with the family barely managing to afford one meal a day, supplemented by food donations from the local church three times a week.

Feeling the weight of his responsibilities as a husband and father, Amer sought a solution to lift his family out of poverty so he applied for the pick-up project at the Micro project center with the idea of transporting groceries and goods in addition to fulfilling delivery orders which was his only hope to provide a stable income for his family.

The approval of his project marked a turning point in Amer's life. For the first time, he felt a sense of independence and empowerment, knowing that he could now work to secure the needs of his family and was determined to improve his family's living conditions.

Rezq Allah Al-Hareth is part of a close-knit family, living in an old, modest house in Al-Dwalaa neighborhood. His family consists of his elderly mother and his sisters, Georgette and Maha. He also has a brother residing in their village and another working in Lebanon, while his father is deceased.

In 2009, Rezq Allah traveled to Lebanon to work in furniture making, splitting his time between Syria and Lebanon until 2011 when the economic situation in Lebanon forced him to return to Syria. Upon his return, the Syrian crisis began, and Rezq Allah's family suffered significant losses, including their house in the village, which was destroyed during the war forcing them all to relocate to Damascus.

In 2013, Rezq Allah began working at a second-hand furniture store, a job he held until 2016 when he was called to serve in the military. After his discharge in 2023, he had to start over from scratch, freelancing and taking any available job to support his family. The combined income of Rezq Allah and his siblings barely covered their daily expenses, making it difficult for him to achieve his dream of starting his own family.

Determined to secure a better future, Rezq Allah applied for support from the Micro Projects Center, hoping to get assistance for a taxi project. The support he received from the Hope Center provided him with the opportunity to purchase a taxi, promising a steadier and more substantial income. This new project has given Rezq Allah great hope for a stable future, allowing him to better provide for his family.