Zawin is a hardworking person who strive for his family; his wife and two sons.

Zawin has been working in the production and upholstery of cars since 2005 and has added through his experience in the production of Arab Majlis seating. Zawin had to make a lot of sacrifices in his work, 5 years ago the place where he works was exposed to a fire that resulted in the loss of all existing equipment and goods. 

Living a decent life and supporting his family has become a constant struggle for Zawin, which forced him to borrow a machine from one of his friends in order for the family to survive, and he also works in a factory for the production and upholstery of car furnishing, his permanent goal in life is to obtain complete and permanent independence.

Zawin felt very grateful and joyful for the support, today he is motivated to achieve his goal in life and help his family to secure a dignified living. 

“Where words fail, music speaks.” That’s how George replied when we asked him about the reason behind his love for music. 

Since he was an 8-year-old, George was fascinated by music and the industry in general.

His parents decided to enroll him in a music institute where he chose to learn Cello, his love for music didn’t stop there, he used to go to his uncle’s studio to watch him produce music for many artists. After a short time, he started helping his uncle with his work for 15 years till the war started.

In 2011 George joined the army and served his country for 10 years, in this decade a lot changed; during this time, he lost many of his friends in the army and his family was in danger back home, it was very tough for him to go through all that by himself.

After finishing his service George found himself back at the starting point, not knowing what to do and where to head. Despite everything, he refused to give up and decided to follow his passion for music and try to turn it into a career.

With a big dream and lots of plans, he applied for the Micro-Projects program to get the support he needed to start. Now George has a small studio in which he records and produces music for many local artists.

George is married and has worked in the carpentry profession since childhood with more than 40 years of experience, he had a full workshop with a kit, but because of the war he lost the workshop with the entire equipment, unfortunately, he cannot return to his former work area because its still under control of armed groups.

During war his home was exposed to a shell explosion, which led to great damage to the house, as a result, the family was displaced for more than 10 years. 

Because of his great experience in His profession and his desire to develop his business, George applied to the Micro Projects in order to buy a machine that helps him save time and increase his income, George launched his project and added new models to his work that helped him bring new customers, which led to an increase in his monthly profits.

The Micro Projects Program was able to achieve one of George's goals, to help him strive to work harder and develop faster. 

Hilda is a lovely married woman who works in the church and her husband works as a driver for the church as well, because of the difficult life that Syrian families are going through, Hilda's family went through harsh conditions, which led to financial burdens, the earthquak made things worse because their house was greatly damaged.

when we are exposed to immense loss, we try to look for any small light in order to start a new chapter in life even if it is delayed; Hilda started working in knitting and she was sending the pieces that need a stitch and a knit to a sewing shop, as she does not have the necessary machines, which was for her a waste of time and great difficulty in receiving a larger number of customers, so Hilda decided to apply to the center to develop her small project in home sewing, in order to save time and increase her family's income.

Micro Projects Program was able to help Hilda to be able to take a step forward in her field of work and to overcome the difficulties she faces in her daily life. 

Elias is an example of the patient and strong father who faces life’s challenges for his family, Elias is married and has two sons, one of whom is serving in military, life challenged Elias differently at each stage, in the period of war he was displaced from his home, and his son was exposed to a war injury during his mandatory service time. 

Corona came to be one of the most difficult periods he went through; it kept him away from his work and family, but as Elias said:  "Our Mother Mary did not abandon me and helped me overcome this ordeal." Elias now works as a guard in a private school in Aleppo with a low salary, he wants to improve his income, so he decided to apply for a taxi, which he sees as a strong source in order to meet the requirements of life and his family's expenses.

At the end of the meeting Elias said that his dream is to be able to buy a taxi so he can be more financially independent, and he achieved this dream to be his first strong step in the face of life hardships.

The years of war were not easy for Fadi's family, however, it didn't stop them from pursuing their dreams of living in peace and stability. Fadi’s family suffered a lot during the war, especially in the first years as Fadi is a resident of the village of Al-Jadeeda in the Idlib countryside, which is one of the Christian villages in the city of Idlib. He was displaced with his family from the village after they were besieged by armed groups.

At the beginning of the war in 2011, Fadi volunteered to defend his land against the armed groups, then He was discharged from the army in 2021 after serving for ten years.

Before the war, Fadi worked in the aluminum craft in his village. He had a shop since 2004, but he lost it afyer leaving the village towards Kasab. In his last years of service, he worked in this profession during his spare hours intending to return to it after service..

After his discharge, he moved to Aleppo to settle there and began working in the aluminum field, but his income was not enough to secure the family’s needs, and he strived hard to start his project to secure a sufficient source of income for his family.

The Micro Projects Program was able to fulfill this family's dream of stability, and Fadi now has his own shop, which will enable him to provide a decent life for his family.

Elias is a strong man who defied the difficulties of life for the sake of his family’s happiness despite all the harsh circumstances he went through. 

Elias is married and has three children, he suffered a lot during the war; he had a taxi in 2014, but unfortunately it was destroyed by a shell in 2016, despite the difficulty of the situation he was able to overcome this incident for the sake of his children and started working as a driver for a local institution with a modest salary.

Elias held-on to hope, his many losses during the war did not disappoint him, and despite the suffering of life, he was not satisfied with his little income, he kept searching for an opportunity to improve his situation and a ray of hope that would change his life; for him it was a taxi that he would work on after his shift to help him secure a better income, Elias applied for micro projects and upon approval his joy was indescribable. Today Elias looks forward to starting a new life chapter full of hope and blessings.

Naeem is an example of strong personality who will face crises with positive adaptation without suppression or confusion, married and has two sons, he works in the field of sanitary installations, solar energy installation and electricity extension.

Naeem tried to develop himself in his domain of work despite all the difficulties and challenges he faced, he is a creative person who added with his experience of more than 15 years working in the field of central heating, he rented a shop in order to start a stable life and a small family. 

Despite many difficulties and the war that hit Aleppo, Naeem did not leave the city and remained working hard to secure a good future for his children, his house was damaged by the earthquake and he did not despair and was able to restore it.

Naeem applied for the necessary equipment which will help him increase his income and secure the needs of his family. He believes that everything will turn out for the best, and that tomorrow is more beautiful, Hopefully this project will be the beginning of beautiful days for him and his family.

Samar is a mother of three children and a clinical nutritionist, she obtained her degree in food technical engineering from the city of Aleppo, and works in the field of food engineering in several clinics affiliated with the churches. 

Samar is a persistent woman; despite all the difficulties and challenges, she completed her studies during war, and did not give up her childhood dream. She had a strong desire to open her own center, specializing in following up the conditions of pregnant women and also cases of growth in children, diabetes, in addition to Botox injections in the stomach to treat obesity. 

The war was harsh on Samar and her family, in 2013 her husband was kidnapped and they had tp pay a ransom of  5000$, her husband's factory was robbed in 2014, the family was also displaced to Latakia because their area of residence was unsafe, Samar did not despair despite all the hardships, she was able to work in the National Hospital in Latakia for 3 years and then returned to Aleppo in 2019 

Samar applied to the center to get support for her project with the needed devices. The new phase in Samar's life has now begun with ambition and determination to continue her passion in life

Dr. Ghassan have been working in the clinic for more than 30 years, he has extensive experience in the field of dentistry, his work was greatly affected during the war because his place was exposed to a lot of shells, and when the area became safe, he decided to develop his clinic's devices because the equipment was worn-out that it became dilapidated.

The earthquake destroyed all Ghassan’s dreams for the enhancement of his clinic and his house from which he and his family were able to get out safe and sound, and because life must go on, Ghassan decided to submit an application in order to develop his project with support from the Micro Projects.

Ghassan held-on to hope despite all the difficulties of life that he faced in the past, the strength that he possesses despite all the challenges and crises that he went through, his patience and will can overcome every painful hardship.

Dr. Ghassan launched his project with the new devices that helped him develop the clinic and achieve part of his dreams that he patiently longed for. 

Since childhood, Masses has been ambitious snd creative, he works in the field of women's hairdressing, his profession depends on good taste in order to satisfy customers, he has practiced this profession since childhood with at least 30 years of experience, Masses wants to develop his long-standing project, however, the equipment that he has is old and worn out due to daily use but he cannot afford a new set. 

“in our days the generator fees is consuming our inccome but we cannot work without it”.

Masses decided to work on an alternative plan in order to reduce this attrition and bring a generator that helps him increase his income from the project, and he also applied for the support of the necessary equipment.

Masses overcame all the difficulties he faced in his field of work economically and even in terms of the crisis he went through after his house was damaged by the earthquake, which was severe damage that prevented him from returning to his home, which is considered unsafe for hsbitstion to this day, All these difficulties increased his determination to move forward with a smile of hope facing all life challenges.

Shant is a passionate person, aspiring to be proficient in his work, self-reliant, in order to secure a decent life for his family; Shant is married and a father of two, he works day and night for the wellness of his family.

Shant works in the profession of car spraying, and has extensive experience in this field, he currently works in a workshop but the equipment is not his, and the wage he receives is not commensurate with his experience and insufficient for the requirements of life.

During war people are exposed to many material and physical losses, this period was difficult for Shant, he lost his shop and equipment. His mother, father and sister were injured in the war, Shant wants to be independent in his work, so the idea of applying for his own project through the Micro Projects Support was a ray of hope, Shant started his project and is now working with passion and enthusiasm in order to achieve his life goals and take good care of his loving family.

In Al-Dwair village, a family of four lived together happily and didn’t know the meaning of loss until the cruel war began. The parents and their two sons lived on the bounties of their farmland and everything was going well. 

Today, George, the youngest son became his mother's only family after their life was turned upside down; his older brother Elias was kidnapped and since that day, unfortunately, no one heard from him! Their house was destroyed and they were displaced until the situation stabilized, they waited in hopes that Elias might return, and in 2020, George's father passed away leaving him and his mother alone, they are taking care of their land, which is planted with wheat, barley, and olive trees. 

When George finished studying at the faculty of law, he began practicing this profession with the help of a lawyer. However, during this period, he won't be able to generate an income and his father's land will be his only way for a living.

He applied to improve production and guarantee a decent income, although life was unfair with this family, George is doing his best to ensure his mother a dignified life, hoping for better days to come. 

Mttanos and Ranim, who got married in 2015, built their life together in Fairouza village. With two children, they settled in a rented house, far from the harrowing memories of Al-Qusayr, Mttanos' hometown, which had witnessed the horrors of war.

In 2011, he was called upon for nine years of mandatory military service, leaving his parents behind in Al-Qusayr. Their family's livelihood depended on their land, and their house was severely affected by the war.

When he was discharged in 2020, he lacked any professional experience. He found work as a driver at a carton factory in Fairouza, earning just enough to cover their basic needs. However, he looked for a way to secure a brighter future for his family.

Determined to improve their circumstances, he applied to the Micro Projects Program and succeeded in acquiring a mini pick-up truck. This vehicle not only enhanced his job at the carton factory but also paved the way for a promising tomorrow.

With this new opportunity, Mttanos and his family were on the path to stability, ensuring good living for their children. 

Living in Fairouza village with his wife Rita and their son Mikhail, Ibrahim has always been the provider for his family. However, his life took many turns before he found his passion in motorcycle repairing. 

After trying his skills in various professions, from restaurants to construction, his health issues forced him to seek a change. In 2012, he ventured to Lebanon in search of better opportunities, only to return in 2016 due to life's challenges there. It was then that he decided to become a self-taught motorcycle repairman, acquiring his skills through the internet.

With only some old equipment and the help of his son Mikhail, he set up his own workshop. To ensure a stable source of power, he relied on his brother's electric generator during power outages. 

When Ibrahim learned about the Micro Projects Program, he applied for essential equipment and an electric generator to secure his family's only means of livelihood. With the support he received, his small motorcycle repair workshop continued to thrive, providing a steady income and a better livelihood for his family.

In 2008, Thanaa's world was shattered when her beloved husband surrendered to cancer after a two-year battle. Yet, this was only the beginning of her struggle. When the war started in her hometown of Homs, her family faced great suffering. Their home in Bustan Al-Diwan neighborhood was not only stolen but also burned. The heartache intensified as her son was martyred, and it took two and a half months for his body to be returned to the family. All this weighed heavily on Thanaa, who had endured heart surgery and had a fragile heart.

Forced to seek refuge with relatives, she searched for stability in Homs. The local church stepped in to help her and her sons repair their damaged home, allowing them to return. Today, her son Rawad serves his mandatory military service, while her other son, Danny, suffers from a disc condition, as result of his tiring work in floor tiling. His condition barely allows him to work, further straining their financial situation.

Before the war, Thanaa and her husband ran a modest grocery shop, but it was forced to close its doors due to the conflict. Determined to regain her independence, she began preparing homemade food for sale. 

When she saw a poster about the Micro Projects Program, it rekindled a glimmer of hope in her heart. With unwavering determination, she gathered the necessary documents and a project study, and she swiftly applied.

Thanaa's vision is to open a mini-market, taking into account her age and her son's health. With this small shop, she hopes to create a sustainable income source for their family. This project not only promises financial independence but also the opportunity to have a dignified life.

Louay's life took an unexpected turn when a work-related injury ended his 20-year career in floor grinding and polishing. In 2020, he had to sell his equipment and started a small shop, selling frozen chicken, olives, pickles, and barbecue essentials. This was his new source of livelihood for his wife, three children, and his mother.

But adversity struck again when his shop's freezer broke down a year ago, and financial constraints prevented him from purchasing a new one. The electricity shortages left him without any alternative, as he couldn't afford an electric generator.

His hopes were rekindled when he learned about the Micro Projects Program. He saw it as an opportunity to revive his small business. He applied for assistance, requesting a new freezer, a solar power system, and a meat dicing machine to enhance his project.

With the support of the program, his shop was back in business, offering frozen goods, and fresh cuts of meat, with a reliable power source. He could once again provide for his family and continue to serve his community with the products they relied on. Louay's determination and the Micro Projects Program gave him a second chance to secure a better living for his loved ones. 

Bishara, the sole provider for his wife and three children in Fairouza village, faced daunting challenges when he moved from Al-Aalyat. He sold a part of his land in 2022 to start a new life in Fairouza, but encountered a severe water crisis due to post-war conditions in Homs and its villages. The water grid deteriorated, and strict rationing was applied, forcing families to purchase water for daily needs.

Despite his job as a government employee, Bishara's income fell short of his family's growing demands. He saw an opportunity to use his tractor and water tanker to sell water to his community during these tough times. There was one major obstacle; the worn-out tires of his tractor made it dangerous to operate, and replacing them was unaffordable.

He turned to the Micro Projects program, seeking assistance to purchase new tires and restore his vehicle. This simple yet vital support would enable him to provide for his family and offer help to others in need. 

Reem and Michel, along with their three children, have always called the peaceful village of Qattinah home. In 2016, she embarked on a journey to uplift her family's life. She transformed a humble room in their house into a small stationery shop, determined to provide support for her husband, Michel, whose work as a blacksmith offered limited opportunities.

Although her store was modest, lacking advanced equipment like printers and laptops, it stocked essential stationery supplies. Her dedication and hard work shone through as she sought to secure good living for her children.

Recognizing the importance of her efforts, she took a courageous step. She applied to the Micro Projects Program for assistance in obtaining the equipment her store needed and resupply its inventory. This support was not just about the shop; it was about safeguarding the lifeline of her family's livelihood and ensuring her children's dreams had a chance to flourish.

With the Micro Projects Program's help, Reem's small store blossomed, providing not only for her family but also offering great services to their entire village. 

Rober, a dedicated farmer, resided in the village of Ozeir. His land was a testament to his hard work, planted with wheat, barley, and an assortment of vegetables. However, a significant obstacle stood in his path; limited access to electricity, rendering his water pump useless.

He is a loving husband and father, residing with his wife, three children, and parents. While he ardently tended to his crops, his wife stood by his side, providing invaluable assistance in farming. Together, they dreamed of a bountiful harvest that would secure their family's future.

Driven by his passion and determination, he recognized the need for a solar power system to activate the dormant water pump, facilitating the irrigation of his land. Unfortunately, the financial burden of acquiring such a system seemed insurmountable, threatening to shatter their aspirations.

Faced with these challenges, he decided to seek support from the Micro Projects Program. Understanding the potential transformation that a solar power system could bring to his farm, he prepared his application, articulating his genuine need and unwavering commitment.

Months later, the anticipated moment arrived, and his project was selected. With the support he had received, he was finally able to purchase the solar power system that would harness the sun's energy, infusing life into his water pump.

The day the system was installed, hope radiated across Rober's face as he watched the water pump come to life, siphoning water from the well and revitalizing his land. The once-barren fields now thrived under the nourishing flow, promising a season of abundance and prosperity.

As the seasons pass, Rober's harvests will grow plentiful, enabling him to secure a better future for his children and ensure they receive a proper education.

With a passion for floral artistry dating back to 1998, Jawhar worked for various florists until 2012, when he realized his dream by opening his own shop in Al-Hamidia. However, the onset of war forced him to close his beloved shop. Undeterred, he reopened in Al-Arman later that year, only to face adversity again as half of his equipment became unusable.

Living as a single man with his mother, Jawhar faced the challenge of constantly needing to renew his decorating equipment. The soaring prices of artificial flowers, stands, and wooden decorations made it increasingly difficult to meet his customers' demands.

Fortune smiled upon him when a friend in the same field introduced him to the Micro Projects Program. With the program's support, Jawhar was able to acquire the latest decorating essentials. Now, he can provide his customers with fresh and unique designs, free from repetition. 

Labeeb's life took a tragic turn when war ravaged his neighborhood, Bab Al-Sebaa in Homs, leaving his family displaced and their home in ruins. A once working floor tiler, saw his livelihood crumble as his essential equipment was stolen, and he couldn't afford replacements. Undeterred, he borrowed tools to continue working, but the lack of electricity further complicated his situation.

For over two decades, his craft had been the cornerstone of his family's living, providing his wife and two beloved daughters with a dignified life. Despite the adversity they faced, he has always had hope for a fresh start.

That opportunity arrived when he applied to the Micro Projects Program. With the support, Labeeb aimed to regain the essential equipment and regain his independence. It was a chance to breathe life back into his beloved profession and secure a brighter future for his family in their rented apartment in Al-Adawia neighborhood. 

Bassam, a devoted husband and father in Fairouza village, has been working tirelessly as a floor tiler since 1995 to provide for his beloved family. His dedication to his craft is matched only by his love for his only child, who is now in the 4th grade.

Despite his hard work, he faced a daunting challenge recently; his essential equipment, particularly the electric generator, had become inadequate for his growing workload. Yet, with the weight of providing for his family's needs resting heavily on his shoulders, he found it impossible to secure the funds to upgrade his tools.

In his time of need, Bassam turned to the Micro Projects Program for assistance. He applied with hope in his heart, seeking support to acquire the new equipment, primarily the electric generator, that would not only enhance his productivity but also boost his income. 

With the help of this program, his dreams were soon realized. The new equipment transformed his work, allowing him to take on more projects and secure a better future for his family.

“All the incidents we went through during the years of war were no harder than holding my son bleeding and seeing him fighting death to survive”

This is how Samer explained his tragedies during the Syrian war.

Samer Deeb is 49 years old, married to Roula Memary, and has two sons Elias born in 2004 and Gabi born in 2006. He lives with his family and sick mother at a modest flat in Dwalaa area.

Before the crisis, Samer was working as a waiter and then became a hall supervisor in different restaurants in Bab Touma until the year 2020 when his health started to deteriorate and he became unable to stand for long hours so he started to work as a salesperson, driving a pickup car and delivering vegetables and goods to shops and markets.

Samer’s financial condition was very bad, especially after the incident his son Gabi went through, as in the year 2013, Gabi was shot in the head while they were on their way to the village, he was transferred to Tartous Hospital where he remained under operations for six fateful hours until the surgeons were able to rescue him.

Although Gabi survived, he suffered many psychological effects and asthma, which took him many years to recover and continue his study. 

On the other hand, his second son Elias finished his baccalaureate exam and started to work as a hairdresser trainee trying as much as possible to reduce his expenses and support his father.

Samer was in desperate need of a new chance in his life and through the micro-projects, he was able to get it. 

Today after being funded with the pick-up, he started to restore his independence and dignity and he is willing to work as long hours as he could to provide his family with proper living conditions.

Firas had to face enormous difficulties in his life as he was responsible for his sick mother and disabled sister in addition to the household demands so he started working as a mini-bus driver at a young age seeking direct income to afford the living expenses.

He was working on Darayya-Damascus transportation line but after the start of the war, it became very dangerous to work there then the area was closed due to the armed conflict making Firas lose his job. 

Firas didn’t hesitate to work in a different fields because he was the breadwinner of the house and can’t stay jobless so he started working as a salesperson with a percentage of profit.

During that period Firas got married to Riham Asfour and had their kids Tatiana and Carlos. Together, Firas and his wife were working to secure the basic living needs for their kids and his wife was also helping in taking care of Firas’s mother and sister while he was doing his best to work hard and handle the increasing costs of living.

Firas realized that improving his income was uneasy because he was working for other employers and he needed his own project so he applied for the Pick-up truck project depending on his sufficient experience and wide knowledge of the market and customers.

this project will enable him from buying products and goods which will reflect positively on his income and help in improving his living conditions. 

As a talented musician, George's career started in 2006, he was playing his favorite instrument “the Electric Keyboard” in various locations performing beautiful musical sets.

George had a great passion for music and wanted to deliver his music love to everyone believing that this is an important message in his life, so he took classes at many schools and started teaching music to children until 2014 when the situation deteriorated badly and the teaching income was very low compared to the increased living expenses.

As a result, George had to focus more on his work as a musician in order to be able to afford the living needs of his family but although he was a musician for a long time, George has never had the ability to purchase his own instrument and had to rent an electric keyboard every time he has a job.

He also had to pay half of his wage to the instrument owner in addition to being restricted in choosing times and places of work.

Thanks to Hope Center, George was supported to buy his own Electric Keyboard which added great value to his career as he is able now to take any job opportunity without having to share his income with anyone and that will definitely improve his financial condition and secure a better livelihood.

Samaan is 35, unmarried, and lives with his parents and his grandmother. He has three brothers; Alaa and Jalal are married and live separately while Bashar is in military service which made Samaan the breadwinner of the house and responsible for his parents and his sick granny.

Before the war, his family lived in the village of Al-Adeedah, his father was a blacksmith so after turning 15, he started to help him at the workshop and learned the profession, in 2008 he was called for military service and when the crises started in Syria he was obliged to stay as a reserved soldier until his discharge in 2019.

Those 10 years prevented Samaan from making any steps in his life or building anything for the future but he kept on practicing his profession whenever he had time during his service.

However, after being discharged from the service,he returned to his village and started working at several workshops but due to the lack of opportunities there he decided to move with his family and live in Damascus; Soon after, he got to know many contractors and started working with them, especially in setting the solar power bases but most of them didn’t give Samaan fair wages because he doesn’t have his own equipment which make it very difficult to get good income.

With the help of Hope Center, Samaan got the proper fund to establish his own blacksmithing workshop with all the tools and machines required to improve his work and enable him to increase his income and have better living conditions.

As a determined man, age was never an obstacle in Youssef’s life.

He was a hard-working employee for more than 23 years at a governmental institution then he retired and started to do freelance work, seeking one target in his life which is providing his kids with a safe and comfortable environment.

During the crises, the situation started to decline and his income became unstable so he decided to collect his savings and start a small stationary shop in the neighborhood to ensure a sustainable income.

However, this wise decision helped Youssef during the years of war to preserve his dignity and afford the living demands of his family, he wanted to improve his work by adding a printer and other tools but he couldn't because three years ago, his daughter Katia was diagnosed of having Multiple sclerosis which was devastating news for Youssef and his family.

Youssef tried to empower himself for the sake of his daughter to support her during her treatment journey but the pain attacks she suffered from were very tiring for him and his health also deteriorated.

However, that tough period affected Youssef’s work, as he spent most of his income on his daughter’s treatment which made his stationary shop poor in goods and equipment.

With the help of Hope Center, Youssef was supported to purchase a new printer and some equipment to improve his stationary work and secure a better income for his family.

Nabil Farhat, a shoemaker for more than 25 years, is originally from Lebanon, came to Syria in the late eighties, learned the profession of shoemaking, and decided to continue his life in this beloved country.

He got married and had three kids and was very known in his field as many factories were dealing with him due to his meticulous professional work and kind attitude with customers, he considered Syria as his homeland and was feeling grateful to this country who gave him all the good things in his life.

Even after the war, Nabil refused to go back to his country Lebanon and challenged all the difficult conditions and the lack of security and stayed in Syria with great faith that things will get better.

During the crisis, Nabil worked at several factories and workshops trying to secure the basic living needs for his family and supported his kids to continue their education, and was looking forward to teaching his son the profession of shoemaking.

However, in the past couple of years, the work market declined and the demand for well-made shoes decreased due to the high costs of production which made Nabil decide to start a home-based workshop using an old sewing machine and worked at his own expense but he faced many challenges from the lack of electricity to the frequent machine malfunctions that affected his craft and became unable to meet the customers’ demands.

Nabil was so passionate about his profession and was seeking a way to revive it so he sought help from Hope Center and was supported to purchase different kinds of sewing machines in addition to the batteries that will provide him with electricity in order to increase his production and help in bringing him back to the market with a competitive shoes’ quality which will improve his work and living condition.

Rabee has always been an expert at sewing, he had even owned his own workshop since 2003 in a small village, where he lived with his wife and three kids.

However, trouble came knocking at his door when an armed group attacked the area. Rabee and his family had to flee for their lives, leaving behind their rented small house and all their belongings, including his beloved sewing workshop.

Rabee had to start from scratch and find a way to provide for his family. He decided to move to Damascus, where he heard that it was a safer place to live. He went from one workshop to another, working as a laborer, to put food on the table and find a safe place to live, But he didn't give up on his dream of owning a sewing workshop again.

With the help of the micro project in Damascus, Rabee got all the tools and equipment he needed to start his own workshop again. He was grateful for the opportunity to recover his lost livelihood and finally earn a living for his family.

Rabee is now able to provide a better life for his family, thanks to his hard work and determination. He would never forget the hardships he and his family had faced, but he is proud that he persevered through it all.

Nada had been working as a hairstylist for over 8 years, but she never felt satisfied with her job. She had worked for several different salons, but the owners always took most of the profit, leaving her with a meager salary. She had to support her parents-in-law whom she lives with in their house, as well as her husband and newborn baby, so she knew she had to find a better way to make a living.

She decided to start her own business by visiting her clients at their houses, but it wasn't as successful as she expected. She didn't have access to all the tools she needed, and it was difficult to attract new clients without a salon. She also worked for three years as an employee in a local association, but the low pay forced her to quit.

Her husband had also struggled to make ends meet. He works as a rented taxi driver, He had worked in Lebanon for 6 years, but all of his earnings went towards paying off the army to avoid serving.

Just when it seemed like everything was falling apart, Nada received some unexpected news, she had been granted funding by the micro project in Damascus. She was able to afford all the equipment she needed and open her own salon. She is finally able to achieve her dream of being a successful business owner.

Nada's now is able to provide a good life for her family, including her newborn daughter. With her hard work, Nada was able to overcome all obstacles and create a better future for her family.

Johnny Al-Deeb was one of the people who lost their livelihood resources during the devastating war. He worked as a bus driver since 2000 on Deir Al-Zor road, but soon after the war began, the road on which he drove became insecure and fraught with dangers, in addition to the kidnappings and killings incidents that affected drivers and passengers.

In order to save his life, Johnny had no choice but to quit his job and start looking for another source of income which ended up in selling a piece of land in the village to buy a car that allowed him to work in transferring passengers to and from the airport.

However, in 2015, his mother was diagnosed with lung cancer, and his father also had prostate cancer, so Johnny was forced to sell his car so he could afford the treatment expenses in Lebanon. Unfortunately, after all the efforts he made to treat his parents, they passed away in 2018 after a long period of suffering, leaving Johnny heartbroken.

Despite his bad psychological situation, he had to continue because he has a wife and a daughter who are looking up to him so he started working as a taxi driver on a monthly percentage but was seeking to have his own project that will allow him to improve his situation.

With the help of Hope Center, Johnny got the opportunity to purchase his own taxi which he considered a new chance for him to be independent and have the ability to make a difference in his living.

For more than twenty years, Malek was a prosperous business owner, as he had a shop selling auto car parts in the Al-Qadam area in Damascus. He also owned a house in which he lived with his family in Erbin area, and he was working to establish a good future for his children without expecting that the war would take away everything he worked for.

Due to the security incidents and armed clashes, Malek lost his shop including all the goods, then the armed conflict affected the area in which they live, which forced them to flee and take shelter at Mar Elias monastery, where they stayed for 15 days until they were able to move to another house without having any of their belongings with them.

Malek started working from scratch with the Church at the relief department for 4 years, but after the project was closed, he returned to work as a loading worker in a car parts store, but the loads were very heavy so he suffered an injury in his back vertebrae, and he could no longer continue working.

However, Malek refused to surrender so he started working on a rented pick-up car, selling food products and other goods to the shops and markets. All the family members were working together to handle the high expenses of living but that was quite difficult within the changing circumstances in the country.

Malek considered that supporting him to purchase a Mini-van was a new chance that will enable him to become independent and released from the high car-rental cost and get a better income.

From a head of department official at a Ceramic factory to a touring salesman on a bicycle in the morning and elderlies care worker in the evening, war shifted the life of Waleed Hoshan 

He is 53, married, and has two kids, Mariam and Wissam, he was working in the industrial city of Adraa as the department supervisor and his life was stable until 2012 when the armed conflict took place in the area turning it into a fighting zone which prevented Waleed from going to the work he had been in for 25 years.

During this period, he started working on his bicycle selling Plastic and Nylon bags but it was a very tiring job and with the price fluctuation, he became unable to gain a proper income so he started working at the Nuns Convent looking after elderlies and taking care of their health, and medication.

Waleed was very compassionate about his work with the elderlies and he felt that they became part of his family but the income was very low as it was considered voluntary work and he needed a project that will secure a decent living for his wife and kids. 

With determination and faith, Waleed applied at the Hope Center for a Plastic and Nylon bags shop, and considering his knowledge of markets and goods, he was approved to be supported to have his own project which will hopefully help this hardworking man in improving his living conditions. 

Simon comes from a loving and close-knit family who were living in a border village in the countryside of Homs called Alqseir. His father used to work as a farmer and his annual income was enough to provide his family with good living conditions.

However, all that changed with the beginning of the crisis in Syria, as the village of Alqseir was one of the first areas affected by the war according to its critical location on the Lebanese-Syrian borders that witnessed many armed conflicts and forced the citizens to flee out including Simon and his family who left without being able to take any of their belongings and lost everything they had in the village.

They moved to live in the city of Damascus, trying to start over in bad financial conditions which forced Simon to suspend his study and start working to afford the house demands.

He started working in an aluminum workshop and his brother helped him but Simon insisted on his siblings to continue their education while he took the responsibility of taking care of their expenses and handling the living expenses at the same time.

During recent years, Simon became unable to cope with the increasing costs of living so his parents and sisters returned to the village as his father started to work in agriculture but as a worker because he had to sell his land.

Simon stayed in Damascus with his brother working in an aluminum workshop, with a relatively low income, because he doesn’t have his own tools which made it very difficult for him to improve his living or support his family.

With Simon’s determination and the Hope Center support, he got the opportunity to have all the machines and equipment required to have his own Aluminum workshop so that this hardworking young man becomes able to make improvements in his work and personal life.