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


702

Aleppo

704

Homs

324

Damascus

Dental Lab


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

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


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Nursing Kit


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

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


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Barbershop Equipment


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


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Winding Engines and Motors


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

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

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


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Potato Cutting Machine


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

Going through such hard times, Enad faced...


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Homemade Sweets


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

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

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


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Beauty Center


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

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

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

Recording Studio Equipment


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


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Dental Clinic


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

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


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Charcoal Workshop


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

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

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


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Tailoring Workshop


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

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

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


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Sweets and Pastries


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


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Formwork-Carpentry Equipment


For over four decades, Issam has dedicated his life to the profession of Formwork Carpentry. Once, he possessed the essential tools of his trade, including wood planks and a trusty winch. However, the ravages of war stole most of his equipment.

He persevered with the help of fellow craftsmen and friends, sharing their equipment and precious remaining planks. But as time passed, those planks wore thin. High prices, lack in job opportunities, and a poor supply of wood left him in...


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Photography


With 8 years of experience, Hani was an active member of the photographers' union, but his old camera and limited equipment posed challenges during the economic crisis. His struggle to meet the growing demands of clients left him feeling inadequate.

As a single man supporting his mother, his family depended on him after his father's passing, and his siblings had started their own lives. In pursuit of his passion, Hani traveled to Lebanon in 2015, where he worked at a restaurant...


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Carpentry Workshop


Naram and his wife Souraya, in addition to his elderly mother, live in Fairouza village, after they have faced significant challenges since being displaced from Homs city due to the war. He is a dedicated carpenter with his own workshop, but he had been struggling with the lack of electricity in their area. Frequent blackouts hindered his work, affecting his income and livelihood.

Recognizing the need for a solution, he applied to the Micro Projects Program for assistance. Thanks to the...


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Stationery Store


Habsa and her family have faced many challenges in their journey from Al-Jabriyah village to Homs city. When they were displaced during the war in 2011, they had to leave behind their home in Al-Sabeel neighborhood in Homs.

In 2013, Habsa opened a small stationary store in Al-Jabriyah village, renting a place to make ends meet. The store became a lifeline for her family, as both of her sons worked at a restaurant while studying. However, in 2018, the shop owner...


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Mini-Market


Maria, an English translation graduate, dedicated eight years of her life to teaching English at an institute. However, in 2021, an unfortunate foot injury and some shoulder problems forced her to step away from her beloved profession. She shared her home with her father and younger sister, but the family had already endured the loss of her mother to cancer.

Her father managed a small mini-market, but when his health took a turn for the worse, she stepped up to keep...


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Wheat and Vegetables Land


Bassel, a hardworking farmer from Qattinah village, shoulders the responsibility of providing for his family of five. His brother, bravely battling cancer, is the sole provider for his family of three. Together, they persevere through challenging times.

At home, Bassel resides with his wife, Juliette, who earns a modest income, and their three children. To make ends meet, he works as a driver, ensuring an extra source of income.

Their land, planted with vegetables and wheat, is a vital lifeline. A well...


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Mini-Market


Laurence and his parents moved to Fairouza village after the war, in 2018, he returned from Lebanon, where he spent 5 years working as a chef, and took the responsibility of running his father's mini-market in Al-Hamidia neighborhood, Homs, which was stolen and left in ruins during the war. 

He repaired and reopened the shop, offering many food commodities, in addition to dairy products, prepared meals, ice cubes, and ice cream. But a persistent challenge was the limited hours of electricity,...


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Stationery and Printing Store


Fadi, a resident of Al-Arman neighborhood, has been a government employee since 2012. Despite his dedication, his salary barely covers the basic needs of his family. To ensure an additional income, he tirelessly worked at a restaurant during the evenings.

However, he had a dream of starting his own business, a stationary store that he believed would suit him well. He diligently saved money, but it was still not enough to kickstart his project. In a moment of hope, he applied for assistance from the Micro Projects Program.

With the support, Fadi's dream became a reality. He now owns a thriving stationary store, providing him with a sense of security and the opportunity to plan for his future. 

Dairy Shop


Forced to leave their home in Al-Qusayr due to the ravages of war, Mouna and her husband Ibrahim found themselves in Homs with their four children, three of whom had traveled to Lebanon in search of a brighter future. As if the challenges of displacement weren't enough, Ibrahim's heart problems left him unable to work.

In 2014, the selfless mother made a bold decision to support her family. She rented a small shop and began selling dairy products, drawing from her...


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Dairy Shop


After enduring the horrors of the cruel war that affected her family's home in Al-Qusayr village, Abir, her husband Badri, and their three sons sought refuge in Lebanon before eventually returning to Homs. Together with her sister, they found solace in a rented apartment, attempting to rebuild their lives from the ashes of destruction.

Life has not been easy for this family; Badri, the bread distributor, not only carries the burden of providing for his loved ones but also fights a...


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Nail Care Kit


Kinda, a skilled nail care specialist, embarked on her journey in the beauty industry after three years of dedicated work at a salon. She decided to enhance her expertise by attending a nail care training course. However, lacking the necessary tools and equipment, she joined two salons, earning a percentage of the profits to support her husband, Hussam, who had a modest income working as an employee and a driver. Their life was centered in a rented house, and they...


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Stationery and Toys Store


In 2013, Habeeb and his family faced displacement from Homs city due to the war, forcing them to begin a new life in Fairouza village after losing everything they had.

Setting up a shop in a rented place, he started selling toys, stationery, and handmade candles.

However, their life took a harsh turn when his wife, unfortunately, was diagnosed with cancer, causing significant financial strain due to the treatment costs. 

With his wife's health improving, Habeeb shifted his focus back to rebuilding his small business, which was their only source of income. To strengthen his micro-business and secure a better income for his wife, daughter, and son, he turned to the Micro Projects Program for support, knowing that his family depended on him.

Mini Van


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,...


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Plastic Bags Shop


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...


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Aluminum workshop


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...


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Taxi


Like any loving father, Nabil’s main interest in life is providing his kids with a decent living and supporting them to continue their education and become successful individuals in society, but the incidents he has been through during the previous years made this endeavor difficult.

Nabil and his family used to live in Qalaat Namera in Homs, he was working as a taxi driver and their financial situation was good but during the previous years, their area became insecure and they...


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Mini-Van


Tony Shamieh comes from a modest family that all its members had to work and support each other to survive.

For this reason, he had to leave school at a young age and start working as a car washer then he learned to change cars’ oil and the workshop owner depended on him to run his work as he was hardworking and reliable.

however, soon after the beginning of the Syrian war, Tony was called for military service for seven years, later...


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Taxi


Like most of the youth of his age, Majed spent the last decade serving in the military service, facing dangers, and losing years of his life without being able to work or gain experience.

Majed Alsweiry is 31 and lives with his Mom in a Kashkoul area as his brother is still serving the military in Aleppo and his sisters are married.

Before he was called for service he was working at a Cocktail and sweet shop but during the service period...


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Suzuki


Ramy Ahwash is 51, married to Maya Al-Messber, and they live in an old rented house in Bab Touma area.

He started working in marketing and sales since 1990 and for 15 years he worked in Al-Nuaimi Company as a sales manager and warehouse officer in Al-Yarmouk camp.

However, after the start of the war in Syria, the armed groups entered Al-Yarmouk camp and spread violence all over the place, which made Rami unable to enter the area and take his stored...


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Nails Care center


It is never easy for any woman to raise two daughters alone and look after her old-sick mother at the same time especially during wartime and troublesome conditions, but Randa Kazko was strong enough to defeat all her circumstances.

Randa is 55 years old, divorced, and has two daughters Sandy born in 1992, and Christine born in 1995.

Before the war, Randa was living in Saydnaya with her husband and daughters, she used to work at the monastery in cleaning and cooking...


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Electronic shop


Louai is a hardworking individual who was raised by his mother in a small, rented house. Unfortunately, Louai's mother had health issues, and she had to cut a part of her foot. She needs another surgery to amputate the other foot because of diabetes, but unfortunately, they can’t afford it.

In 2009, Louai got injured while he was working. The nerve in his hand was affected, and he lost the ability to continue his career with electricity, even after treatment for...


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Pick-up Truck


“I was born with speech impediment, which formed a great obstacle since my childhood and prevented me from doing many things in life, such as completing my education or having a decent job”

With great effort, George was able to share these touching words with us.

He is a 26 single, and heartbroken young man. Since he was a child he had to face difficult obstacles due to his speech disability which forced him to leave school and start working to afford...


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Gold manufacturing workshop


"We were displaced from our village in Homs to Damascus countryside, lost our house and work, and had to start from zero in a different place and difficult condition"

This is how Elias summed up his story in the past years of war. 

Elias was living with his wife and kids in a small village called Alqraiteen in the countryside of Damascus, he was working as a goldsmith doing all the stages of gold manufacturing in addition to working as a gold...


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Taxi


Fady has always believed that if he wanted to do something, he would find a way no matter how hard the circumstances were.

He is 32, married, and has two little daughters Mira and Mila. He lives beside his parents and younger brother in Al-Dwallaa neighborhood, his parents are retired and his brother is still at university which made Fady responsible for their living.

Fady graduated from Communications High School in 2008 then he got employed at the Ministry of Oil as...


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