Edward, the 20 years old man, studies economics while working in a car mechanic's workshop, to be able to support his family and pay for his education.

2015 was the worst year for him, the sudden death of Edward's father was catastrophic for him, it took him a long time to understand what had happened. The shock numbed his feelings and he was in denial of the tragedy.

Soon the responsibilities mounted on Edward's shoulders. At an early age, he had to become the provider for the family, but he didn't want to give up on his studies and despite all difficulties he managed to make it work, but the deterioration of the family's conditions forced them eventually to sell their house.

When Edward started working in a car mechanic workshop he learned a lot about the profession and after a while when his employer left the country, Edward became in charge of the workshop. His mother also began working in a sewing workshop to provide for her family's needs, and his sister also worked in a clothing store.

Edward's ambitions and his constant quest to provide a better life for his family made him apply for a car inspection device. He is going to utilize his workshop location and the already existing customer base to launch his own little business, and in the future, Edward hopes that this little step that may have started as a side hustle, might eventually turn into a thriving business for the hardworking man.

Antoine has always been a business owner. In partnership with his brother, they used to own a workshop for car mechanic's in Bustan Al-Basha, which was, unfortunately severely damaged during the war. 

In the past, the business was prosperous and Antoine was able to provide a comfortable life for his wife and three sons. But with war falling upon Syria, the family's life took a downturn. The eldest son was called for military service, and soon after joining he got severe leg injuries that many surgeries and treatments could not undo the damage. Also, the lack of safety in Aleppo urged their other son to settle in Tartous. 

Actually, the safety of the whole family was jeopardized when shells were falling near their home, so Antoine's family moved to his sister’s apartment, temporarily then the family fled to Latakia and stayed there for over two years, while Antoine stayed in Aleppo trying to find a suitable job after the sever damages the workshop was subjected to, prevented Antoine from running it. 

Antoine didn't want to give up the long experience he had in running a car mechanic's workshop that started in 1994 and was only interrupted by war in 2012, that's why he took it upon himself to rehabilitate the workspace and make it ready for relaunching his business, but the pricy rehabilitations have drained all Antoine's savings and he couldn't purchase the machinery and tools without support.

The micro projects program helped Antoine realize what he has been working so hard for by enabling him purchase the tools and equipment and giving him the encouragement to go further with his dream of being independent.

The war forced Edmond, aged 61, to work anything in this harsh economic situation, so he gained a lot of experience in many jobs, such as wall painting and electrical maintenance. Not only that, but he also traveled alone to Lebanon to be able to send money to his children, then returned to Aleppo, bought a mini pick-up truck and worked on it for more than 3 years, then sold it when the situation became worse.

one of his jobs was in a local café, working as a guard in a café from 10:00 PM to 10:00 AM with a low income forced Edmond to look for a better job in the morning, to provide better income to secure his family's needs.

He now lives in his sister's house, which was badly burned and damaged by four shells during the war. He couldn't even save any of his possessions, so they had to start from scratch. the only reason to live in his sisters house is that his own is somewhat in worse condition, and he can’t live in it, so he rents his sister's house and takes the rent of his house to pay for her.

His wife always wanted the best for her family, so she started working as an employee in a school, and his son works in his free time in a lathing machine workshop and is learning a new profession simultaneously with his studies in university to ease the burden on his parents.

The only thing that would really help him was owning a taxi, as an additional source of income for the expanding family. It will change the lives of all family members and will bring them some peace and stability in their financial situation.

The war left a deep wound in Christapor's heart after his father was martyred by a mortar shell.

During the tough war, he kept being an ambitious person, striving to reach his goals through hard work and perseverance, and he served in the army for 5 years.

Now Christapor is living with his brother and his family all in the same house after his parent’s house was destroyed in the war which was located in a dangerous zone in "Al-Midan area".

Christapor gained all his experience in car mechanics from his father, as he and his brother used to work with him in his workshop, but the crisis caused big damages to the workshop, that needed to be amended. In addition to his work, Christapor continued his education and got a bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

Trying to improve himself in his career, he went to Lebanon and learned there how to work on a modern car scanner, and stayed for 3 years. Later on, when he got back to Aleppo and restarted working in cars' mechanics but as a worker for a company, and ever since, Christapor was the only provider for the family, while his brother was in the military service until 2020.

As the economic situation was getting harder, Christapor and his brother lost hope of returning to their workshop. Until he heard about "Hope center", that's how hope came back to his heart, knowing that there are people who still care about supporting him by purchasing equipment and renovating his workshop.

Christapor is very encouraged to start back the business with his brother, together with their joined experience and the needed support, the workshop will provide them and their family with good income for the livelihood. 

"The extraordinary man" is Fathallah’s nickname which he deserved to be called by everyone who knows him.

Fathallah suffered a lot, starting with losing his foot and three toes from the other one because of diabetes, to developing a heart disease. But despite all these obstacles, in addition to the harsh financial and war conditions, this man refused to give up on working and supporting his family.

When Fathallah was still a child in the fourth grade at school, he started learning about jewelry and later he started working in the jewel domain for many years, but when the crisis started, and the jewelers he used to deal with traveled abroad, he had to find another career that could ensure at least the family's primary outlays, so he worked as a hawker for about a year.

Later on, one of his friends “who traveled to Germany” offered Fathallah to use his shop in the Al-Midan area, to make and sell sandwiches, and the whole family helped out, he uses a food cart to sell the sandwiches they make in the shop on the main streets in the city so he would reach out to all people. Since 2015, he has been well-known for his homemade food which differentiate him from others. 

Fathallah's health situation forced the family to leave their home and move to a rented one which is more suitable for him on the first floor. He still requires some equipment that can develop his work and improve his income. That’s why Hope Center took inspiration from this extraordinary man, and decided to stand with him and support his project, by sharing the dream and being the glimpse of light in his life. 

Kevork, a young man who lives with his family of five members, including his grandmother and his father who works as a worker on a lathing machine. 

Unfortunately, during the crisis in Aleppo, when their house was badly destroyed by a shell, they traveled to Latakia for five years, until the situation became safer in Aleppo, they returned to live in a rented house. Kevork worked in car brakes' maintenance for 9 years, he started this career in 2013, as a worker, but due to the low salary, he chose to begin his own project using the experience he gained through all these years. 

He rented a shop in Bustan Al-Basha industrial area, now Kevork is working in car brakes' maintenance using rented equipment. He was so blessed to have a chance to improve his income and be able to help his family, through our Micro Project program towards strengthening his business, and back on track to build a more stable future.

the year 2015 was a turning point for Gerges, when their house was completely destroyed by a shell, the family of four became homeless and devastated. Despite all the excruciating circumstances which the family went through to survive, the young Gerges came out of this distress stronger and more determined to build a good and stable future for him and for his family. 

Dropping out of school maybe wasn’t Gerges’ ideal decision but the young man did what seemed to be best for him at that time, and started focusing on building a career as an electrician. It’s been six years now since he made his first career steps and during this time Gerges has learnt a lot, each workshop he worked in taught him different techniques and gave him the opportunity to explore both household and industrial electrical maintenance domains. 

Although he is considerably young, but Gerges reached a point in his career, where he is both ready and confident enough to start a business of his own. And to do so all this young technician needs is the tools and equipment that will enable him to handle bigger work tasks.

Naeem is a 42-year-old, successful man who always worked seriously to develop his skills by working in many important companies and several positions, such as a PR officer from 2013 to 2015 and HR between 2016 and 2018. In Damascus, he gained lots of experience during this work.

Looking for better opportunities Naeem traveled to Lebanon in where his brother lived, however, after a while he had to come back to Aleppo look after his sick father. After a long struggle with illness, the father's death made Naeem suffer from deep traumatic grief over his grave loss.

Losing the only family he got in Aleppo, was not the only struggle Naeem had to face, he had to go through phlebitis surgery due to an injury from an accident he went though in the past and of course quitting his thriving career to come to Aleppo to take care of his father left the young man without any source of income.  

Naeem spared no means, he started working as a volunteer in the church whilst searching for a job to be a financially independent individual like he used to before.

In the midst of his search for a source of income Naeem got an exciting offer from His brother, who was living abroad,  to take advantage of his closed shop, which is located in a perfect place near schools, to be opened as a graphic design and printing office. Naeem liked the idea, he was thinking that with the help of his acquaintance, he would be able to do marketing for his services and at the same time utilizing his computer nd design skills will add value to his new business. 

The funding of Naeem's project will realize this caring and hardworking man's dream of owning a business. it will enable him purchase the required machines and equipment. the thing that will give Naeem the new beginning and the chance to do what e loves and become financially independent.

The hardest thing in life is the loss of a loved one, especially the loss of children and this is what happened to Nader when his 18 years old son had passed away. 

Tragedies continued to befall on Nader, after the loss of his son, Nader's 30-year-old daughter who's a mother of two had heart disease and she had to have a pacemaker implant to regulate her heart function.

Nader who used to work as a driver in a hospital for around 30 years, transporting staff every day to their work and back home, has spared no means to support his children and fight for their health, to the point that he spent everything he had to take care of their medical expenses but when his son lost his battle against illness, Nader had to withdraw his pension compensation from the hospital to pay for his son's funeral.

the Loss of Nader's retirement compensation started worrying this 63 years-old-man who will have no source of income in case he stops working.    

The idea of having a plan B to live a decent life or at least feel secure was constantly swirling in Nader's head and eventually his fear of the future and his desire to be self-reliant when it came to his financial security, were the things that encouraged Nader to apply for the micro-projects asking for a Taxi.

However, what Nader was striving to find besides the livelihood, was hope, and the taxi was a step that changed his life and rekindled hope in his heart after all he's been through.

Working as a Taxi driver had a good impact on Elias the 55 years old, father of two (Marianne and Gabriel). It upgraded his lifestyle and made him feel more secure and content at least financially.

His start though was  in car maintenance (1988) in car maintenance but later he no longer worked in that domain as he sold the workshop and changed the course of his career.

In 2000, he rented his uncle’s car to be able to work and later in 2012 he started working as a school bus driver to have an additional source of income.

Unfortunately Elias and his family went through displacement, when shells were falling in Aleppo, their house was damaged and they had to leave their apartment for more than five years before they were finally able to rehabilitate their damaged house and settle in it once again.

The economic situation forced Elias to think about having two jobs, especially that his income from his day job as a school bus driver was not sufficient anymore. It became very clear for Elias that he should utilize his driving skills and to take advantage of his spare time after school hours by working as a taxi driver 

 The taxi is a life-changing step for Elias, that suits his health condition, and at the same time, will give him a good income.

Lara, the mother of two lovely children "Celine and George", always wanted to help her husband especially in these circumstances, so she attended several courses to improve her computer skills, and rented a stationery store jointly with her husband, that's how she could help her husband to secure a better future for the family and reach her dream of owning and developing her own business.

While the husband works as a volunteer at a Syrian charity in the morning, Lara opens the store ,and then in the afternoon they exchange the roles, Freddy, Lara's husband takes over the night shift while Lara takes care of the family at home. 

The things that made Lara step up at this time and take this huge move are all the hardships they have been through, as a family, during the war. A mortar shell had damaged their house and they were displaced for a period of time. thankfully they overcame these challenges and it was time for this family to compensate for there losses with their new project.

Every thing is well planned, the stationery store is located near many schools and this will ensure good customer flow in the future and the support will enable Lara from purchasing the printer and laptop needed to develop her business and turn it into a thriving one.  

The 48 years-old Fares, is an ambitious person and wants to do his best, no matter what difficulties come in his way. His dream was to own a mini pick-up truck to work on in addition to his regular job at the university hospital.

Fares's previous working experiences were diverse, He used to work in laundry and ironing services, then in electrical maintenance and in 2011 he started to work in a hospital.

The war years were hard on fares and his family, the thing that breaks his heart the most is the psychological trauma his son had been through because of all the horrific shell attacks around their house.  

When he was serving in the military, Fares had a military driver's license, but this license wouldn't allow him to drive in the civilian areas, that's why when he started considering having his own pickup truck, he went and got a driver's license to get the car.

He wants the mini pick-up truck to move the goods, and this work will help him to increase his income as he can use it in his current job and work on it later too, and this is a new chance to depend on himself as a provider for his family.

Talaat, a hardworking farmer from Qattinah village, faced adversity when thieves stole his irrigation network. This setback left his water pond and well, equipped with a pump, useless, limiting him to planting only wheat on his land. As a husband and father of two university students, he felt the weight of providing for his family. With the stolen irrigation system, he struggled to cultivate a variety of crops to improve their livelihood.

However, with the support of a new irrigation network, Talaat's hopes blossomed anew. Now equipped with everything needed for a well-watered farm, he eagerly began planting potatoes and a variety of vegetables without worries. This stability not only transforms his farm but also holds the promise of changing his family's future, ensuring them a dignified life. 

Alaa, a devoted family man from the village of Qattinah, faced the trials of sustaining his family through farming and seasonal fishing. 

He works in his father-in-law's land, entrusted with its care while his father-in-law traveled abroad. In this land there was a partnership between his father-in-law and someone else and this partnership had once thrived, when they equipped the land with essential irrigation tools.

In 2022, Alaa's world shattered as his father-in-law's partner sold their shared assets, leaving him deprived of the crucial equipment and water access. 

With no recourse, his farming activities were paused, casting shadows over his family's livelihood.

Yet, hope flickered in the form of the Micro Projects Program, where he sought aid to restore his dreams. He applied for a solar power and irrigation systems, envisioning a future where his land flourishes once more.

Amidst the olive trees and vegetable crops, Alaa's resilience bloomed. With the installation of solar panels and an efficient irrigation system, his land came to life. 

Fadi is married with two children, he cherishes the simplicity of life alongside his aging parents. Enduring a two-year struggle with liver inflammation and diabetes, he found stability, embracing gratitude for his family and health.

Specialized in pastry making, a skill acquired in Lebanon, he operates a modest shop with his wife. He also works in farming with an arable land. He worked hard to enhance productivity year-round. However, lacking a water pump and motor hindered his ambition, limiting cultivation to winter season.

Despite efforts to rent equipment, the high costs hindered the progress. His cultivation during the summer was limited to wheat, due to the water scarcity. 

Hope flickered when Fadi applied for the Micro Projects Program, through the program's intervention, he received vital irrigation equipment, transforming his agricultural prospects. Now, empowered by efficient water management, he became able to secure a dignified life for his loved ones. 

Sami, the head of a family of four in Qattinah village, struggled with the financial burden of farming. As both a dedicated employee and a farmer with olive and almond trees, he faced challenges plowing his land and providing essential treatments due to high equipment rental costs. Undeterred, he sought help from the Micro Projects Program.

He secured a mini-cultivator and a spraying pump. This invaluable support not only alleviated the strain of expensive tractor rentals but also empowered him to tend to his land effectively. 

Now, Sami cultivates his land with ease, saving costs and ensuring a bountiful harvest. The support has not only transformed his struggles into success but has also paved the way for a brighter future, promising his family a more prosperous and secure livelihood.

Khalaf Al-Bshara, 51, is married to Shireen Qabalan and lives in a humble house with his parents in Al-Tabbaleh neighborhood.

Despite being a skilled painter since 2003, life had not been kind to Khalaf.

At the beginning of the crisis, his painting work decreased so he started working on transferring vegetables and fruits between his village in Daraa and Damascus until the security conflicts reached the area and it was no longer safe, but he decided to challenge the situation and keep working until he was exposed to kidnapping by the armed groups, the three days he stayed in abduction shattered his stability so he relocated to Damascus to live with his family at his parents’ house.

With opportunities scarce, Khalaf found himself shuttling between different jobs: painting, construction, and even restaurant cleaning, he opted to do any available work to put food on the table but his situation was getting worse and the weight of responsibility pressed down harder in addition to having financial hardships, all of that led his marriage to collapse, as his wife took his daughter and moved to live at her parents’ house while he had to put his son at an orphanage.

Tears welled in Khalaf's eyes as he spoke of his kids, his dream of reuniting his fractured family stirred a deep resolve within him, making him apply for the pick-up car with one goal ahead, the reunion of his family.

The support that he gained from Hope Center isn't just about financial assistance; it symbolizes the promise of reunification, healing fractured bonds, and restoring Khalaf's family. 

Samaan Ashkar, a blacksmith whose life tells the tale of resilience against all odds.

From his humble beginnings in Kashkoul, Samaan started working as a blacksmith where he faced numerous challenges, including financial constraints and the loss of his beloved family members, but Samaan's spirit remained unbroken.

In 2003, he decided to relocate to Dubai and try his luck there, he worked in various capacities and experienced both triumphs and tribulations. However, with all the setbacks and financial strains that he went through in Dubai, Samaan managed to preserve, handle his livelihood, and save for his future, then after several years of working hard, Samaan decided eventually to return to Syria and start a new chapter of his life. 

Unfortunately, upon his arrival, he had to endure the loss of his mother, brother, and sister, which left him heartbroken and in poor financial condition as he bore the burden of their medical expenses and funeral costs from his previous work savings. 

With the limited tools and resources, he had, Samaan was not able to start his own business; he had to work at other blacksmithing workshops to get income and afford his living expenses.

Samaan longed to become independent and have his own blacksmithing workshop, which was achieved after getting support from Hope Center to buy electricity generators and necessary equipment and machines.

Today, Samaan is so grateful because having this project marked a pivotal moment in his journey, enabling him to overcome his adversities, and lightening his path toward self-sufficiency and decent living.

Elias Al-Ghabra is one of the minorities who are still interested in preserving the family profession as he began working in the field of manufacturing convection ovens with his father at a young age in a rental workshop in Jaramana and continued in the filed alongside his study.

The main field of work is manufacturing thermal ovens based on gas after the electric ovens stopped being demanded due to the terrible electricity situation in the country, their work increased and they also started to receive ovens maintenance orders. 

In 2010 Elias was called for military service and the war began shortly after he joined, so he was transferred to serve in Al-Hasakah Governorate until 2019, during which he went through difficult circumstances and faced many dangers. However, on his vacations, he used to return home and help his father in the workshop.

However, as a result of the significant increase in prices in addition to his mother’s battle with cancer and her treatment in Al-Biruni Hospital, their business deteriorated and the expenses became higher than the income forcing them to sell some of the equipment to cover the mother’s treatment expenses.

After Elias was discharged from service in 2019, he returned to work with his father, but the remaining equipment and materials were not enough to strengthen the work and have a proper income to cover the living expenses.

With the help of Hope Center, Elias was supported to purchase new machines to enable this intrepid young man to expand his work which will positively impact his living circumstances and help preserve the family's profession.

Hanna Al-Ajoury 31, resides with his parents and brother Jack, their father, who was employed at the Gas station for 13 years but is currently without work. His brother works as an employee while their other brother, Marhaf, has relocated to Germany.

Before the war, he had worked at his cousin's beverage shop in Zabadani for two years until 2011 when he was called for military service for the next nine years. however, during his military service, he also worked alongside his father at the gas station, to secure his expenses and save some money for the future.

After his discharge from the service, Hanna embarked on a new journey in his life, as he started working as a taxi driver, with the money he saved from his previous work,  got engaged seeking to establish his own family but he was shocked by the huge burdens of living and his endeavors started to vanish.

Seeking assistance from Hope Center in Damascus, Hanna was granted support to purchase a taxi, which significantly improved his life. The newfound independence and stability brought by this taxi helped Hanna support his family and nurture his dreams.

Despite the challenges he faced, Hanna's story exemplifies the human spirit's ability to rise above adversity and create a better reality, one step at a time.

Anastasia Haddad born in 1998, was working diligently as a makeup artist and nail technician, living with her sister Taj in a rented flat in Jaramana after the divorce of her parents as they found solace in each other's company, forming a bond of strength amidst adversity.

Anastasia and Taj's childhood was marked by tumultuous family complications leaving scars that only time could heal. Yet, their determination to carve a brighter future fueled their aspirations and their talents blossomed despite all the challenges they faced.

Anastasia managed to overcome the obstacles by working long hours daily at a Salon in the neighborhood, but the income didn't cover the living expenses and she wanted to expand her work and customers which wasn’t possible with the tools she had, so she decided to apply at the Micro Project program to start her own project.

Supporting Anastasia with a make-up kit including all the necessary tools to start, was a turning point in her life because it enabled her to become independent and enhance her living condition.

George Eskeif, 33 is living alone in a sparsely furnished house in Jaramana while his heart remains tied to his family in Lebanon.

His family's relocation from Idlib to Damascus due to his father's health issues marked a turning point in their lives. George, then a student, saw himself shouldering the responsibility of their household while his father pursued medical treatment in Lebanon.

After completing his military service in 2019, George found himself with no education or experience, so he started working as a taxi driver, hoping to secure a stable income for himself and support his family who was residing in Lebanon as his father was working at a small coffee kiosk, while his brother was working diligently at a snack restaurant. Yet, the harsh realities of life in Lebanon lingered, driving George to ensure his family's well-being by sending them vital medications each month.

full of faith, George applied for the pickup car project at Hope Center seeking financial stability and sustainable livelihood.

the support he got, didn't just offer George financial assistance; it restored his sense of purpose and dignity. It empowered him to support his family while carving his own path to self-reliance and success.

Murhaf Al-Maher 62, is married to Nada Sankari, and the father of two daughters and son. Despite his age and recent health issues, including lung inflammation, Murhaf remained determined to work. His dedication stemmed not just from financial necessity but from a sense of pride in providing for his family and with no hesitation he also supported his daughters; Souryana, while she was pursuing a medical degree, and Rima, who became a music teacher.

In recent years, with his wife's medical expenses and his daughter's university fees looming large, Murhaf had found himself dipping into his savings more frequently. Yet, he remained steadfast in his commitment to their well-being, he kept supporting them through thick and thin, especially during his son-in-law's military service, and had even exhausted his savings to ensure their living. 

Now retired, Murhaf sought to continue working, not just out of necessity and lack of income, but out of a desire to maintain his independence and dignity.

With limited options available due to his age and health, the support he received from the Hope Center to purchase his own taxi, was crucial in ensuring his family's financial stability and allowing them to live with dignity. Despite the challenges he faced, Murhaf remained resolute in his determination to provide for his loved ones, one ride at a time.

Despite life's challenges, Elein Zghaib 28, remained steadfast in her pursuit of a better future. She lives with her family in Jaramana, her father is employed at the Ministry of Education, her mother tends to the household, and her sister, born in 2002, is skilled in nail care and beauty care. Their familial bond was a source of strength as they faced life's adversities together.

Before the crisis, Elein and her family were living in their ancestral home in Dweileh, but circumstances forced them to sell it and relocate. During that period, she graduated from the Faculty of Business Administration then she started working at Syriatel from 2016 to 2020 in marketing and sales. However, the income she got was barely enough to meet her own expenses without being able to provide for the house. Elein sought new horizons in the field of hairdressing and beauty care then she decided to travel to Lebanon in early 2022 seeking better opportunities but low salary and harsh conditions prompted her return after eight months.

Upon her return, Elein continued working as a freelance at various salons, often alongside her sister. She honed her skills through self-teaching leading to undeniable expertise in hairstyling.

With a vision for the future, Elein dreamed of opening her own salon, a joint venture with her sister, and with the help she got from Hope Center, this dream turned into reality.

Today, both sisters are determined to shoulder responsibilities and contribute to their family's expenses, facing life's challenges with unwavering resolve and great hopes.

Mufeed Hejazy, 28, lives with his family in a rented house in Dwallaa. His household consisted of his parents, his elder brother, who works at a goldsmith workshop, and his unemployed sister. Mufeed himself had volunteered for a charitable project in 2020 then he worked at a cosmetic company for two years until it closed. 

Mufeed and his family faced numerous hardships during the crisis in Syria, including his father suffering with chronic bronchitis which was very costly so they sought help from a local charity for the life-saving oxygen machine. Additionally, during the conflict in Maaloula in 2013, his father was kidnapped along with their car, requiring a hefty ransom of money for the release.

Despite the challenges, Mufeed persevered, seeking employment after the closure of the cosmetic company. However, finding stable work was difficult, especially since he didn't have the chance to gain any experience or education degree during his 9 years of military service.

With support from Hope Center, Mufeed was able to purchase a taxi, which formed a fresh start for him, a pathway to financial independence, and a means to navigate life's challenges without relying on others.

Alaa is a talented young man in his twenties, he lives with his parents and sister in Jaramana after being displaced from their home in Harasta due to the armed conflict in the area at the beginning of the Syrian crisis.

Alaa was always passionate about photography so he trained at a young age at a Clacket studio to learn more about this career, then he got employed at the communication department at SSSD as a photographer until 2018 trying to find better income to match the increasing costs of living.

Soon after, he started working at an event planning office as a photographer and videographer, but at the same time he was dreaming of having his own equipment that would enable him to establish private work and develop his career.

With the help of Hope Center, Alaa was supported to purchase a camera which was a dream coming true for him as he is able now to have his own photography session, and at the same time add his own signature which will empower his name in the field and open the chance of developing his work and improving his living conditions.

In the heart of a bustling area nestled a home where dreams brewed and aspirations soared. Dhyaa Al-Btros, his wife, and his family members lived within its walls, each floor holds a part of his close-knit family.

Since 2004, he delved into the field of confectionery, honing his skills by working at various pastry shops. In 2008 he was called for military service until 2010. Upon discharge, he returned to his roots in Khabab, opening a pastry shop until 2014 when adversity struck, so he relocated his shop to the Al-Dukhanieh area in Damascus, but the situation wasn't any better there as violent incidents and armed conflict took place in the area which resulted in the loss of his shop.

Undeterred, he adopted a novel approach, distributing goods via electric bicycles until 2019 when he was called again for the reserve service for three years before resuming the distribution of goods and biscuits, using his brother's electric bicycle.

Presently, Dhyaa toils in the morning as a warehouse worker, and by dusk, continues his work on a bicycle, aspiring to have a pick-up truck for efficient distribution, which would improve his income and release him from the hard morning work. 

considering this tapestry of trials and challenges, Dhyaa was supported by the Micro project program to purchase his own pick-up truck hoping to empower his unwavering spirit in the face of adversity, improve his living conditions, and preserve his dignity.

Karin Jbeil, a woman of remarkable courage and determination, born in 1989, lived a journey of strength and self-discovery that shaped her life forever.

Married to Wissam Al Ramahin, a dedicated hospital employee, Karin’s life revolved around her family. With two precious children, Sharbel born in 2010, and Christelle in 2013, her days were filled with love and purpose.

Karin's entrepreneurial spirit ignited in 2008 when she enrolled in a nail and waxing course at the European Institute. From 2012 onwards, she began her journey offering her skills to the community. Her home, became her workplace, with a room dedicated to her craft.

The echoes of war that ravaged their area in subsequent years did not deter Karin. Despite the chaos and uncertainty, she persevered, balancing her career aspirations with the safety of her children so she started to work in a nearby childcare center for two years, ensuring stability for her family during tumultuous times.

As peace slowly returned to Dowella, Karin resumed her passion for beauty, working part-time at local salons but the low salary wasn’t worth the long hours she spent far from her kids. She yearned to establish her own beauty salon, equipped with nail and waxing services.

Having support from Hope Center to have her own salon not only empowered her to become financially independent, but also assured her that dreams can flourish, and lives can be transformed.