Just with the start of war, Shadi was called to serve his mandatory military service, Shadi went to his assigned position in Damascus without knowing that this period of his life will extent to over than nine years. 

During those years he went through many hard and challenging circumstances, he overcame many dangers and dodged many explosions, and finally was discharged in April 2020. His wife and two daughters were very excited for their father coming back home, they were united again and moved back to their old house (during Shadi’s absence his wife and children were staying with her parents).Being away for so long Shadi had to establish a business of his own, and with no financial resources the only solution he found was to transform a small part of his 32 m2 house into a plumbing shop where he can receive clients and store all the equipment and spare parts. 

Today shadi needs support to purchase the tools needed for his job, in addition to some merchandise like pipes to be able to work properly and maintain a decent income for his family. 

Aboud, his wife Huda and his two sons Nicholas and Carlos (12 and 6 years old) live together in the family residence in Aleppo, along with Aboud’s mother Mouna.

At the beginning of war, Aboud couldn’t reach his carpentry workshop in Handarat area, all the roads were cut off and the armed groups took complete control of the area. When dangers of mortar shells became closer and more severe, Aboud took his family and fled to Marmaritta village far from the war beaten Aleppo. 

Eventually Aboud couldn’t stay away from his hometown. So, in 2018 he made the decision of coming back and settling in his parents’ house. In order to financially support the family, he rented a modest carpentry workshop. The problem is that the workshop lacks many important equipment and machines that Aboud can’t purchase on his own.

With your help, Aboud will be able to obtain all the tools to upgrade his production and thus, his profit will increase significantly in the future. 

Costantin was building a name for himself in the market and planning a successful career as a car electrician and mechanic, when the war started and interrupted not only his career but also his family's life.

In 2015, Costantin’s house in Al-Suleymanieh was severely damaged by a mortar shell that exploded in the adjoining building causing complete destruction to Costantin’s 5th-floor-apartment, where he and his mother live. However, the biggest loss for the family was the death of Costantin’s older brother in the war. His death was a tragedy on the family they couldn’t bare to lose him especially that he left behind a little daughter. 

Costantin was devastated and depressed but what helped him to continue was his little niece and his mother, for them he stayed strong and resilient. 

Today Costantin is planning to start over and be more independent, for two years now he has been saving money and purchasing some of the equipment needed, but in order to launch his own workshop he needs a little help in buying all the tools and essentials. By supporting Costantin, we will be a part of this young man’s success which will reflect on the life of the family.

Bassam lived with his wife Naeema and son Abdel Massih in Bustan Al-Basha area, but with the start of war they were forced like all civilians in their neighborhood to evacuate their house leaving everything behind and move to a rented house in a safer region. Bassam’s business in Electrical Maintenance faced a set of challenges too, the lack of electricity and the war impacts led him to lose his job in 2012. He ended up working in a restaurant as a maintenance guy. Unfortunately, his job there ended with a tragic work injury, after he fell from the roof while on duty. Doctors are assuring him that soon he will be able to go back to normal, but by then he will need a job to be able to support his family. reopening a shop for maintenance services will be very beneficial for him to have a good life and study income. 

From an early age, George made the decision which paved his career path to enter the industrial field. He learnt all about metal lathing and slowly opened his own workshop, taking advantage of having his uncle place to work in Sheikh Maksoud area. But the vicious war changed everything, and suddenly the stability and prosperity of his business was gone as the workshop was confiscated by armed groups and all equipment were stolen. 

Many years passed by before George was able to reopen in Al- Midan, after overcoming several difficulties especially the financial ones. The lathing machine he purchased was second-hand use and had some problems, but on the other hand the price was reasonable, so George made that compromise hoping that later he will be able to replace that machine with a better enhanced one. It is also worth mentioning that George is single and lives with his two older sisters Afaf and Georgette; whom due to their age aren’t able to work and that makes him responsible of taking care of the family’s financials. With this support George will purchase a new machine that will allow him to increase the production and make good quality work.

War had numerous devastating and horrendous effects on Syrians during its nearly ten years, but for Sheraz, there was no greater loss than losing his brother who was kidnapped in Kasab in the beginning of the war, only to discover his death three months later. The mother couldn’t bare the tragic news, she suffered from a stroke and the poor lady broke down after losing her son. Sheraz’s responsibilities became heavier since he became the sole provider not only for his family of four, but also for his mother and his brother’s family (his wife and two daughters). But what added to Sheraz’s suffering is that when his workshop of lathing became out of reach due to the area being under conflict, all his machines and equipment were stolen. In 2016, when he saw his workshop again, he couldn’t resume his work nor could he replace his stolen machinery with new ones because of the high costs.

Today, Sheraz with your help will be able to revive his old business in lathing, and take a better care of his family and his brothers’ family.   

What started nearly six years ago as a passion for photography turned to be a career choice for Hagop, in the toughest years of war. Hagop the father of 11-years-old twins Ani and Lucy, had a hobby of taking photographs. As his love for it grew, he took a course to learn more techniques and improve his skills. Not knowing that shortly after that one of his friends who happened to be a photographer will offer Hagop to buy his studio equipment since he was leaving the country, it was only then when he considered taking this career path. 

His rented shop in AL-Serian street has the advantage of not having any photographers in the same area, but the problem was that Hagop’s cameras are old and outdated, also, they are more on the amateur side. To be able to rise his business quality and reach his utmost potentials, he needs to have a camera with a full-frame range that will allow him to work on many professional projects in the future.      

Ani Kelejian is an independent, hardworking woman who used to work for long hours in a sewing workshop to earn an income and have a decent life after her parents passed away when she was still young. Unfortunately, by getting older the exhausting working hours were starting to be more difficult, so she started to work in a sewing workshop that makes uniforms. 

Ani takes care of her sister khanem who was also a seamstress, but since she had health problems, she quit her job because it got very tiring. Her brother George also became unemployed when his boss closed his workshop and decided to leave the country, which makes Ani the only one working and providing for the three of them.

In 2012, Ani, her sister and brother were displaced from their home in Al-Midan for four years; since the area there was extremely dangerous, Khanem became very depressed and suffered from anxiety; she wanted to get back to their home, after a while they moved back but the livelihood costs put a heavy burden on the family.

This support will make a big difference in Ani’s life, purchasing the sewing machines will also improve the work and quality of the pieces she makes. 

In the field of manufacturing agricultural trucks parts, Ameen Maghamez faces many hardships such as the rapid change in the market’s needs, the difference which occurred in the material used and wanted by customers, all of this reflected on Ameen’s business because his existing molds became useless. The problem is that without these molds, Ameen can’t produce the parts to complete his work in order to sell them to customers when the season approaches.

The molds are the main factor in this work, nowadays they cost a lot and because of the harsh livelihood conditions Ameen is unable to replace them and update his equipment to make a progress and achieve high quality production although this field of work is very profitable.

With the funding Ameen will get the molds he needs to re-enter the market strongly and confidently to turn the business wheel again.   

Vera suffered like all Syrians during the war, she used to work with a local designer but their workplace was hit by a shell, consequently the designer left the country, he hoped she would come along because of her great work quality but she stayed here and started working from home to provide for her family and take care of her son and husband.

Vera and her husband Antranik and son Hosep were displaced from their home in Al-Midan after it was damaged completely to a safer but smaller house given to them by one of their relatives. It was very difficult time for Vera’s family since her husband was shot in the leg by a sniper in Bustan Albasha where his shop was, and after many painful surgeries he still suffers till this day. Vera’s son also was discharged from the army service after a medical mistake left him unable to walk or talk properly, the 43-years-old Hosep cannot work due to his medical situation, which makes Vera the only provider of her family. Vera is now looking for support to purchase sewing machines as the machine she works on now is very outdated and started to affect the work greatly, the new machines will be put in the same room where the son sleeps because the house is very small. The determination and will of this woman are truly overwhelming in the most positive way despite all the hardships she faces daily.

Toni used to work with his father at their spices shop for 20 years, this shop was very popular in the area and many clients used to visit them from all over the city, he was living happily with his wife and their three beautiful daughters at their home in Homs. When the cruel war began, his family was forced to flee to a village called “Rabah” where he started from Zero and as the sole provider for his family, he worked in many professions in order to support them like wall painting, floor tiling, and even in the farming field. He suffered a lot to provide a dignified life for them.

In 2019, Toni and his family were eventually able to get back to their old life in Homs and he reopened his father’s shop with very simple capabilities, unfortunately, that was not enough to enter the market strongly. Helping him to strengthen his business and to stand on his feet again revived his hope after all the difficulties he went through, and now the shop is back the way it was before the war.

"A very busy and filled with noisy machines workshop, has suddenly turned into a quiet and empty place"

In 1980, this workshop was opened by Nasser, who is a tailor and the sole breadwinner for his family of four, he was well-known for his wide experience in this profession and for providing many services like sewing and fashion designs.

the workshop used to be a source of livelihood for another two families as he hired employees to help him, he prepared his workplace and equipped it throughout his long career, and he used to have an electric generator which was used for 15 years until it became very old and completely consumed, later it became a necessity to have a generator due to the frequent blackouts that forced him to close the workshop and stop working. 

Nasser needs to have a new electric generator, then his production wheel will spin again and that will of course save his business during the grave economic crisis.

This family’s tragedy started when they were displaced from their village (Om-Sharshouh) leaving behind their whole life. Osama who is the only provider for his family of five and his parents had a restaurant in his village which later was completely destroyed with the start of the war. 

Since he moved to the city of Homs, he searched for a source of livelihood to provide for his family and tried working in many professions like wall painting, cars repairing and floor tiling but unfortunately, a health condition forced him to stop every time. He thought of opening a mini-market and dairy shop because he noticed that these food commodities are highly demanded and people in his neighborhood have to buy them from another area, the only problem that prevented him from implementing his project was his limited financial resources. 

Supporting Osama to open his own shop will help him in providing a decent income for his big family, and at the same time will give them the chance to have a new beginning.

Alber loved blacksmithing a lot until he mastered this skill because this profession was his passion, he started working in his workshop in Al-Bayada neighborhood since a very young age.

He was living with his wife Nariman, his son Yousef and his little daughter Angel a peaceful life in their house in Hamidia, when the war started they fled to a village near Homs in 2011. During this period Alber was in a car accident that caused him a serious injury in his leg and it took him 3 years to recover.

After this difficult period and when things started to get better in Homs, Alber and his family came back home. Unfortunately, his workshop was completely destroyed and he lost all the machinery he had, as the sole provider for his family, he started working using simple equipment but that required a lot of time and effort from him, sometimes he was unable to provide many services because he didn’t have the needed machines.

Providing him with the essential machines and equipment for his project will increase his production and his profits, this is the first step towards achieving his life dream of establishing an iron furniture showroom in the future.

Her will to live was stronger than all the pain she went through, giving the greatest sacrifice by choosing to keep her baby instead of taking the cure as a pregnant woman, her name is Nisreen and she is a mother of two; Jessica and George. She was diagnosed with breast cancer while carrying her baby. Taking the treatment was harmful to him so she refused it, and completed her pregnancy with a lot of courage and patience. 

After her baby’s birth, she went through long-term treatment until she beated the cancer and got her life back to normal. Her treatment was not only emotionally draining but also financially, a heavy burden on her husband’s shoulder who works as an employee for the Electricity Company with a very low income. Before her illness, Nisreen used to work in a second-hand clothes shop where she gained good sales experience. 

Today, Nisreen wants to help her husband in providing for their children by opening a coffee shop. Supporting her to start this project will give be a good chance to get the new start she needs to overcome all the bad times and forget the past.

Amal found herself the only responsible for her four children after her husband’s death; as a young single mother, she didn’t give up and did her best to ensure her children a dignified life. she took a loan and opened a cotton clothes shop in her village (Al-Qusayr) where this family used to live before the war. 

Amal raised her children on her own, their education was her highest priority, later they grew up and started working too. the family finally had some peace, until the cruel war reached their village and forced them to leave after losing everything they have. they moved to the city of Homs and stayed in a rented apartment, Amal’s son who was newly married became responsible of providing for two families.

Hearing about the Micro Projects gave Amal a hope that she could have the chance to provide for her daughters again, and to alleviate her son’s burdens. Supporting her to open a new shop helped her to overcome the hardships she went through, and also to be a productive individual like she has always wished.

Nadia gained wide experience in the beauty field throughout the years and attended a lot of courses in different countries like France and Lebanon until she herself became a trainer, then she delivered her experience to many other girls in her country. the single woman lives with her mother and she is her sole support. When the war started in 2011, she was deprived of doing what she really loves, which had a great impact on her as she is not used to sit around without a job and depend on others. 

The Micro Projects Program was a great chance that encouraged her to apply for a nail care kit so she can work again after a long unemployment, and this project was exactly the psychological and emotional support she needed. 

Now Nadia is back to work again, with her great reputation and skills, she is welcoming clients at her house where she could look after her mother at the same time, by doing so she will be able to achieve some financial independence.

“Each person has dreams of having his own business project, but for me, my dream project became a necessity of living to provide for my son and ensure him a dignified life.”

Juliana is the sole provider for her son, who became her only family after she split-up with her husband, and now they’re living at her parents’ house. 

Since she was young, she enjoyed working in the domain of beauty as a hobby, but later she mastered working in this field after attending many courses about makeup,nail care and tattoos. Opening a beauty salon is a need more than a dream for Juliana during the tough circumstances she’s going through, but she couldn’t afford to start her project due to her weak financial situation, and worked between clients’ houses.

Helping her to open her own salon will revive her self-confidence as a productive woman, by doing what she is passionate about and secure her and her little son a better livelihood.

When the war started in Homs, Amin did his best to keep his two sons safe, and the only way for that was helping them to travel abroad where they could start a new life away from war dangers, this decision was very hard on him as a father to watch his children leave and be away from him. Amin worked in air conditioning and electrical devices maintenance since 1982, he made a great reputation throughout his long career. Although the income he used to make from this job was good, but in the last few years his business was heavily affected by the economic crisis and he could no longer purchase new tools and materials, especially that he spent everything he had to cover his sons’ travel costs.

Today, Amin lives with his wife and his only daughter and he is the sole provider for them. Supporting him with new equipment and tools will definitely make a positive effect on his business and will help him to stand on his feet again. 

Shukri is a retired school teacher who lives with his wife Mouna and his twin sons; Rabih and Rami (13 years). After retirement he couldn’t stay without a job during the hard economic circumstances, so he thought of opening his small shop especially that it is located in Wadi Al-Sayeh (a neighborhood near Al-Hamidia), as a neighborhood newly emerged from war, Shukri took the advantage of having the only mini-market in the area where life was coming back.

Just like all the other shops during the economic crisis, his shop was heavily affected and it became almost empty. Providing his small shop with support for more goods and food commodities, will help him in getting a sufficient income and that surely will give him the hope of ensuring a better livelihood for his family.

Imad worked in selling clothes for six years and everything was going well for him, until the devastating war started and destroyed his shop completely. Being the sole provider for his wife and three children, he had no other choice but to use his car in goods distribution, without knowing that this job will become his new source of livelihood for a long time.

When COVID-19 began to spread, he noticed that the local market requires more sanitizers and cleaning products so he communicated with a specialized company that gave him an exclusive agency to distribute its products in the city of Homs, he found this job profitable for the first few months but unfortunately, the economic crisis came later and affected his business very badly.

Imad needs to improve his work by buying bigger amounts of goods which will help him to increase his sales rate and provide a better income. Supporting Imad gave him the chance to enter the market strongly and this way he will be able to cover all of his clients’ needs and guarantee the continuity of work.