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.


654

Aleppo

619

Homs

241

Damascus

Nail Care Kit


Widad Saba is a 45-year-old loving mother to two adorable daughters. When we met Widad, she had a lot of ideas about projects after trying many professions and asking for advice from the team. The nail care salon seemed to be a perfect fit for her.

Widad made the difficult decision to leave Aleppo due to the intense shelling and moved to Damascus while pregnant with her first child. After some time, she returned to Aleppo, where she currently resides. Unfortunately,...


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Musical Instrument


Emil comes from a musical family and is a professional bass guitarist. He plays at Aleppo Club Restaurant three times a week for weddings and events. In addition to his musical pursuits, Emil is a supervisor at a bank.

With 20 years of experience in playing the bass guitar, Emil's skills and talents as a bass guitarist have garnered him popularity and recognition, leading him to collaborate with numerous renowned singers. However, he felt that his music was limited without an...


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Physiotherapy Supplies


Nataly is a 25-year-old physiotherapist, graduated in 2019 after undergoing training, she started working in polyclinics and providing home therapy sessions for patients who are unable to leave their houses. She supports her family of four, including her mother who is in Lebanon for medical treatment. Nataly's father, a retired civil engineer, receives a low pension, adding to the financial burden.

In order to increase her income, Nataly realized that she needed more therapy sessions. However, she faced a challenge as she didn't have the necessary equipment for conducting home sessions. Fortunately, Hope Center intervened, providing Nataly with the required equipment. This not only increased her income but also enhanced her productivity and the quality of her work.

Taxi


George is a newly departed military soldier, his service years had lasting consequences on his health, the doctor advised him to stay away from strong smells and dust before it gets worse. Unfortunately, George was a residential painter and couldn't avoid exposure to strong odors, thus he had to quit his job to prevent further harm.

Desperate for help and support, George turned to his friends, hoping they would help him overcome this tough situation. However, none of them offered a...


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Screen Printing


Abdullah Hatem, a hardworking 31-year-old with an entrepreneurial mindset, started his journey from a young age. He worked alongside his father, who owned a car mechanic workshop, but Abdullah did not envision himself working in the same field. Instead, he developed a keen interest in the art of garment printing. In 2012, he embarked on his journey and worked towards starting his own project and owning a workshop.

Abdullah's determination and hard work allowed him to save every penny he earned,...


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Car Maintenance


Kevork is a 53-year-old skilled mechanic with over 30 years of experience in car maintenance and mechanics. He used to work in his workshop, which he owned since 2005. However, when the war started, his house in Aleppo was damaged by the ongoing shelling. As a result, he was forced to make the difficult decision of selling the equipment he had acquired through years of hard work and moving to Lebanon with his family.

From 2015 onwards, he resided in Lebanon...


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Taxi


Bassil Mssedy, a dedicated father in his 50s, worked as a blacksmith for 15 years in the industrial city of Aleppo. Unfortunately, the aftermath of the war made him jobless. The industrial area, once thriving, now lay in ruins.

Bassil and his wife used to reside in a rented house in Al Midan, an area that was heavily bombarded during the war. Tragedy struck one fateful day when a missile destroyed their home. Miraculously, they had left the house just an...


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CNC Carving Machine


George Tabbakh is a skilled CNC machinist with 15 years of experience. He began his career in 1997 until 2002 when he decided to start his own business and invest in a metal lathing machine. George has always had a passion for personal development and enjoys immersing himself in new learning experiences. Aware of the potential of 3D printing and mechanical drawing, he attended numerous workshops and courses to enhance his skills with software like SolidWorks.

In 2008, George purchased his...


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Car Mechanics Workshop


Vahe Tashjian is a 56-year-old mechanic with 23 years of experience. In his younger years, he worked in Kuwait, but he later moved to Aleppo, where he found employment in various companies. Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of war, the companies closed down, leaving him jobless. 

Vahe has always dreamt of owning his own workshop, but his previous attempts were unsuccessful due to the need for financial resources, in 2022, he briefly went to Dubai but got very ill. In less...


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Taxi


Aziz is a determined young man, recently married to Rasha and waiting for their first born child.

He worked as a driver since 2009 and continued working in this job during his ten-years military service in Damascus, Rasha works as a nurse in a hospital and they live in a modest rented house. 

During his service aziz was injured in the leg then he was discharged and he started looking for a job to secure his life and future. His parents decided...


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Taxi


Antoine had a good life before the war working as a hairdresser with great skill and many customers, in 2013 he was called for military service and had to serve for nine long years in Aleppo's suburbs which affected his health greatly as he was subject to many injuries from explosions.

Antoine suffered from a neurological condition that caused trembling in his hands and he no longer was able to continue in his original career of hairstyling, even grabbing the scissors...


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Tailoring Workshop


Haytham's journey in the world of tailoring began in 1988, Aleppo, During the war Haytham faced a great loss when his workshop in Shekh Maksoud was completely destroyed and all of his sewing machines and tools were stolen. He used to work alongside his brother for a short period of time, but circumstances led them to separate and focus on their individual projects. Haytham received his share of the profits, which he had planned for his own project, but instead,...


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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.

Sewing Workshop


Georgette, a skilled seamstress, has dedicated over three decades to working and providing for her family of five. Her husband, Maher, works in various fields with unstable income. 

Their village, Fairouza, faces poor electricity supply, hindering her productivity, in an effort to overcome this challenge, she purchased manual motors for her sewing machines, though they fell short of her expectations. Then, a ray of hope appeared in the form of the Micro Projects Program. Georgette seized the opportunity to secure a...


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Laser Machine


Youssef had always been a hard-working man. He learned the value of perseverance from a young age when he had to help his mother take care of his younger siblings. Despite the challenges, Youssef had always dreamed of giving his family a comfortable life.

Youssef landed a job in Lebanon, meanwhile, he studied engineering, He worked tirelessly for eight years to make ends meet and support his family back in Damascus. 

However, things took a turn for the worse in 2019 when...


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Pick-up truck


Suffering is an inseparable companion of war, especially for those who were injured and became incapacitated and unable to practice their life normally like in the case of Ebrahim Aldawod. After turning 18, Ebrahim was called for military service and stayed until  2011 when the war took place so he was kept as a reserve soldier for the next four years. however, in 2015 Ebrahim was exposed to a car accident during his service and was hurt badly which caused...


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Dental Clinic


Karina Issa graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry full of ambition, dreaming to become a successful dentist and have her own clinic. 

She did her training period with a doctor in Safita village where she also performed for rural service. Then in 2017, she got married to Kinan Dagher and moved to live with him in Dwalaa area in Damascus and they had their lovely daughter Anita. 

During that period Karina volunteered at St. Joseph dispensary and served the community and the...


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Pick-up Truck


For most of his life, Abd Al-Ahad struggled against difficult circumstances and the lack of job opportunities in the country especially since he was working as a government employee for a modest salary and wasn't able to find an additional job during the years of war as it was challenging for anyone to find a good income source. 

Abd Al-Ahad had no choice but to stay in his job as a private driver at the Directorate of Livestock in the industrial...


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Plumbing Workshop


Rimon Eid is 31 years old, married to Joelle Smara, and has a newborn daughter named Stephanie

Rimon began his professional career at an early age when he learned the plumbing career and started working in partnership with his cousin. He quickly became a professional in this career and had his own customers.

Like any ambitious young man in his prime, Rimon was seeking to improve his financial situation and increase his income, so in 2009 he traveled to Lebanon in search...


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Taxi


“After all the hardships I had been through, I was about to lose hope, but now I feel like life finally smiled at me”

This is how Tony Al-Ahmar expressed his feelings after being supported with the taxi project.

Tony Al-Ahmar is 35 years old, married to Jina Abboud and they have an adorable baby called Rudolf. Before the crisis, Tony worked as a catering officer in various restaurants and he was doing his best to save money and build up a...


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Taxi


Fady Darweesh is 28 years old, newly married to Salwa and they live in a rented flat in Kashkoul. He was raised in a modest family and had to start working at an early age to handle his own expenses and help with the house demands. He was 18 when he started to work as a house painter, spending most of the day from one workshop to another trying his best to afford the livelihood costs.

In 2014, Fady was called...


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Taxi


Kinan had no opportunity to work or do any job for about a decade because after starting his twenties and finishing his education, he was called for military service, and for the next ten years all that he learned about was being a driver because he was appointed during the service as vehicles driver.  

In 2021 Kinan’s brother joined the service so that Kinan could be discharged as being the household only provider and for the first time in ten years...


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Taxi


Like most young men of his age, Elias Al-Mezel had to start working from an early age to help his parents with the living demands.

He is 26 and lives with his family in his grandfather's house in Al-Dwalaa, his father was working as a shoemaker but he started to suffer from Asthma in addition to other health issues that made him unable to work. on the other hand, his mother’s health was also in bad condition which forced Elias to...


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Hairdressing Salon


Caroline is a 27 single woman who lives with her parents and her brother Fady in Kashkoul, Damascus suburb, she was raised in a united family and learned that all the family members should work to support each other through the good and the bad.

Caroline‘s father worked in tiling for most of the day and her brother Fady started working as a hairdresser but they both couldn’t afford the house demands so Caroline had to work as a secretary in...


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Mini-Van


In the blink of an eye, Rashid turned from a dreamer teenager into a man burdened with worries and responsibilities. Rashid was the only brother to four sisters and was living happily with his family in good financial condition and many spaces were open in his way.

All of that vanished at the age of sixteen when his father got sick and needed long intensive treatment that forced them to sell the house, and the car and spend all the savings...


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Barbershop


When someone has been through terrible trauma and they’re starting a new life from scratch, it’s not easy for them to recover especially if they were living in a post-war period like the case of Yazan Sayegh.

He is 25 and lives with his parents and sister in Kashkoul. Yazan was 18 when the family received the news of his brother’s death during his military service in Aleppo. Such news was devastating for the whole family especially Yazan who had to...


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