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.
Skills and experience: Mttanos comes from a family of farmers and has long experience in agriculture
Mttanos and his family work together in their land, which has been their only source of livelihood for generations. He is a married man and a father of three; two sons who help him in farming and a daughter who is a school teacher.
The family planted different crops such as almonds, olives, grapes, and potatoes in order to benefit from its bounties around the whole year, but this variety requires special conditions to get good seasons like watering the trees...
Skills and experience: Mttanos comes from a family of farmers and has long experience in agriculture
Mttanos and his family work together in their land, which has been their only source of livelihood for generations. He is a married man and a father of three; two sons who help him in farming and a daughter who is a school teacher.
The family planted different crops such as almonds, olives, grapes, and potatoes in order to benefit from its bounties around the whole year, but this variety requires special conditions to get good seasons like watering the trees at least six times a year, which became a real financial burden for most of the farmers nowadays.
Mttanos's family owns a tractor that they use for many agricultural activities, mainly for plowing. Lately, the tires of the tractor became worn out and using it was dangerous. The lack of plowing caused a deterioration in production, especially since there were already watering difficulties.
Aspiring to revive the land and create a positive change, Mttanos applied for new tires to be able to use the tractor, in addition to a water tanker to save the high costs, thus, the land will generously give again and ensure this hardworking family good profit.
Skills and experience: Ramez comes from a family of farmers.
Ramez lives with his wife and their daughter in addition to his elderly parents and sister in the family's house in Al-Hamra village. He was a school teacher besides his main work as a farmer and when he retired, back in 2018, the hardworking man dedicated all of his time to his land of almond trees.
Ramez's land is divided into two parts, the first is planted with almond trees while the other part is planted with small seedlings and prepared...
Skills and experience: Ramez comes from a family of farmers.
Ramez lives with his wife and their daughter in addition to his elderly parents and sister in the family's house in Al-Hamra village. He was a school teacher besides his main work as a farmer and when he retired, back in 2018, the hardworking man dedicated all of his time to his land of almond trees.
Ramez's land is divided into two parts, the first is planted with almond trees while the other part is planted with small seedlings and prepared with a water well.
The family have a tractor which they use for many agricultural activities but they couldn’t buy a water tanker and benefit from this vehicle in irrigation. At the same time, renting a tanker has become a huge financial burden nowadays.
Many years ago, the level of rainfall was enough to water the lands, but as a result of climate changes, depending on the rain was no longer sufficient and securing a sustainable water supply has become a necessity.
Ramez applied for a water tanker to secure watering for his land, which will reflect on his income and production.
Skills and experience: more than 30 years of experience.
Even when being away from the terrors of the cruel war, no one was spared of its calamities. Although Al-Maamoura village wasn’t affected directly by the bombs and shells, however, its people suffered like all the Syrians from the difficult economic situation and their agricultural activity was heavily affected.
Mansour is a farmer from Al-Maamoura village, he is a married man and a father of six, four daughters and two sons. He has a spacious land of almonds, which he inherited...
Skills and experience: more than 30 years of experience.
Even when being away from the terrors of the cruel war, no one was spared of its calamities. Although Al-Maamoura village wasn’t affected directly by the bombs and shells, however, its people suffered like all the Syrians from the difficult economic situation and their agricultural activity was heavily affected.
Mansour is a farmer from Al-Maamoura village, he is a married man and a father of six, four daughters and two sons. He has a spacious land of almonds, which he inherited from his father, in addition to a tractor.
Lately, Mansour couldn’t benefit from the whole land due to the huge costs, especially since the tractor he used to plow and water his land became useless after its tires were worn out. His income rapidly decreased and he only managed to plant a small quarter of the land because renting a tractor was very expensive, on the other hand, buying new tires while covering the growing needs of his big family was impossible.
Today thanks to this support, Mansour will be able to revive the other parts of his almond land and guarantee a better livelihood.
Skills and experience: more than 30 years of experience.
Georges is a farmer from Al-Maamoura village, he is a married man and a father of three, two sons and a daughter. Just like most of the families in this village, his family of five depends on their land of almond trees for a living. Georges has a tractor, which he was not able to use lately due to the situation of its tires that became dilapidated over time.
Plowing and watering are very important stages to ensure good crops and...
Skills and experience: more than 30 years of experience.
Georges is a farmer from Al-Maamoura village, he is a married man and a father of three, two sons and a daughter. Just like most of the families in this village, his family of five depends on their land of almond trees for a living. Georges has a tractor, which he was not able to use lately due to the situation of its tires that became dilapidated over time.
Plowing and watering are very important stages to ensure good crops and not being able to conduct them has a negative impact on the almond trees and decreases production. Renting someone else's tractor was nearly impossible because of the high costs and Georges couldn’t afford to replace the old tires.
Now, he will be able to use his tractor for all the essential activities and secure a better income for his family.
All the various ways to generate an income were not enough to cover the growing needs of a family of five, and the land became their last resort in order to guarantee a dignified life.
Daad is a government employee, her husband George works in the construction field and they are parents of three daughters. George and his four brothers inherited their father's land of almond trees and they are sharing its profits, in addition to a farm around the house...
All the various ways to generate an income were not enough to cover the growing needs of a family of five, and the land became their last resort in order to guarantee a dignified life.
Daad is a government employee, her husband George works in the construction field and they are parents of three daughters. George and his four brothers inherited their father's land of almond trees and they are sharing its profits, in addition to a farm around the house where he started with Daad their project of grapevines and both did their best for their family.
The main challenge the couple faced was the difficulty of securing water due to unavailable irrigation method, which later caused a loss in the grape crops. When they heard about the Micro-Agricultural Projects Program, they studied the possibility of establishing a drip irrigation system that would ensure good watering for their grapes and improve production, especially since there is a well and a water pond in the land of almonds and it is located close to their house making it a good source of water for the two farms.
Reviving their thirsty trees will change the family's life during the tough economic circumstances in the country and plant new hope in their hearts giving them the motive to settle down in their home village Maskanah.
Skills and experience: Nehmeh is a farmer since he was young.
Nehmeh and his wife Latifa have 6 children, 2 sons, and 4 daughters, and the family has been living on the bounties of their almond land.
All of the daughters got married and moved to establish their own lives, while the elderly parents are now living with their son Johnny (39 years old) who's a married man and a father of two, and their son Jihad (34 years old) who, unfortunately, suffers from a health condition that prevents him from working...
Skills and experience: Nehmeh is a farmer since he was young.
Nehmeh and his wife Latifa have 6 children, 2 sons, and 4 daughters, and the family has been living on the bounties of their almond land.
All of the daughters got married and moved to establish their own lives, while the elderly parents are now living with their son Johnny (39 years old) who's a married man and a father of two, and their son Jihad (34 years old) who, unfortunately, suffers from a health condition that prevents him from working and he requires a special care and permanent medications.
Nehmeh and Johnny work together to cover the family's needs, which are growing every single day. They own a tractor that they used to plow and water their land, however, its tires became very old, and driving it was dangerous. The father and his son were forced to only plant a small part of their land as a result and lost a big amount of their income; their almond crops started to deteriorate and the lack of plowing and watering was the main problem.
Helping Nehmeh to benefit from the tractor again will ensure better agricultural conditions for his land and allow him and Johnny to guarantee a dignified life for their big family.
Skills and experience: Milad comes from a family of farmers.
Milad is a young man who lost six years of his life serving in the army; he was discharged back in 2016 and found that life wasn’t the same as it used to be before the war.
He works as an employee besides being a farmer; after his service, Milad resumed working with his brother in their father's land of almond and olive trees but the two brothers faced many challenges that stood in their way, especially since they both were...
Skills and experience: Milad comes from a family of farmers.
Milad is a young man who lost six years of his life serving in the army; he was discharged back in 2016 and found that life wasn’t the same as it used to be before the war.
He works as an employee besides being a farmer; after his service, Milad resumed working with his brother in their father's land of almond and olive trees but the two brothers faced many challenges that stood in their way, especially since they both were soldiers for a long time.
However, the main challenge was not being able to make use of their father's tractor due to its old tires and they had to pay high costs each time they needed to low or water their trees.
Today, Milad is responsible for a family and he is the only provider for his wife Pascal, and their one-year-old boy Ibrahim.
Helping him to replace the old tires and use the tractor will revive their only source of livelihood and allow Milad and his brother to guarantee a better livelihood for their families.
Skills and experience: Wael works in farming from a young age.
Wael from Maskanah village is a married man and a father of four girls; he lives with his family in addition to his parents and brother, and they all work together in their land, which is planted with grapevines and peach trees.
The family of nine lives on the bounties of this land that's considered the main source of income besides working in other fields to guarantee a decent life during the difficult economic situation of the country. Wael is a...
Skills and experience: Wael works in farming from a young age.
Wael from Maskanah village is a married man and a father of four girls; he lives with his family in addition to his parents and brother, and they all work together in their land, which is planted with grapevines and peach trees.
The family of nine lives on the bounties of this land that's considered the main source of income besides working in other fields to guarantee a decent life during the difficult economic situation of the country. Wael is a blacksmith, his wife and brother are both employees and the three of them support each other to cover the growing needs of their big family.
Wael wanted to improve the production of the land and ensure a better income, especially since the land is equipped with enough water supply and only lacked agricultural equipment that would save them the increasing plowing costs, that’s why the enthusiastic farmer chose the mini-cultivator, which is very essential for such a project.
Skills and experience: more than 10 years of experience
Nayef used to work in the field of construction but as he got older, he became unable to continue in this tiring profession and decided to focus on the agricultural activity as he has land that he planted with grapevines.
He is a married man and a father of two sons, now the land is the family's main source of livelihood. Nayef started preparing the land to ensure a good crop; he built iron stands for the vines to grow on,...
Skills and experience: more than 10 years of experience
Nayef used to work in the field of construction but as he got older, he became unable to continue in this tiring profession and decided to focus on the agricultural activity as he has land that he planted with grapevines.
He is a married man and a father of two sons, now the land is the family's main source of livelihood. Nayef started preparing the land to ensure a good crop; he built iron stands for the vines to grow on, and the new project needed many equipment and requirements to have a strong beginning.
There is a source of water in the land, but Nayef couldn't benefit from it because he couldn't afford the high cost of buying and installing a drip irrigation system, especially since he established his project from scratch which took a lot of time, effort, and money.
Helping this hardworking farmer to guarantee the suitable watering for the grapes will bring life to his land and save his only source of providing a dignified life for his lovely family.
Like all the families in Maskanah village, Samir and his brother work in their father's land.
Samir is a married man and a father of two children; he works as an employee in a veterinary medicines factory, besides farming and he is the sole breadwinner.
The family's land is planted with grapevines in addition to olive and almond trees, but it requires plowing many times a year and the costs of this process became a real financial burden on the two brothers'...
Like all the families in Maskanah village, Samir and his brother work in their father's land.
Samir is a married man and a father of two children; he works as an employee in a veterinary medicines factory, besides farming and he is the sole breadwinner.
The family's land is planted with grapevines in addition to olive and almond trees, but it requires plowing many times a year and the costs of this process became a real financial burden on the two brothers' shoulders, especially since Samir has special health conditions within his small family that financially drained his savings; he suffers from heart problems and his wife has asthma.
Supporting them with a mini-cultivator will make a positive change in their income and allow them to get a higher quality production.
Skills and experience: more than 10 years of experience
Shamso used to work in Lebanon as a wall painter, but due to the lack of opportunities there, then the unfortunate death of his father, he went back home to take care of the family's land of grapevines and olive trees.
He is a married man and a father of three sons, he lives with his family and his mother where he is the sole provider. Shamso's story is all about striving and hard work; in 2017, he sold a part...
Skills and experience: more than 10 years of experience
Shamso used to work in Lebanon as a wall painter, but due to the lack of opportunities there, then the unfortunate death of his father, he went back home to take care of the family's land of grapevines and olive trees.
He is a married man and a father of three sons, he lives with his family and his mother where he is the sole provider. Shamso's story is all about striving and hard work; in 2017, he sold a part of the land in order to continue planting it with grapevines.
A year later, the farmer prepared the land with a water pond and bought a tanker to ensure a sustainable source of water, and he also sold another part of the land to equip it with an irrigation system. All that consumed a lot of effort from him not to forget the high expenses, which increased his financial burdens.
Shamso needs a mini-cultivator to plow his land and save the expensive costs of this process which will help him improve the production and income, hoping to compensate for his previous losses.
Skills and experience: George comes from a family of farmers and farming is their only source of livelihood.
George is a farmer who has always aspired to improve the production of his grapevine land and worked very hard to achieve that goal. He is the sole provider for his wife and their two baby girls and the small family lives in their home village Maskanah.
George worked in his father's land since he was young, which is equipped with a good water supply through a well and a drip irrigation system that waters all the vines across the land.
Skills and experience: George comes from a family of farmers and farming is their only source of livelihood.
George is a farmer who has always aspired to improve the production of his grapevine land and worked very hard to achieve that goal. He is the sole provider for his wife and their two baby girls and the small family lives in their home village Maskanah.
George worked in his father's land since he was young, which is equipped with a good water supply through a well and a drip irrigation system that waters all the vines across the land.
However, ensuring good watering wasn't enough to have good crops, because the soil needed plowing, and renting an agricultural vehicle for this purpose took a huge share of this farmer's income and affected his ability to buy other important requirements like compost.
Helping George to buy a mini-cultivator will save him the high costs that he is forced pay every season and enables him to plow his land on his own.