Marwan’s career path was determined since his early youth, when he applied with his friends for a public driving license test in Hama, that was in 1975 and since then he’s been a driver; first a bus driver for five years in his hometown Msyaf, later a taxi driver with his brother after moving to Aleppo in 1980. 3 years later, the brothers parted after Marwan’s brother decided to immigrate. Marwan and his wife Nourie Wassouf have 3 children, 2 sons; Simon and Jerjos and a daughter named Mirna. The Family’s quiet life got disturbed by the dreadful war, but the most devastating incident of their life was the loss of their son Jerjos... Jerjos was called for recruitment in the Syrian army in Al-Qunaitra city, on the southern borders, but after only three months they lost connection with him. His news was cut-off completely and till this day they don’t know their son’s fate. Overloaded with the pain of his son’s loss, Marwan spends his days working on a rented taxi hoping to earn enough money to pay the rent of the car and to keep some for the livelihood, which is not enough. No one could compensate Marwan and his family for the loss of their son, but financially speaking, some help would make a big difference to their life, the church helps a little with financial aid and food baskets, but Marwan is in bigger need of another type of help which is to have a stable job and good income, that’s why he wishes to have his own taxi to work on and be independent in his work hours.

Zouhair Ahmar is a self-made, hardworking father of two Antoine (21 years-old) and Naya (14 years-old). Along with his wife Caroline, they took care of their kids and put together a beautiful home over the years, He used to work as a driver in a well-known cab service company called “Taxi Baghdad”, this job provided a decent living for the family of four. But with the beginning of war, the company closed and he was suddenly jobless. in those hard years of war, he didn’t give up, he worked for a while on a pickup truck specialized to deliver water to houses when the water supplies were cut off of Aleppo city. Then based on his expertise in cars and car mechanics, he worked in repairing generators’ electricity since they have the similar operating systems as car motors, for the last four years he has been working as a driver for the Maronite Archdiocese. Although they survived the war with minimal losses, but the fear and psychological suffering were no less painful, the family’s house is located in a dangerous zone of Telefon-Hawaee area, where bombs were falling all around them. Being unemployed for a long time, had a huge impact on the family both financially and psychologically, specially on Zuhair’s wife Caroline. Today he hopes to be able to practice his job as a taxi driver like the good old days, taking advantage of the many acquaintances he has, that would give him the capability to pay his bills and provide for his family’s every need.

Hanna Saoud has the determination and the will power to pursue a better life after all the losses he’s been through. the 44 years-old man was unfortunately divorced, he lives now with his mother in a relative’s house after they lost their family house because of fraud and were crushed under the burden of rentals, all they were left with was his father’s retirement salary, and the income from his own job in wall paint. But because of the war his job wasn’t going well due to the lack of stability in the city overall. For a while, the church was helping them financially, especially that Hanna’s mother was sick and had to do an open-heart surgery, their expenses were magnified dramatically, the church also helps in securing the permanent medication the mother needs. Hanna needs to take action and reclaim control over his life, by upgrading his income, and in order to do that he applied for a mini truck to work on, hoping that in the future he could have his own house and live independently with his family.

The taxi he wishes to own isn’t just a car nor a project, it’s more of a way to compensate his losses and reclaim a peaceful life he once had, before the war destroyed it all. George Georgess and his Wife Maha live in their home located in Al-Midan area, they have one married daughter. The couple suffered from the war collateral damages like most Syrians. In 2012, their house was hit by a missile leaving them with a damaged living room and kitchen, not only that, but also his taxi was destroyed to the degree that he had to sell it. To provide a living, he continued to do the job he knows best, but this time with a rented car. George was suffocating from the financial burdens of rehabilitating his home, Although the church helped him with a part of the cost, but George was suffocating from the financial burdens of the reconstruction costs, especially that the 2 thirds of his monthly profit goes to the taxi owner as a rent leaving him with an approximately 110$ a month in total. To increase his income, the only options he currently has is to work longer hours but working for 12 hours a day is very tiring for a man of his age. That’s why he wishes to have his own taxi like the old days, it will make him get rid of the heavy burdens of rent without giving up the only career he had his whole life.

A long time ago, Magi started working in the sales business, she worked with many materials like make up products, cotton wear and clothing in general.

The 52-years-old mother of three, had her life changed drastically because of the ugly war, after it teared the family apart; one of her sons lives in Lebanon, the other is now settled in Netherlands, he left the country after an unfortunate kidnapping accident he went through.

Like all of that wasn’t enough to burden Magi with worries, her husband went missing 6 years ago, and till this day they have no idea what happened to the poor man. Magi lives with her third son Krikor in a rented house in Al-Suleymanieh area after they had to sell their old house when the war started.

Today Magi works from home in selling clothes, she’s been doing this job for many years now and made good acquaintances in the market, and many clients that she works with regularly, she also participated in seasonal galleries for three years in a row. However, there are many obstacles facing Magi, like the increasing costs of the used materials and the bad financial circumstances the community is having. In these hard times, the hardworking woman has to work extra hours, for instance she works as a hair dresser between houses in order to increase her income.

With the help of this program, Magi will be able to stock many items at wholesale price in larger amounts, thus she will increase her profit margins, and thus provide a more decent living for herself in these difficult times. 

Since his teenage years, Hovig Chaprazian entered the mechanical cars maintenance field, and it has been his profession for 25 years. But this road hasn’t been easy, the war with its start cost him his job. The workshop he worked in for many years was closed and he was unemployed for a while, but being the only provider for his parents he had to do something. For a while he worked in a similar field of industrial engine maintenance to provide a living in a time that was very hard on the whole city of Aleppo. Their house was in a dangerous zone of Al-Midan and as much as the neighborhood was targeted with mortar shells that the family had to move out. Hence, in 2014 Hovig with his parents and sister were displaced to a relative’s house in a much safer neighborhood for a while. 

Hovig wasn’t happy about how things ended, he was offered a job in his main profession in Latakia so he went there for 4 months. After coming back from latakia, he made a partnership with an acquaintance for approximately a year, and since things were going good for them both, Hovig felt relieved and was thinking about starting a family specially that his relatives offered him their house to stay in, and indeed he got married in 2016 just after Aleppo situation got a little better. But unfortunately, not all good things last, like his business partnership, Hovig lost the workshop, all that he was left with is some tools and equipment he was able to maintain and keep. Like losing his livelihood income wasn’t bad enough, his relatives that gave him their house to stay in, asked him to evacuate the apartment, Hovig had no choice but to leave.

Today Hovig, with his wife rosy and two-years-old son Mike are all living with Hovig’s parents in the old house, after repairing the damage that occurred because of the war.

Hovig is the only provider for them all, since neither his wife or his old father work. With a little help Hovig will be able to rent a workshop and purchase the tools needed to proceed his work, specially that his acquaintances and clients are all very supportive of him. This way he will be able to provide a decent life for his family. 

My name is Samira Kattaa-aljabal, I am a divorced mother with one girl, her name is Jenny, she is a 20 years old university student. During war, we stayed in Aleppo in our house in Al-Midan area which belongs to my ex-husband. My sister is a single woman who is old and sick. She works in a sewing workshop and her salary is barely enough for the daily expenses, so I always help her. I have been working as a fitness instructor for more than 26 years in a gym located in Al-Forkan. I have excellent experience, and I am well-known in this area. 

I want to rent a hall to start my own project which is to give Zumba and aerobics lessons. I am professional in this field and I know a lot of people who are just waiting for me to open my own place so they can come and benefit from this sport. This project will give me the chance to have the business that I have always dreamt of, and the independence at work which will result in an increase in my income. This will be great as I am the sole provider for my daughter.

The family business that George Aghazarian and his brother lost, was nothing compared to losing their beloved sister and niece…this great loss which changed their lives forever.

George Aghazarian works in car sheet repairing, he had an equipped workshop for car repairing in Handarat (an area few miles away from Aleppo, the family lost their workshop with the start of the war, and before they had the chance to cope with this devastating reality, tragedy stroke again in 2013, this time the news were more wrecking; while his sister and her daughter were going home in AL-Suleymanieh, a shell fell out of nowhere causing immediate death of the mother and daughter on her birthday. 

The grieving family couldn’t imagine how life would continue without their loved ones. they sold everything they had and decided to leave the country. But George and his small family didn’t have the option of leaving, the family found themselves with no house or a job, so they had to start from scratch again. Their church supported them with a house to live in temporarily, and George went back to his work field but this time working in other peoples’ workshops and splitting the majority of his profits with the owner.

George has been through so much suffering, it is time for him to start a new chapter in his life, one that is optimistic and bright, so he can continue his journey of healing. Having his own workshop and equipment will motivate him more and more to restore his life for the upcoming days. 

I am aboud, a 24 years old man, married to Miramar Ewaz who is one year younger than me, God blessed us with one son “Raed” who is only two months old. My story began when I got recruited in the military service in 2013, the war was in its climax, my service location was in khan AL-Asal in the countryside of Aleppo city, there I met a guy who works in fixing mobile phones and I started learning from him during my 3 years of service. 

Later, I was moved to another region called Bani-Zed where I was injured badly during one of the clashes, as a result the right side of my body was fully paralyzed, I couldn’t move and I also lost a part of my skull, I was feeling completely disabled. After my injury, I spent a long time in a wheelchair, my fiancé Miramar stayed by my side during the recovery process, she was the reason that gave me hope to cling to life. We got married, and lived in my aunt’s house, who offered her house to us to live in as she traveled to Germany. The only source of income for me currently is from my job in a mobiles’ maintenance shop, but the salary is low and the work hours are too long. I wish to open my own shop to help me become an independent person and to provide a stable income for my growing family.

My name is Yossef Mobayed a 21 years old single young man. I am currently living with my grandmother in Aleppo. Before the crisis, we used to live all together with my father in Al-Midan area, but in 2010 my father passed away of cancer and we had to move to my grandmother’s house, because we were not able to afford the rent of our house in Al-Midan. We lived in my grandmother’s house for a year and half. When things started getting worse in 2012, we moved to Mashta Al-Hilo, we rented a house there and my mother found a job with caritas and my sister worked in a jewelry shop as an employee, in 2015, I moved to Damascus to study prosthodontic. Luckily, I found a job in a dental laboratory there and I found it a good chance for acquiring an experience. In 2017, when I finished my study in Damascus, I moved back to Mashta Al-Hiloo and I started working in laboratory. It was going well, but I wanted to start my own business, so at the beginning of 2019 I came back to Aleppo with this dream of mine hoping for an opportunity. I have been working in dental laboratories for more than 5 year now, so I have enough experience in managing this kind of work. This project is more than a dream for me, it is my hope to have a future in my study field that I love, and to be an independent person. It will also make my family move back to Aleppo to be all together one more time.

My name is Joseph Mobayed, a 60 years old married man. my wife Laila and I have one son his name is George and he is a photographer. In 1970, I had a workshop for spraying wooden furniture in Al-Midan area, I am very skilled in this craft. Unfortunately, in 2012, when the crisis started in Aleppo this business took a big hit and no one was thinking about these luxuries. Later, I started working in a shop for spraying wooden furniture equipment, I was the one who manages everything in the shop, and the owner just provided me with the needed products that I order. He used to give me 35% of the profits that the shop made. At first, we used to sell a lot of equipment, my salary was almost 800$ every month, but later the situation in Aleppo got worse and my salary dropped to 70$ a month, so I left the job because it was not enough to provide my family with the daily life needs. I have been working with my brother for almost 4 months in his shop of selling cleaning products, it is a profitable job and during these 4 months I learnt how to work in this business. My wife is the administrator of Al-Kalima elderly house, but her salary is very low. I want to open my own shop to sell cleaning products, my brother can help me in the beginning because he has good experience in this field.

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.