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.


679

Aleppo

650

Homs

266

Damascus

Espresso Machine


Yossef is a single man who is now 42 years old. He lives with his father and his two brothers who are not married in the family house. He has a small espresso machine which is not enough to serve 2 people at the same time so he wants a bigger one which will make him able to earn extra amount of money. He is also renting a window in a small shop that costs him 25000 a month. “ I find it too hard to provide the daily needs for my family and pay the rent, but by having a bigger espresso machine all my problems will be solved”.

A Shop for Electrical Devices


My name is Samir Jerji, 52 years old and married to Reema Hatem, we have two children, Joelle and Aziz. I was a millionaire in the past, before the war I lived for twenty years in Dubai with my wife, then we decided to come back to Aleppo, and start an investment project in partnership with my brothers, which is a big facility that includes a restaurant and a swimming pool under the name of “the Golden River”, located in the...


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Sewing Machines


Mousa is a married man who has a two years old son. He is living now with his wife and son in his wife’s parents’ house. Before they used to live with his family but during the crisis in Syria a missile fell on the roof of their house, so they had to move out of it. He had a workshop in Bustan Al-Basha, but when the free army entered it, he had to get out of there and leave...


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Car Repairing


Hanna is married and he has two daughters (one is 2 years old and the other is 6 months). “I was serving in the army when I got injured; the bomb’s fractions hit all over my body which caused many disabilities. My main job is a taxi driver, I am the family’s sole provider but after the injury it got harder to work on this car; firstly because it is very old and it needs repairing, and secondly because it also needs some modifications to become suitable for my condition.” Now they are living in the wife’s parents house and the church is helping them with a small monthly payment. This initiative will help this family to get back on its feet.

Children's Wear Shop


Jamil is a single man who is living with his sister and his nephews in their parents’ house. His brother and his brother’s wife were separated and each one of them traveled to a county and they left their children here, so Jamil had to look after them. Jamil has a clothes shop and during the war he couldn't afford enough goods for his shop because of the economic rescission, so he decided to work in a workshop, but it was too hard for him, so he wants to return to his shop but he needs support to buy requirements for it. This project will help him in aiding his nephews and will guarantee the continuity of his own shop.

Accounting and Programming Programs


George and his wife have a son. He has a shop which used to offer computer services before the crisis. During the crisis, he started selling kids’ toys but he does not have many products. He hopes to go back to programming and providing computer services because he believes that such services would be required. However, he lacks the required equipment and he needs funding in order to obtain them. During the war, the shop’s income was not sufficient for the...


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Secondhand Clothes Shop


Riad saab is a father of two sons who are baccalaureat students. His wife is a teacher in Bni Taghleb school and he is working now in al Jalla restaurant as a prime chef. He has a shop in Al Midan he used to work in that shop in the field of fast food but because of the crisis he cannot open in the same region again. So, he started thinking about a new project which is a shop for the second handed clothes. He made some studies and he found that it will be a successful project. His shop was damaged during the crisis when the missiles started falling on Al Midan region. They moved to Kafroon for a short period of time during the water problems in Aleppo. This project will give him the chance of having a better income in the future.

Carpentry Tools


Bitros Orfahli is a married man who has a son in the eleventh grade and a daughter in the sixth grade. His wife is unemployed and he is the only provider for his family. He is a carpenter. He had a workshop in Al-Arkoub which was destroyed completely. When he was very young he used to work for someone who had a workshop in Sulaymaniyah, but later he traveled and closed his workshop. Bitros did not want to stop working so he...


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Silver Workshop


Elias is a married man who has two children and he is the only provider for his family, they live in a rented house. Before the crisis in Syria, he had a workshop that he worked in making silver ornaments in Shekh-Maksoud and it was going great, but when the crisis started, he lost his workshop and all the equipment that he had. Later, he bought some new equipment and started working again in a basement that belongs to one of his...


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Manufacturing Rubber Molds


George is a single man, living in his parents’ house with his brother, they both work to provide themselves with daily livelihood needs. He has been working in manufacturing rubber molds for more than 15 years and he has a great experience in this field. His recent employer is exploiting him by making him work too hard, and giving him a low salary (not more than $100 a month), so he wants to quit this work. George wants to start his own project in the same field that he has been working in for a long time, aspiring to become an independent person.

Printing Center


Joseph is a single, young man, living with his family and he is the sole provider for them. He used to work for Caritas as an IT, but later he stopped working there and started working with his friend in a printing shop. It was fine at first, later he started feeling that he is working very hard, but not getting enough in return, so he decided to start his own project that will provide a good income. He has a great experience in this field as he has been working in it for more than 4 years, but he does not have enough money to start with his own project. This project is more than a dream for him, it is his passion. It will give him the chance of a new beginning, doing what he loves for a living, and also to become a good provider and secure a future for his family.

Sewing Workshop


A single woman who lives with her sister’s family, her father has schizophrenia, that’s why she can’t live with him at the same house. the rest of her family migrated to Germany during the war, so she basically has no one to rely on. She studied design because it has been her passion, she used to work in accessories, shoes and sometimes clothes. The project will be an important chance, she will be able to become self-dependent and start her own business.

Olive Land


Bassam, a farmer from Qattinah village, faced adversity when his irrigation equipment was stolen in 2014 amidst the chaos of war. Living with his wife Nada and their three children, Bassam, a government employee, sought additional income from the family's shared land, a lifeline for five households.

The land, cultivated with olives, grapes, and vegetables, relied on a crucial water well and pond for irrigation. The theft of his equipment jeopardized not only his family's livelihood but also that of his...


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Taxi


Shadi dutifully served his mandatory military service from 2012 to 2021, a period that took away nine precious years of his life. But the scars ran deeper than time. In 2013, during his service, he fell victim to an armed group's kidnapping, causing a terrifying year of captivity. To secure his release, his family borrowed money, a debt they were still repaying today. The day he was freed from captivity felt like a rebirth, and his heart was full with...


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Mobile Phones Maintenance


Rami, a single man, who lives with his mother, brother, sister-in-law, and their children; Rami and his brother strive to support the entire family.

Since 2017, he has been running a mobile phone shop, but a near bomb incident shattered its front glass. Unable to afford a replacement, he covered it with a nylon sheet. 

Previously working in maintenance for two years, Rami faced setbacks when his equipment broke, preventing him from accepting job offers. Economic hardships encouraged him to attempt a...


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Souvenirs and Printing Shop


Akram, a resilient young man, found himself displaced from his home in Bab Al-Sebaa due to the brutal war. Alongside his parents, they navigated through several neighborhoods in Homs before finally settling in Al-Hamidia, renting a new home. In 2019, Akram ventured into the world of printing, advertising, and promotion, learning essential skills from YouTube and honing them through practical experience.

By 2022, he relocated his project to a vibrant neighborhood near the university, expanding its services to include college requirements,...


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Rehabilitation of Almond Land


Simon faced numerous challenges as a farmer in Al-Maamoura village. As the sole provider for his wife, two children, and elderly parents living with them, he struggled to make ends meet. His almond and olive land needed rehabilitation, but he lacked the necessary financial ability to prepare the soil and plant new seedlings. Determined to improve his family's circumstances, Simon took on additional jobs as an employee and worked at a food shop in the evenings to generate extra income.

Realizing...


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Olive and Vegetables Land


Wael, a devoted husband and son, lives in Qattinah village with his wife, elderly father, and brother with down syndrome. 

He works tirelessly as a farmer and also runs a mini-market where his wife assists him. Their livelihood depends on the olive and vegetable crops from their land, but poor electricity hampers their irrigation efforts. 

To overcome this obstacle, Wael applied for the Micro Projects Program and received a mini-cultivator, which has significantly reduced costs and improved production, in addition to an electric generator so that his water pump operates efficiently ensuring better watering for his crops, bringing prosperity to his beloved family.

Wheat Seeds & Water Pump


In Al-Dwair village, a family of four lived together happily and didn’t know the meaning of loss until the cruel war began. The parents and their two sons lived on the bounties of their farmland and everything was going well. 

Today, George, the youngest son became his mother's only family after their life was turned upside down; his older brother Elias was kidnapped and since that day, unfortunately, no one heard from him! Their house was destroyed and they were displaced...


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Mini Pickup Truck


Mttanos and Ranim, who got married in 2015, built their life together in Fairouza village. With two children, they settled in a rented house, far from the harrowing memories of Al-Qusayr, Mttanos' hometown, which had witnessed the horrors of war.

In 2011, he was called upon for nine years of mandatory military service, leaving his parents behind in Al-Qusayr. Their family's livelihood depended on their land, and their house was severely affected by the war.

When he was discharged in 2020, he...


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Motorcycle Repairing Workshop


Living in Fairouza village with his wife Rita and their son Mikhail, Ibrahim has always been the provider for his family. However, his life took many turns before he found his passion in motorcycle repairing. 

After trying his skills in various professions, from restaurants to construction, his health issues forced him to seek a change. In 2012, he ventured to Lebanon in search of better opportunities, only to return in 2016 due to life's challenges there. It was then that he...


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Mini-Market


In 2008, Thanaa's world was shattered when her beloved husband surrendered to cancer after a two-year battle. Yet, this was only the beginning of her struggle. When the war started in her hometown of Homs, her family faced great suffering. Their home in Bustan Al-Diwan neighborhood was not only stolen but also burned. The heartache intensified as her son was martyred, and it took two and a half months for his body to be returned to the family. All this...


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Chicken Shop


Louay's life took an unexpected turn when a work-related injury ended his 20-year career in floor grinding and polishing. In 2020, he had to sell his equipment and started a small shop, selling frozen chicken, olives, pickles, and barbecue essentials. This was his new source of livelihood for his wife, three children, and his mother.

But adversity struck again when his shop's freezer broke down a year ago, and financial constraints prevented him from purchasing a new one. The electricity shortages...


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Maintenance of Agricultural Machinery


Bishara, the sole provider for his wife and three children in Fairouza village, faced daunting challenges when he moved from Al-Aalyat. He sold a part of his land in 2022 to start a new life in Fairouza, but encountered a severe water crisis due to post-war conditions in Homs and its villages. The water grid deteriorated, and strict rationing was applied, forcing families to purchase water for daily needs.

Despite his job as a government employee, Bishara's income fell short of...


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Kindergarten


Raising children and taking care of them has always been Ruba’s passion and to fulfill this passion she studied at the faculty of education and then enrolled in several educational courses to help her specialize more in this field and started working as a teacher in Yabrud area in the countryside of Damascus. However, after the start of the war in Syria, the area of Yabrud became under threat, forcing Ruba and her family to move to the city of...


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Taxi


Ayham Almhanna is from Daraa governorate in south Syria, he used to live there with his parents and siblings and was raised to be a self-dependent and hardworking man who started supporting himself and his family from a young age.

Like many of his age, Ayham had to serve in the military service for more than nine years during the Syrian crisis where he had to encounter several dangers in Aleppo and Damascus in addition to experiencing great fear when his...


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Mini-Van


Success isn’t always about greatness, most of the time, it is about strong will and hard work.

Like the case of Fares Al-Sbeih who is 29, single, and lives with his family at his uncle’s house in Damascus.

Fares was one of many who became adults during a critical time in Syria, a time of war, destruction, and fear but he didn’t accept to let despair sneak into his heart.

On the contrary, he started working at a young age to handle his...


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Taxi


For most of his life, Simon had to count on himself to encounter the great responsibilities he was holding as his parents’ health was unwell and he was the breadwinner of the house and the supporter for his four sisters.

As a result, he traveled to Libya at a young age and worked as a goldsmith for about four years, then he had to return to Syria because his father had to undergo Heart surgery and he had to look after...


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Sewing Workshop


“It's really unfortunate when you have everything you dream about to wake up the next day and find it's all gone.

We were living in Alzabadani town in prosperity as we owned land planted with walnut trees, a villa with a swimming pool, a carpentry workshop, and a wood warehouse.

My husband was a carpenter and our financial situation was very good, but all of that disappeared overnight and we found ourselves fleeing under bombing and sniping, with only our clothes on,...


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Pick-up Car


"I feel like I am living as an extra number in this cruel world", it was with great sadness and despair that Hassan said these words.

He is a 31-year-old single man who lives with his mother and brother in an old house in Jaramana. Hassan worked any available job to afford the daily food for his family as his father had passed away leaving him to be responsible for his mother and younger brother.

During the first years of the war,...


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Makeup Kit


Caroline Akkawi is a self-made girl who chose to rely on herself rather than being dependent on others. She is 27 and lives with her parents and her brother Antoun at their grandfather’s house in the Al-Dwalaa neighborhood while her second brother, Basil, is still at the military service in Qatana area, Damascus countryside.

Since her childhood, the financial situation of her family was critical, but she never complained and always thanked God for the blessings in her life, especially since...


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Rock Carving


Ibrahim could never have imagined the way his life turned out. From being a rock carver for four years, he transitioned into a soldier after he received the call to go into military service for five years.

Serving in the army had been a particularly challenging period of his life, but he had persevered through it.

During his service, he received the sad news that the war had hit their town of Maalola, his family had to move to Damascus till the...


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Taxi


War calamities were tough on everyone, especially those who are still suffering from its impact till now like the case of Mikhael Kousa who was exposed to a shell explosion during his service in Jobar, his entire body was penetrated by the shell’s shrapnel which put him in critical condition as he had to undergo several medical surgeries to survive, but he didn't recover completely which prevented him from living normally or working.

However, when Mikhael was discharged from the service,...


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Pickup Car


Bassem Al-Mousa is 31 unmarried young man who used to live with his family in their small village. His father was blind and unable to work due to his condition, while his two siblings suffered from Joint Erosion and needed a lot of treatment, which forced Bassem at a young age to start working. At first, he worked at a prosthodontic laboratory then began working as a farmer cultivating the land and selling the crops trying to support his family...


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Taxi


For a thalassemia patient, Najeeb was full of energy and determination to live like any normal person.

He is 30 years old and lives in an old house in Al-Tabala neighborhood. After he graduated from the agricultural institute in 2013, he volunteered at the SSSD association as a part-time job, then in 2016, he volunteered with the Al-Safina Association for People with Special Needs at the paper recycling center, he also worked as a painting worker at the weekends trying his...


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Mini-Van


George Bershan was one of the people who lost a lot during the war in Syria; not only his home and his job, but he also lost members of his family, which left him broken-hearted and sad.

George is 31, he used to live in a small village in the countryside of Aleppo and worked as an assistant bus driver on the international road. After the start of the war, their village was besieged by armed groups who started to spread...


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