It is the best to work in what you love and be good at it.

Ebrahim Hazzouri shares his home with seven other members; his wife Walaa, their four children; two boys and two girls, his mother and his single sister.

Since he was a young boy back in 1997, Ebrahim worked in making handbags, he used to go to work after school hours, before he dropped out in the sixth grade and devoted himself to work so he can help his family especially that his father passed away and left five children without any income, which has put big pressure on the livelihood situation.

The family originally lived in Hanano area, when the war started this area was left without any water or electricity, they left to Tartous but he couldn’t find any job there so they moved again to Damascus and settled for five years, the rent was very high and it was dangerous because of the mortar bombs. One day in 2016, a shell fell and injured Walaa and the children; eventually they were okay but they still have some scars from that horrifying day. 

Ebrahim moved back to Aleppo with his family, they found their house ruined from the inside and everything was broken. They all live now in Maysaloon area, Ebrahim’s brother was recruited in the military service so he became the only provider for the family.

Ebrahim currently works in a workshop, he makes handbags from synthetic leather, he wants to get machinery so he can have a bigger percentage from the profit and the income will improve gradually. It is the profession that he is skilled in and he wishes to continue with the support of this initiative that will help him progress and get his life together again.

Since 2005, the 63-years-old Huda Tallise has been working in tailoring. First, she had started to work for someone, but with the start of war her employer immigrated like many Syrians, she found herself looking for a job just to be able to survive.

She managed to find work in a clothes manufacturing workshop, and despite the low salary, the long hours of work, and even being tiresome for her age she had to take it, because otherwise there will be no source of income for her and for her brother Andre who is completely dependent on her.

Huda and Andre live together in their family house in Jabriyeh area, their neighborhood suffered a lot during the seven years of armed conflict in Aleppo, many mortar shells had fallen in their street, luckily Huda and her brother were unharmed by them, but their house was affected with some damages from the near explosions. 

Huda is overwhelmed by the burdens of life, and the mounting life costs of daily living, she is the only provider, and she’s getting older by each day. Hence her job in workshops is not suitable for her age anymore. With the grant she wants to purchase a stitching and sewing machine, to work from home. Her long years in the business has helped her gain a lot of acquaintances and great experience that she is willing to utilize in this new chapter of her career. 

Ezz Aldin is the father of three children, living happily in Salah Aldin area in Aleppo city until the war happened.

Since he was young, Ezz Aldin worked with his uncles in repairing and maintenance of photocopy machines, he learned and became skillful in this business.

During the war in 2016, the armed groups entered the area of their residence, fearing for his pregnant wife at the time and their two children, he left everything and moved out. After a year and a half of living with their parents, they came back to find an empty house, robbed from everything, but still he considers himself lucky that his house is standing still without structural damage. 

Ezz Aldin took his family back to their house after refurnishing it as much as possible in these difficult economic circumstances.  

His business also took a hard hit because of the bans on importing during the war, Ezz Aldin and his uncle couldn’t import new machinery or the parts necessary to presume their business, at least not without paying high shipping costs. Being the sole provider for his now family of five makes him feel frustrated and overwhelmed with the whole situation.

All that Ezz Aldin needs today to restart his business in the same field, is a little support to purchase the machines and equipment that could allow him to improve his life.

My name is George Shakar, my wife is Mishleen Haskour, we have 4 children; Larissa with 18 years old and Pamela with 15 years old, the third is a girl her name is Jennifer and she is 10 years old and a boy his name is Tony. I have worked in my father’s shop for children’s wear in Telal area in Aleppo since I was a child, but unfortunately in 2012, we were forced to close our shop because the situation there was very dangerous, our house also was damaged by an explosion and a missile in 2015. My passion in life is playing basketball, I coached for many clubs in Aleppo during my career for example (Yarmouk, Al-Jalaa...) I had the opportunity to be a coach for the Syrian National Team, but the real problem is that the salary of being a coach here in Syria is very low and not nearly enough for a family to live by. I love being a coach but it doesn’t provide a good income, and also I am getting older, so I decided to reopen my father shop and work in the same field (children’s wear) but I can’t afford to buy the goods because a new startup needs a lot of money especially that our city is going through an economic crisis. I applied for reopening the shop, and purchasing the clothes to fill it up and start working again. I will never quit from coaching, but I need to think about my 4 children and providing them with a good income.

My name is Skandar Homsi, I am married to Carolina Akawi and we have a 26 years old boy named Moheeb. I used to work in a car furnishing workshop since 1986 in Al Midan area in Aleppo city, which is known to be one of the most important areas for the industrial business. During the war the workshop was damaged heavily by a mortar bomb, and we had to close it for the rest of the war years. In that period, I was moving between jobs trying to find something suitable for me, none of them were in the field of my original work, my son works as an employee in a spare parts shop but the income is not nearly enough for the whole family. I applied at the Hope Center hoping to get back to my main business and reopen the workshop with the needed equipment, it is the job that I know best and the way to achieve stability in my life.

My name is Saeed, I am 26 years old and I live with my mother Antwanette, who is 56 years old. My mother is unemployed, and after the passing of my father 3 years ago, I became the sole provider. I work in design, first on the computer and later, printing these designs on clothes. I am working for someone in this business but my salary is low and that makes it hard for me to provide a good life. I have been working in this field for more than 10 years now, and I have very good experience in it, I also have my own customers who can give me a lot of work to do. I am a young man trying to build my future, what I need to establish a great business is the rent of the workshop, a computer to work on, and the printer that I use to print on clothes. This project will make me think about the idea of starting a family by being an independent man who can provide a decent life for my mother and my future family.

My name is Nour Nassour, I am a mother of 2 children; Laith and Julee. Laith is 11 and Julee is 10, both are school students. We live together in my parents’ house with my brother, sister, father and mother because I am divorced from their father. My mother Nelly doesn’t work, she is 54 years old. My father Antwan is 59 years old; he works in a small shop for sandwiches and I work with him and help as much as I can. My brother George is 38 years old; he works in tailoring. My sister Maria has a condition in her legs and a mental disability, which prevents her from moving by herself and she needs a constant care. my brother helps with the income of the house, but our income is mainly from the shop that I work in with my father, but he is too old now to manage everything on his own. We have been renting this shop for 3 years now in Sulaymaniah, but the owner of the shop always asks for extra payment on the rent cost which makes us unable to improve our situation, we barely manage to get an income that covers the basic needs of our daily life. The area of our shop is very populated, and we became well known, as we have been here for almost 3 years. A lot of customers ask for fried potatoes, but we are unable to buy one as it is expensive, and we barely afford the expenses of each month. Having a frying machine will get us more customers, and as a result our income will increase and hopefully be sufficient for our family and will give me the ability to provide my children with their needs and pay for the registration of their school so they can continue their studying.

My name is Tamer Stephan, I am 35 years old, married to Jemma Haboub. We have two beautiful children; Naya, she is 7 years old, and Edmon, he is 6 years old. I have worked as a barber in Sulaymanie area, in Aleppo since 2005. During my work between 2005 and 2017, I faced many difficulties because this work was not stable, and when the war started in 2012 the situation was so bad because the city was economically paralyzed and a lot of people left the city to save their life. after all I decided to quit this job and in 2017, I started working in Jesuits Refugee Service “kitchen project”, but unfortunately it did not last for long because the project ended just one year later. I’m currently working as a carpenter in Sulaymania as an employee in a workshop, to cover my family needs; carpentry is not my main job but I am working in it just to provide for my family after losing my last job. I applied for a taxi, I chose this because it will increase my income, and because I don’t have enough experience to continue in the carpentry field, my hope from this project is to secure a better life for my family.

My name is Johnny Cozma, I am a 30 years old man and married to Nour Dayekh. We have two little children, a girl and she is 5 years old, and a boy who is just 1 year old. We live with my mother in a rented house in Sulaymanieh area in Aleppo, she is 60 years old with a lot of health issues (diabetes, gland disease, heart problems), as a result, she needs a lot of medicines. In 2000, I worked in the goldsmithing field for 15 years. Unfortunately, I had to quit this job in 2015 because of the war situation, the economic situation was at its lowest and the demand of this craft was almost nonexistent. With the savings from my last work I bought a taxi in 2010, I worked on the cab until I decided to sell it in 2014, to cover the financial gap that resulted from the low income and the high livelihood costs, In addition to the difficulties of obtaining the fuel, after that I worked in a sewing workshop for two years but the income was even smaller and I didn’t have any experience in that field. I heard about the micro projects in Hope Center, so I applied for a taxi, this is a good opportunity for me to reach the stability in my income, specially that I have the experience that I need.

My name is George Merjaneh, I am 55 years old, I am married to Gizel Armenak, we have one daughter Georgette who is 26 years old and two sons; Joseph, who is 28 years old, he currently lives in Lebanon, and Jad is 11 years old and still at school ,we live in our family house and my mother Georgette also lives with us, she needs constant care because her Hip was fractured and she has many health issues. Before the war, I used to work as a reporter for DHL, then I was promoted to a supervisor, I worked there from 1992-2010, but my contract ended, with the funds I got I bought a car for myself. After that, I worked on a taxi from 2010-2014 but when the owner sold the car I was left again without a job. In 2015, I rented a shop that I worked in for a year in selling vegetables, but then the owners came back from their travel and wanted to take back the shop. I opened a sweets shop near my house and my wife was helping me, but she couldn’t balance between the housework and the shop. when I did a Herniated disk operation , I stayed 4 months lying in bed so the shop was closed and I lost most of my customers. In 2016, I had to sell my car to get some money because the economic situation was very bad. Now I am working in the shop, but the business is very low, and my wife is working from home in making sweets, we try our best to provide a decent life for our son. My wish is to have a taxi of my own, especially that I have a good experience in this field of work, and at least it will provide my family with a stable income.

My name is George Bashir Wahbe , I am 44 years old, married to Lina Makhoul, we have two beautiful sons; Bashir is 16 years old and Elia is 13 years old, they are still studying in school. I work as a football coach since 1995 in Riaayet Al-shabab stadium, we train young men and then choose from them to join the Syrian National Team, my wife is a City Council Officer. When we first married, we lived with my aunt in Al-Midan but when her children grew up, they needed more space in the house, so we rented a house in Al-Sulaymaniah but when the rents prices went up, I started searching for another house that would be more suitable, thanks to Caritas that helped us several times with paying the rent of our house. Throughout the war, and in order to obtain the difficult living situation requirements, I worked with SSSD (Syrian Society for Social Development) after my morning job and the salary was per hour, but no matter how much I have increased the number of hours, the income was still too low so I left my job there at almost the start of the year. In April, I started working on a taxi, but the owner asked for a high percentage, in addition to the operation we had to do for my wife when her hip was broken, now I am looking forward to having my own taxi to work on with my coaching because it is my passion and I won’t leave it because it will give me a good income if the profit was all mine and thus, our life as a family will improve for the better.

My name is Rana Awad, I am a 44 years old widow and a mother of four children; Georgette 22 years, Jessica 18, Nour 13 and my youngest, George 11. I have been working in sewing since I was a young girl, it started as a hobby I shared with my sisters, then I started working at home when I was still living with my parents. After we got married, we lived in a rented house in Sheikh Maksoud, but when the war started and the area became unsafe to live in anymore, we had to leave everything and move out, my husband had a heart attack shortly after this incident, leaving me as the sole responsible of our children. I used to make clothes for my relatives and neighbors since 1995, now I am working in a tailoring workshop to obtain an income for my family being the only provider, but the work hours are too long and I can’t spend this much time away from home and from the children who need me. I wish to have a sewing machine that I can use to work at home, this way I can make some income and at the same time stay beside my children.

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.