“I chose this kind of projects because I have a good experience in this domain and I worked in marketing for more than five years, also there isn't any sportswear stores in my area, but there are lots of young people who like to wear this style, I believe that this project would be very successful. Before the crisis, my siblings and I owned a sweets factory, Unfortunately, during the war, the factory was destroyed completely. However, we are still paying its installments for the bank. Right now, I am a teacher in a public school, my wife is an employee in an office, we are taking aids from MGO, as a family we have limited income. We didn't leave Aleppo, although we were displaced from our home in Midan area because it was dangerous; we moved with our relatives in Slemanyeh, I am the only provider for my mother. After the training courses that I took in the center of Marists, I gained a good knowledge on how to manage a successful project and now with this grant I can translate my ambition to reality.”

He is a father for two girls their ages are 13 and 10. They live in a rented house in Al midan region which they moved to during the crisis because their area was endangered by the shells. He is now an employee in an Aluminum workshop but there are some problems at work and the salary is low, not enough to provide the needed amount of money for his family. He wants to open his own shop because it is his main job and he has been practicing it for more than 30 years, but he is not self-employed until now. He has been away from this field and without work for almost 4 years because of the economic recession, but he has done some things to provide an income like distributing shampoos. They take aid from the orthodox social service. They were previously helped with the renting of the house by the orthodox social service. He hopes that someone somewhere will help him to achieve the dependency in his life.

I have worked in plumbing since 1992, I also worked as a blacksmith for a while but I got injured. Currently, I live with my wife, my daughter, my father and my mother-in-law and I’m the sole provider for the family. Earlier this year my mother passed away, she had a stroke and she was recovering from it in the village, her medicine was unavailable there so we called the doctor and he described another medicine which later turned on to be unfitted for her condition and led to complications and death. My father got robbed by armed men in Jdaydeh area, he is now unable to work due to cerebral ischemia. My mother in law lost her son as a martyr in the war, she had a house in Al Medan area that got burned and ruined and now she lives with us. She is bereaved and has no inner peace at all. My house was also in Al Medan area, fifth floor, we went through so much fear and stress during the time of war because of mortar shells and missiles that rained over the area, eventually we moved to Mhatet Baghdad and I put the house for rent. At the moment I live in my friend’s house. I suffer from a disc condition, I had a surgery that hasn’t been successful that’s why I need another one. My wrist is also broken and needs a splint; I don’t have the time or the money to have the surgery needed to fix it. During the crisis, my income dropped because my equipment was old and malfunctioning, which caused several losses for me. There are so many services that I can’t offer in my business due to the lack of the suitable equipment, I rented a shop to sell plumbing equipment trying to increase my income but the opposite happened because the rent was very high. Now I live day by day, my income isn’t equivalent with my family’s spending even with the helps I get. With this project I can start to have my life back together and help my family.

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 brothers and their families. Undeterred, he turned to the Micro Projects Program for support.

Through the program, Bassam received a mini-cultivator to alleviate plowing costs and essential irrigation equipment to replace what he had lost. This assistance not only compensated for the setback but also revitalized the family's land, ensuring its productivity.

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 hope for a brighter future.

Shadi had dreams of a career in computers based on his studies at the computer institute, but the nine years of absence made job opportunities almost impossible for him. His hope rekindled when he applied to the Micro Projects Program for a taxi. To him, this was a lifeline, a chance to have a new start.

With his taxi, Shadi embarked on a journey towards independence. He was determined to leave the shadows of the past behind and build a better life for his family.

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 return to maintenance, but the high equipment costs was the challenge.

Upon learning about the Micro Projects Program, he eagerly applied for support. The program provided essential equipment; a solar panel for alternative energy and a laptop for mobile phone programming, alongside the needed glass for his shop. Empowered by this assistance, Rami not only resumed maintenance work but expanded his business. The program alleviated his financial struggles, enabling him to enhance services, boost income, and uplift his family's living standards. 

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, souvenirs, and printing. Despite serving the university students, he faced a significant challenge; the shortage of electricity, crucial for his project. 

He heard about the Micro Projects Program, encouraging him to prepare a feasibility study. Armed with the experience needed to run his project, he applied for assistance, specifically seeking a solar power system, a new paper printer, and additional goods for his shop.

His determination and entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with the support from the Micro Projects Program, enabled Akram to continue providing valuable services in the area, ensuring the thrive of his small business. 

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 that the key to a sustainable future lay in the revival of his land, he decided to apply to the Micro Projects Program. He believed that with support, he could rehabilitate his farm, cultivate it once more, and create a stable livelihood for his family. Hope filled his heart as he envisioned a prosperous future where he could provide for his loved ones without the burden of multiple jobs.

Fortunately, Simon's application to the Micro Projects Program was approved. With the provided help, he begins the laborious process of preparing his land. Digging holes and planting new seedlings become a daily routine as Simon works tirelessly, fueled by his determination and love for his family.

As time passes, the once-desolate land will become a symbol of hope and resilience. his dedication and hard work will pay off, and the farm will start to yield a bountiful harvest.

With the revitalized land, his income will increase significantly. The rehabilitated farm will become their sustainable source of livelihood, allowing Simon to focus on his role as a father and husband. He will finally be able to provide his children with the quality education they deserve and ensure that his elderly parents receive the care they need.

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 until the situation stabilized, they waited in hopes that Elias might return, and in 2020, George's father passed away leaving him and his mother alone, they are taking care of their land, which is planted with wheat, barley, and olive trees. 

When George finished studying at the faculty of law, he began practicing this profession with the help of a lawyer. However, during this period, he won't be able to generate an income and his father's land will be his only way for a living.

He applied to improve production and guarantee a decent income, although life was unfair with this family, George is doing his best to ensure his mother a dignified life, hoping for better days to come. 

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 lacked any professional experience. He found work as a driver at a carton factory in Fairouza, earning just enough to cover their basic needs. However, he looked for a way to secure a brighter future for his family.

Determined to improve their circumstances, he applied to the Micro Projects Program and succeeded in acquiring a mini pick-up truck. This vehicle not only enhanced his job at the carton factory but also paved the way for a promising tomorrow.

With this new opportunity, Mttanos and his family were on the path to stability, ensuring good living for their children. 

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 decided to become a self-taught motorcycle repairman, acquiring his skills through the internet.

With only some old equipment and the help of his son Mikhail, he set up his own workshop. To ensure a stable source of power, he relied on his brother's electric generator during power outages. 

When Ibrahim learned about the Micro Projects Program, he applied for essential equipment and an electric generator to secure his family's only means of livelihood. With the support he received, his small motorcycle repair workshop continued to thrive, providing a steady income and a better livelihood for his family.

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 weighed heavily on Thanaa, who had endured heart surgery and had a fragile heart.

Forced to seek refuge with relatives, she searched for stability in Homs. The local church stepped in to help her and her sons repair their damaged home, allowing them to return. Today, her son Rawad serves his mandatory military service, while her other son, Danny, suffers from a disc condition, as result of his tiring work in floor tiling. His condition barely allows him to work, further straining their financial situation.

Before the war, Thanaa and her husband ran a modest grocery shop, but it was forced to close its doors due to the conflict. Determined to regain her independence, she began preparing homemade food for sale. 

When she saw a poster about the Micro Projects Program, it rekindled a glimmer of hope in her heart. With unwavering determination, she gathered the necessary documents and a project study, and she swiftly applied.

Thanaa's vision is to open a mini-market, taking into account her age and her son's health. With this small shop, she hopes to create a sustainable income source for their family. This project not only promises financial independence but also the opportunity to have a dignified life.

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 left him without any alternative, as he couldn't afford an electric generator.

His hopes were rekindled when he learned about the Micro Projects Program. He saw it as an opportunity to revive his small business. He applied for assistance, requesting a new freezer, a solar power system, and a meat dicing machine to enhance his project.

With the support of the program, his shop was back in business, offering frozen goods, and fresh cuts of meat, with a reliable power source. He could once again provide for his family and continue to serve his community with the products they relied on. Louay's determination and the Micro Projects Program gave him a second chance to secure a better living for his loved ones. 

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 his family's growing demands. He saw an opportunity to use his tractor and water tanker to sell water to his community during these tough times. There was one major obstacle; the worn-out tires of his tractor made it dangerous to operate, and replacing them was unaffordable.

He turned to the Micro Projects program, seeking assistance to purchase new tires and restore his vehicle. This simple yet vital support would enable him to provide for his family and offer help to others in need. 

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 Damascus where she also took a job as a teacher and volunteered in her spare time to teach children with the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, trying to provide the benefit to everyone who needed it.

Deep inside, Ruba was always dreaming of having her own children's care center so she could have a space of innovation, and the ability to improve her financial condition, so she managed to get some help from her father to start her project but the amount she got was only enough for the kindergarten rent and some assets which made her unable to receive many kids and provide them with proper services.

With the help of Hope Center, Ruba was supported with all the tools that will improve the situation of her kindergarten and provide the kids with comfort and a useful environment, in addition to supporting Ruba to have the project that she always dreamt of.

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 brother Nour was kidnapped by the armed groups in Daraa and the family had to pay a ransom of money for his release.

However, after Ayham was discharged in 2021, he found out that the security situation in Daraa was critical and it was impossible to work or have a normal life there so he decided to settle in Damascus hoping for better work opportunities, but with no career of experience Ayham couldn’t find any proper job so he rented a taxi and started working long hours daily seeking to afford his living and send the rest to his family in Daraa which wasn’t possible with the high rent he was paying to the taxi owner leaving Ayham with some money that was barely enough for his daily food. 

With the help of Hope Center, Ayham was supported to have his own taxi hoping to provide this young man with the chance to improve his living and support his family in the village.

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 own expenses and help with the house demands then when the security situation started getting worse, he decided to travel to Lebanon where he took two jobs a day trying his best to send money to his family.

In 2022, the economic situation in Lebanon deteriorated badly so Fares returned to Syria, paid the military fees, and started working as a taxi driver in partnership with his cousin which wasn’t enough to have a decent living as he had to pay for the car rent and share half the profits.

As the breadwinner of the family, Fares was looking for better opportunities to improve his condition so when he learned about the Micro Project program in Damascus, he didn’t hesitate to apply for the Mini-van project.

Today, after being supported to purchase the Mini-van, Fares started to transport students to their schools, take passengers to the airport, and put plans to expand his work in the future full of determination to succeed in his aims.

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 him.

Simon worked as a goldsmith until 2011 but after the war began, his profession deteriorated, so he turned to working as a taxi driver working as hard as he could to afford his family’s living.

“I can’t take a day off from work, because the day I don’t work, we don’t eat”

This is what Simon said when he visited the micro project center to apply for the taxi project because during the current economic situation in the country and after becoming a father to a newborn baby, he became unable to pay the high taxi rent and at the same time afford his parents’ expenses. 

Supporting this self-made man to have his own taxi was the best way to preserve his dignity and enable him to earn a better income to handle the increasing costs of life.

“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, looking for a shelter to stay alive.”

That's how Lody Nakad 57, summed up her story with deep sorrow.

she lives with her husband and three children in a rented flat in Jaramana city.

This shift in their life was very hard for all of them but they had great faith in God so her husband started looking for alternative careers to afford the living expenses while Lody started working at a clothes company as a seamstress specialized in sewing kids’ clothes. She was trying her best to support her kids and continue their education, resulting in her son Shehadeh studying the specialty of orthopedics, her daughter Ranim studying neurosurgery, and her other son Fadi in the third year of informatics engineering.

together, they were trying to overcome their losses but the journey was hard and full of obstacles, especially under the current economic situation in the country.

Today, after supporting Lody with the sewing machines and tools to establish her own sewing workshop, she started to feel that she restored part of her missing life as she has her own independent income that will enable her to have a better living condition and secure her family's future.

"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, Hassan was called for military service where he was injured by shrapnel in his left arm from a shell explosion which led at the beginning to a complete disability in the arm, but after many sessions of physical therapy, it recovered to 50% of mobility. 

However, as a result of the injury, Hassan was discharged from service, but when he tried to work, he found himself unable to perform many jobs due to his health condition which also affected his psychological situation as he felt helpless because he was unable to cover his family's daily expenses.  he was on the edge of despair, not knowing what to do with his life when the priest told him about the Micro Project program in Damascus and how it supports Christian families.

Hassan didn't hesitate and immediately applied for the pickup car, it was the only project suitable for his health condition, and that provided a quick and good income so that he could cover life’s expenses and improve his conditions.

"This help is what I needed to feel that I am not alone, that someone is standing by my side, and that no matter how difficult things are, the Lord always gives us hope to start again'

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 she had a talent for drawing, which prompted her, after she finished her university studies, to learn the profession of makeup and begin working in this field in order to secure her own expenses.

However, during the war, her older brother was called for military service, which affected the financial situation of her family, so she worked as a secretary in the morning, and in the afternoon she received customers at home, trying as much as possible to support her family and secure living expenses.

It was very tiring for Caroline to work two jobs a day and for long hours; she wanted to focus more on being a makeup artist which was her greatest passion, but the materials she used were modest and hindered her from expanding her work.

Through the Hope Center, this ambitious, strong-willed young woman was supported with a cosmetic and makeup kit with all the necessary tools so that she could expand her work and receive more customers in order to achieve her passion, and at the same time obtain a greater income that would improve the living conditions of her family.

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 situation stabilized. After finishing, he rented a small room in Damascus searching for job, he returned to his passion for rock carving; determined to support his family, he worked harder and longer hours to bring home food as he became the sole breadwinner to his parents after his brother joined the army.

The tools he was funded with by Micro-project in Damascus gave him the opportunity to transport his rock carvings across different towns and markets. He no longer had to worry about renting and losing income and can now focus entirely on carving and earning more money to cover his family's expenses.

Ibrahim feels proud of his achievements and is grateful for the opportunity to take care of his family. The tools were indeed a game-changer, paving the way for a brighter future for Ibrahim and his family.

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, he tried to take any available job to afford the livelihood demands so he worked washing dishes at a restaurant and tried to work as a taxi driver but he wasn’t able to pay the high taxi rent and working as a dishwasher became tiring for him and the income was very low.

Mikhael became desperate because during the last few months, he and his family were living on support from his family and in-laws and he was in need of having his own source of income, especially after having a newborn baby.

With the help of Hope Center, Mikhael was supported to purchase his own taxi because it was the only project suitable for his health condition and that will form a great opportunity for him to be independent and have a sustainable source of income to improve his living.

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 and provide them with a decent life. However, the war quickly overpowered his efforts as he was called for military service, and for the next ten years, he knew nothing but dangers, as his service was in the most severe locations such as Aleppo, Barzeh, and Qaboun.

During those ten years, his family’s situation was greatly affected, as their village was in direct contact with the fights, so they were forced to flee to Damascus and live in a small house in the Al-Dwalaa area, relying on aid from churches and associations.

In 2021, Bassem was discharged from military service, and during that period, his father was diagnosed with skin cancer so Bassem didn’t hesitate to spend the entire amount of the service allowance on his father’s treatment. After that, he returned to working in agriculture and transporting crops from the village to the city, bearing all the possible risks in order to extricate his family from the miserable situation in which they lived.

Despite all the tragedies that Bassem experienced, he was full of faith and hope, and this led him to apply for the pickup car project at the Micro Project Center in Damascus as he was supported to obtain his own pickup car, through which he transported vegetables and goods between the city and the village, which saved him effort and provided him with a better source of income. Hopefully, this project will be an opportunity to improve Bassem's financial situation and help him secure the best means of life for his family.

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 best to secure a good income.

Despite his health condition, which requires a lot of care and rest, Najeeb did not hesitate to take up a lot of work in order to be self-reliant and afford his living expenses in addition to his medication costs which he was taking daily to stay alive.

As time passed, working at painting workshops started to affect his health condition so he worked as a rented taxi driver which was suitable for his health condition but the income wasn’t enough because he had to pay high percentage to the car owner.

Najeeb was full of optimism when he applied for the taxi project at the Micro-project Center in Damascus.

With the help of Hope Center, Najeeb was supported to purchase his own taxi which was the best project that suited his condition and at the same time provided him with a decent income to preserve his living.

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 killing and violence all over the area, so George and his family had no choice but to flee, leaving everything behind to preserve their lives. They moved to live in a rented house in the Kashkoul area in Damascus but the area was hit by daily shells and unfortunately, George’s sister was injured by one of them and passed away as a result. 

This incident has plunged the family into great sadness, especially George’s father, who was subsequently afflicted with cancer and died two years later.

George was burdened with sorrows and worries. He had become responsible for his mother and sister and had to protect them, especially during the severe security events in the region. So he decided to move to another place in search of safety. During that period, George worked as a sales representative for several companies. He also worked for a period as a private driver and as a minibus driver, trying his best to afford his family's expenses.

After George visited the micro-project center in Damascus and applied for the Mini-van, he was supported to purchase his own mini-van, because it would enable him to become self-reliant and have the ability to improve his income and provide his family with a decent living.