Wafaa and Georges are devoted parents of four, who have always valued their independence. Living in Qattinah village with their son and his family, the couple faced challenging times. Georges has been battling cancer for over 20 years, and Wafaa, a retired employee, was determined to find a way to support their household without relying on others.

In 2021, they opened a mini-market with just one box of each product, despite lacking essential assets like refrigerators, their small business started to grow, but the escalating economic crisis threatened its survival. Their mini-market, the family’s only source of income, was on the brink of closure.

To save their business, Wafaa applied to the Micro Projects program for support. Thanks to this fund, they received a refrigerator, food commodities, and other goods. It revitalized their mini-market, allowing it to thrive even amidst the crisis.The family can now sustain themselves without depending on others, representing a powerful example of dignity and self-reliance.

Elias, a determined young man, dreams of a future filled with love and family. Despite the challenges he's faced, including the loss of his brother during military service, he remained resilient. 

Working tirelessly in the workshop since 2006 alongside his father, Elias has experienced many hardships. The workshop, a symbol of their family's perseverance, weathered the storms of war and theft, turning their lives upside down. Engaged and eager to start a family of his own, he's devoted to rebuilding his family's cars-repairing workshop after the devastating theft of all its equipment.

With only borrowed equipment to rely on, Elias turned to the Micro Projects Program for assistance. The provided support offered him hope for the future, not just for himself, but for the family he hopes to build. Now, Elias is laying the foundation for a brighter tomorrow, depending on the workshop that has always been his family's source of livelihood.

As the sole provider for her widowed mother, and with her brothers forging their paths elsewhere, Ranim embraced the role of caretaker and provider.

In the face of daunting circumstances due to the country's challenges, she started her own business: "Smile Events," her humble shop offering gifts and event arrangement services. With modest beginnings in 2018, she encountered hurdles familiar to many small business owners in Syria sourcing reliable suppliers, navigating unsettled exchange rates, and covering local needs, especially amidst the COVID pandemic.

Yet, as demand fluctuated and inflation had its pressures on her community, Ranim recognized a demand for locally crafted perfumes, so she embarked on a journey of exploration and adaptation. 

Through the Micro Projects Program, she acquired the essentials to blend unique scents, supplementing her shop's offerings with fragrances tailored to her customers' preferences.

Each bottle of perfume mixed with care and every event arranged are examples of her enduring spirit, creating a path toward a dignified life despite the odds stacked against her.

In Qattinah village, amidst the challenges of raising two children, Nadia and her husband Iyad dared to dream of a better future. Her years of dedication to various associations in Homs city came to a halt due to rising costs and the strain on family time, but challenges only fueled their ambition.

In 2017, they embarked on a wooden souvenirs project, renting a humble shop. Disaster struck when a fire ravaged their cherished space, but they refused to surrender. Armed with simple tools, they rebuilt their business from the ashes.

Their beautiful products caught the eye of customers, leading to orders beyond their tools' capabilities. Undeterred, Nadia sought support from the Micro Projects Program, they acquired a laser cutting machine, reviving their family's source livelihood.

Through hardship and determination, Nadia and Iyad have created a path to prosperity, shaping a brighter life for their beloved family.

Wissam, a second-year marketing student, thrived in her humble village of Qattinah alongside her hardworking family. With economic struggles, Wissam and her brother Wassim embarked on a journey to alleviate their parents' burdens; Drawing on their individual talents, her skills in electronic marketing and Wassim's design skills, they envisioned a microproject that filled a void in their village.

Their dream came to reality as they delved into the world of printing, realizing the absence of such services in Qattinah, which was forcing locals to travel to Homs city. With unwavering determination, Wissam sought support from the Micro Projects Program, securing vital tools like a laptop, printing machine, and heat press machines.

Now, in the heart of their village, the siblings work tirelessly, their microproject not only bridging a gap in the market, but also bringing prosperity to their family, fostering economic stability and embodying the youthful ambition and promise for a brighter tomorrow. 

Souzan Bashour is a woman in her forties who carries with her many events that formed a life filled with challenges and struggles. She lives with her mother and brother in a small flat in Al-Dwallaa, her father is deceased while her mother is an old lady. 

Souzan began her professional career as a school teacher, continuing in this field until 2016. She then moved to work at the Faculty of Theology as an administrative employee, but due to the relocation of the college, she had to leave her job and return to teaching until she got married.

unfortunately, her marriage was full of disappointments that ended with divorce in 2023, as she returned to live with her family and started looking for a career that would help her afford her expenses as her family's financial condition wasn't stable. 

Souzan decided to learn the nail care career from a friend and after gaining the required experience, she began offering nail care services at home.

Despite her love for her work, Souzan's income was limited, and she mostly served neighbors and friends due to the poor equipment she had and her inability to improve it, but she didn't lose hope and decided to apply for support from the Micro Projects Center.

With the help she got, Souzan was able to purchase a new nail tool kit that will help expand her work which as a result will make her income and independence grow, allowing her to live an independent, dignified life.

The nine years of being in military service in the most severe battle zones didn’t prevent Adel from being optimistic and ambitious seeking to have his own career and be independent

He is 33 and lives with his elderly father and three siblings in an old house in Aldwalla neighborhood. Adel started his work life as a wall painter with his brother to afford his expenses but after the war outbreak, he was called for military service in Daraa facing daily risks and dangers until he was discharged in 2020. 

Adel went home to find out that the living condition of his family was terrible and his siblings were barely able to afford the basics which left him with no choice but to start working immediately.

However, he didn’t want to do any job, on the contrary, he planned to have his own profession so he worked for a photographer and learned the profession from him which soon after became his passion, and started to improve himself and take several courses in the field to enhance his skills.

Then when he found himself able to become independent and establish his own project he visited the micro project center asking for support.

Indeed, this determined young man was supported to purchase the camera and photographing equipment required to establish his own name in the field, hoping that he would be a successful photographer and be able to improve his living conditions.

Together with his wife, Eisa faced life's adversities head-on, within their humble house in Al-Tabbaleh, holding their strong faith in God's mercy. Their son Elie who was living with them, faced the complexities of life as a recent graduate with a lingering eye condition.

Eisa had dedicated decades of his life as a driver at the Ministry of Agriculture, until his retirement in 2021. However, retirement didn't signify a life of leisure; with financial constraints above his shoulders, he found himself in a critical situation in addition to the threat of eviction loomed large as his landlord sought to oust them.

In the face of adversity, the family remained resilient, his son, despite his visual impairment, persevered, finding employment in a mobile repair shop trying to hold the costs of his eye care, and his wife shared the responsibilities with her family by working as a bus attendant for a private school while Eisa sought any job opportunity available holding one endeavor in his heart, preserve his family's dignity.

unfortunately, due to his age, work options were limited until he found his way to apply for the pick-up car project at Hope Center with the idea of transporting vegetables and fruits to markets. 

Today, after having the support, Eisa is so grateful because despite the hardships, the income he got helped in improving his livelihood and promised of better days to come.

Samer Al-Shammas is married to Mouna Derany, and they have two sons Louay and Maher. Samer's life has always revolved around his family. Despite facing health challenges after retiring from his job in 2013 due to pancreatic issues, he never let adversity deter his spirit. Even when his medication costs became more than he could handle, he decided to sell his cherished home in Jaramana to pay for his treatment and spent the rest on his sons' weddings, proving that his sacrifices knew no bounds because he always found his solace in the love and support of his family.  

His son Louay was working diligently as a distributor, and established his own family, while Maher, miles away in Lebanon, pursued his career as an accountant.

Samer was working hard as a taxi driver, struggling against the increasing living prices trying his best to afford his daily food with dignity.

The turning point in his life was when he was supported by Hope Center to purchase his own taxi which wasn't just a vehicle for him; it was his means to independence, dignity, and a stable income.

As Samer cruised through the streets of Damascus, his taxi became more than a mode of transportation, it was a testament to resilience in the face of life challenges. With his head held high, Samer embraced each passenger with a warm smile.

Fady Qassis 46, started his career as an employee at Bimo Bank until 2015 when his life took a drastic turn as he was called for reserved military service and as a result, he was forced to vacate his rented home and leave his job.

Despite setbacks, Fady insisted on maintaining a decent standard of living for his family so he started working in distributing medicines using any means of transportation available and working long hours daily for this endeavor but the deteriorating economic conditions and the high costs of living exhausted him and he was clearly in need of support.

Through his unwavering commitment to providing for his family, he applied for the pickup truck project for distributing medicines and aimed to expand distribution beyond his area of residence.

Having support from Hope Center to purchase his own vehicle marked a significant milestone in Fady's life. It promised not only improved livelihood but also a secure income source for the future.