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. 

Thaer’s work life began in his village of Basir, where he worked the land and drove trucks for various employers, doing his best to provide for his family. This was not an easy task, as his life was marked by numerous challenges related to his children's health.  

His eldest son, Wajed, had to undergo surgery for varicose veins. The middle son, Zein, had a malignant tumor removed from his eye and requires annual check-ups. The youngest, Majed, has undergone multiple surgeries and needs ongoing special care.  

As a result, Thaer had to move with his family to Damascus to better address his children's health needs, especially Majed, whose condition required him to attend a special school.

Since moving to Damascus, Thaer has worked as a taxi driver, earning only a quarter of the daily profits while the rest went to the taxi owner. He also worked on a pick-up truck and took on electrical work, despite not being well-versed in the field, simply to make ends meet. His wife, Yara, also started working, and together they strive to provide for their children and cover the high medical expenses.

Thaer's financial and emotional burden was immense, and he often felt helpless. Determined to improve his situation, he applied for support from the Micro Projects Center, aiming to obtain his own taxi for a steady income and more stability.  

Fortunately, Thaer's request was approved, and he received support to purchase a taxi. This development has significantly improved his financial and mental state, giving him hope and a sense of relief. With this newfound stability, Thaer can now better support his family's needs and look forward to a more secure future.

Eleia Al-Khouri, 38, is married to Tareiz Zakhem, and they live with their newborn daughter, his mother, and sister in a small modest house in Jaramana. 

During wartime, Elias volunteered at the Social Defense from 2011 to 2016 in order to protect his neighborhood and worked as a driver for several employers in addition to working as a taxi driver from 2018 to 2021.

However, in 2012, his brother was serving military service in Homs when he was injured badly and suffered from paralysis in his leg as a result, making him unable to do any physical effort including work, due to this incident and after the decease of his father, Eleia became the primary provider for his mother, sister, and his family so he was doing his best to make ends meet. 

In 2021, he was employed at a detergent company as a driver alongside his war-injured brother, and both worked together in distributing products to markets but the meager salary they were taking affected their financial conditions so he started taking additional work, such as moving furniture, to provide for his family but the burden of debt and the reliance on assistance from relatives weigh heavily on him, making it difficult to secure even the basic necessities for his family. 

Despite the hardships, Eleia’s prayers were answered when the Hope Center provided him with the support needed to purchase a vehicle for distributing goods. This assistance marked a turning point in his life. For the first time, Eleia felt a sense of ownership and dignity. With renewed enthusiasm and commitment, he embarked on this new chapter, determined to improve his conditions and secure a better living for his family.

Raghad Makhoul's life had been a series of challenges, his father's absence loomed large over their modest household, while Raghad's mother, burdened by ailments, lived in the village and relied on medications to ease her pains.

Raghad has also gotten his share of war as during his military service that started in 2011, he found himself serving in the heart of chaos as Aleppo became under siege for many months. 

However, despite he survived that adversity, a fateful injury in 2014 caused his cornea irreparable damage and surgeons worked tirelessly to graft a new cornea onto his eye. It was a long and painful road to recovery, one that stretched until 2016, leaving Raghad physically and emotionally drained.

After his discharge, Raghad returned to Tartous and worked with his father in seaside restaurants but fate shocked him with another loss when his father succumbed to illness in 2022. With responsibilities weighing heavy on his shoulders, Raghad returned to Damascus, taking up any job available and trying his best to make ends meet.

Raghad found himself behind the wheel of a taxi, touring streets day and night to provide for himself and send whatever little he could spare to his mother and brother in the village, but he ended up working just to cover the high rent cost of the taxi.

With the help of Micro Project program, Raghad was supported to purchase a taxi and have stability in his income with all hope that this project will secure a decent living for himself and his family.

Amer's life took unexpected turns as he grew older and struggled to make ends meet for a family of nine; with seven children ranging from the oldest born in 2012 to the youngest born in 2021, the household expenses were solely dependent on Amer's income.

Before the war, Amer worked as a driver at a local factory, but as the conflict escalated and job opportunities dwindled, he was forced to explore alternative means of earning a livelihood. In 2012, he opened a grocery shop which became his source of income until 2021 when he was compelled to shut it down due to soaring rent prices, plunging the family into further financial distress.

Amer's wife, Georget, used to work as a cleaner at a Monastery but had to leave the job because of the responsibilities of caring for their growing family. 

Unfortunately, their situation became dire, with the family barely managing to afford one meal a day, supplemented by food donations from the local church three times a week.

Feeling the weight of his responsibilities as a husband and father, Amer sought a solution to lift his family out of poverty so he applied for the pick-up project at the Micro project center with the idea of transporting groceries and goods in addition to fulfilling delivery orders which was his only hope to provide a stable income for his family.

The approval of his project marked a turning point in Amer's life. For the first time, he felt a sense of independence and empowerment, knowing that he could now work to secure the needs of his family and was determined to improve his family's living conditions.

Rezq Allah Al-Hareth is part of a close-knit family, living in an old, modest house in Al-Dwalaa neighborhood. His family consists of his elderly mother and his sisters, Georgette and Maha. He also has a brother residing in their village and another working in Lebanon, while his father is deceased.

In 2009, Rezq Allah traveled to Lebanon to work in furniture making, splitting his time between Syria and Lebanon until 2011 when the economic situation in Lebanon forced him to return to Syria. Upon his return, the Syrian crisis began, and Rezq Allah's family suffered significant losses, including their house in the village, which was destroyed during the war forcing them all to relocate to Damascus.

In 2013, Rezq Allah began working at a second-hand furniture store, a job he held until 2016 when he was called to serve in the military. After his discharge in 2023, he had to start over from scratch, freelancing and taking any available job to support his family. The combined income of Rezq Allah and his siblings barely covered their daily expenses, making it difficult for him to achieve his dream of starting his own family.

Determined to secure a better future, Rezq Allah applied for support from the Micro Projects Center, hoping to get assistance for a taxi project. The support he received from the Hope Center provided him with the opportunity to purchase a taxi, promising a steadier and more substantial income. This new project has given Rezq Allah great hope for a stable future, allowing him to better provide for his family.