Jameel was one of the craftsmen whose career was severely disrupted because of the Syrian war. Prior to 2012, Syria was heading toward developing its economy; large companies and industries were being built and many well-known artisans like Jameel were having thriving businesses more than ever. However, when war started everything changed. The nature of Jameel’s work was affiliated with industrial facilities, huge gas or water pipe lines' installation project across cities and oil tanks manufacturing projects. this type of work was severely (if not completely) destroyed thus he stayed unemployed for a long time. His personal life was not going any better either, he and his wife have lived (and still do) in their sixth-floor apartment in Al-Midan, witnessing all the shells and missiles falling in the sky of Aleppo city, luckily, they survived  with little damage to the house.

Despite everything, Jameel stayed positive and resilient. He knew that big projects were not going to happen soon, so he compromised to slightly altering his field of work, when he rented a workspace for metal welding services in Bustan Al-Basha. This fund enabled Jameel to purchase all the machines and tools needed for his new workshop and will help him maintain a decent livelihood, hopefully in the future the wheels of development run again in Syria.

Despite all difficulties, the 35-years-old Boutros was determined to reopen his local restaurant in Al-Serian neighborhood after being closed for a long time because of war. In those dark years the whole city was in danger, restaurants were closing and life became hard on every aspect. Boutros decided to leave Syria and go to Lebanon, until Aleppo becomes safe again. When Boutros and his wife came back to Aleppo, they settled in his family’s house with his parents, and became responsible of supporting the family financially. Boutros did not want to give up his long experience in food catering business, although this kind of business needed a large amount of capital to establish a place almost from scratch. But the determined young man did not lose hope and opened his old tiny restaurant with the bare minimal equipment he had. 

It was great news to him that his project will be funded by the Micro Projects Program, in purchasing new kitchen ware and refrigerators because his limited resources were starting to hinder his progress and prevent him from serving many popular dishes that customers may request. 

Today Boutros has all the equipment needed for his restaurant to thrive and for his customers to taste his delicious dishes made with love and passion for cooking.

Nemaan Fannoun is a well-known carpenter with a nearly 40-years-old experience, who fought against all circumstances and managed to make his business survive during the war. Nemaan’s resilience and determination doesn’t mean that he did not suffer, on the contrary, he and his brother lost their cars when shells were constantly falling in their neighborhood and their houses were damaged too, and like all the families they went through financial difficulties specially that they had to take care of their mother and their families too. 

Nemaan had always planned to improve his workshop, many customers are requesting pieces which he currently can't deliver because of the lack of machines needed, but the long war has drained his resources so he can't afford to buy them. However, he did not give up until his project got approved and with the fund, he became able to purchase a wooden-edge banding machine.

This new machine will definitely take Nemaan’s workshop to the next level, raising the quality and the diversity of Nemaan’s work, which is what he always aspired to do, Nemaa's brother works with him and the two families are living from the income of this business. 

The hard circumstances of war and the financial crisis forced the 47-years-old Rima to go back to her maiden profession in tailoring and clothes’ packaging business. 

In the beginning of war, her husband lost his business, when his workshop became under armed groups’ control and later got stolen and destroyed, the family of six started spending from their savings but after two years they had to find another source of income. That’s why Rima started asking her old acquaintances if they have a job for her. 

For someone with Rima’s experience in the domain, being just an employee in a workshop was a little frustrating on many levels. Financially her salary was not sufficient, and even personally it is not satisfying for someone with such a long experience.

This project brought back the excitement to Rima’s heart, she now became a business owner, and her small Sewing workshop is not only a source of income, but it’s going to be a family business as her son and husband will be working with Rima to reach a point of self independence and potential progress.

Khatchir is the head of his small family of four, along with his wife Rowaida, daughter Eliza and son George, they all live in Serian neighborhood. Since they belong to the middle class, the financial crisis of the long war had put a devastating tall on them. 

Due to the high rents, the family had to live in a small, unhealthy underground apartment for a long time. The bad conditions of the apartment did not suit the son, George, who suffers from asthma. In 2018, when many people fled the country, a friend of the family lent his house to Khatchir, and this was a huge relief for them. 

During war Khatchir had to have many jobs in order to survive, and what made things worse was that his wife went through a joint-replacement surgery which made him the sole provider for the family. Khatchir worked in the church, then in a local shampoo company, and recently he decided to go back to his original profession of silver crafting, but as an employee in a friend’s workshop.

Khatchir’s project of Silver Crafting allowed him to take a step forward in his career and be a business owner. His long years of experience in the domain, with the machines and tools purchased by the funds, made the excellent recipe for a thriving business and a financially stable future.

Gamal is a mother of two, who has a long experience in the sewing field. She had entered this work long before she was married. First, she started doing tailoring for customers but when her own sewing machine was worn out and no longer in a working condition, she stopped for a while. However, her husband’s deteriorating health, which coincided with the start of the war forced her to look for jobs in sewing workshops in order to make a decent living and support her family specially that her children were still in school and her husband couldn’t work properly after his heart surgery (he even started a cigarette selling stall near their house). 

The fund came in a crucial timing for Gamal, since the workshop she lately worked in had unfortunately closed couple of months ago due to the economic crisis and Gamal had become unemployed. The good news of her project’s approval revived the hope in Gamal’s heart, since it gave her the opportunity to purchase two sewing machines and create her own little workspace at home and be an independent woman who can support her family at the same time. 

From an early age, George and his brother Fadi had to face the hardships of life instead of having a normal childhood, first they were separated from their parents at the age of five, then, life became even harder. 

The brothers who were living with their aunt and uncle, were shocked when they both were called to serve in the army at the same time. During his service, George was injured; a sniper's shot hit him just under his heart, and he went through four surgeries to remove the shrapnel. In 2019, the five years of agony ended when George was discharged unlike his brother who is still serving till this day.

However, with his multiple injuries George could not go back to his original profession which was in car mechanics, instead he was hired in a medical company with a very modest salary. 

George, was very enthusiastic when he knew that his Taxi project got accepted. For the first time he became self-employed and independent, a young man full of hope and determination to move on in life and build a better future.

After the death of their father, Fadi and his brother George lived with their mother and became responsible of the household. 

Although the war years were not easy on Fadi, but he considers himself lucky that during those difficult times he and his loved ones stayed safe and he managed to keep his job and make a decent living to survive. 

Young Fadi has a long experience working in the embroidery field; he has been in this domain since 2001, when he was a teenager and ever since then he has been working (in his employer’s workshop) with many producers, building a good reputation and increasing his customers in this field.

Fadi had to make a bold decision, when his boss informed him that he was going to sell the workshop and leave the country. Fadi didn’t want to waste his long experience in this field, so he decided to purchase an embroidery machine and open his own workshop. Of course, this step was not possible without the funding Fadi got which allowed him to buy a computerized embroidery machine and fully equip his workspace and resume his career with great hope of a successful business in the future. 

When he was only fifteen years old, Abboud wanted to learn all about hairstyling so after finishing his 9th grade he started working in a local barber’s shop. But what started as a summer job ended up to be a good career for Abboud who found himself enjoying working in this field. Abboud improved his skills and learnt a lot from all the salons he worked in through the past 5 years. His accumulated experiences and skills entitled him to rent a chair in a salon, that way he became more independent than before. 

But the war and its economic hardships prevented him from making the next step of opening his own salon, because the costs of such project were more than he could afford.

The funds Abboud got by the Micro Project Program were perfect for this young hairdresser to start his career independently. Now he rented a salon which is fully equipped, so he can be ready to welcome his clients and deliver his services in the best way.

Rami was a manager at a plastic factory, when the war started in 2011, the factory was transferred to Jordan, and so was Rami. For four years Rami was settled in Jordan, but when the factory closed, he came back home. For a while Rami worked at different places as an accountant then he partnered with one of his relatives in a block manufacturing workshop. It was a new experience for him and he learned a lot during his work there. However, Rami then moved on to be a salesman for another company, but the idea of opening a factory was always in the back of his head, just waiting for the opportunity and the enough finances to establish such a project. 

Rami worked hard to save some money but the high costs of the machinery prevented him from starting his business, at least until he got the chance from the Micro Projects Program after his project was approved. Now Rami is working hard in opening his own factory and he is very determined to make it a thriving and prosperous business. 

Maher’s life was turned upside down when he and his younger brother were both called to serve in the army’s mandatory service in 2018. When the two brothers were away on fire lines, their mother Soaad could not bear the thoughts that her sons are in danger everyday, the fear for their lives and the difficulties of living alone as her husband passed away since the boys were small children, all this affected her health and caused her a heart attack. she survived the incident to be reunited with her son Maher when he got discharged after two years of service. 

When he came home, he immediately looked for a job, and he found one in a local bakery with a very modest salary. Maher had no choice but to accept in order to make a living. 

Today Maher takes care of his mother and support her financially with the limited resources he has. 

The Taxi car was a turning point for Maher, since it will make him more independent and able to make a better income. This way he and his mom can live more comfortable and financially secure life. 

Eshak and his wife Amira are blessed with two boys and a girl, living in their house in Al-Midan, the couple consider themselves lucky to survive the vicious war with only some material losses. 

One of the losses was Eshak’s metal crafting workshop in Bustan Al-Basha, which was severely damaged and robbed-off completely during the years of war. 

When Eshak heard that his workshop was looted while being out of reach, he knew that he should think of another way to make a living, and that was how he started his new career as a driver. Eshak found this field of work to be convenient for him, and since 2013, he has been renting a taxi and making his living this way. 

Today, Eshak’s schedule is fully packed. Having his own car made him more motivated and more content on many levels that he now is putting more effort than ever to improve his family’s life. This project will give him a boost of hope needed to carry on his hard work. 

Life was not easy at all after Sahar’s husband death, who was the sole provider for the family when suddenly she found herself responsible for her two daughters Mary and Sarah.

Sahar made her decision to fight for the sake of her family and worked in making pastries for four years; this job was very difficult and tiring for a woman of Sahar’s age that forced her to think about another possible choice which provides her and her daughters with a dignified life.

Her husband had a small grocery shop that was completely stolen during the war, Sahar used this shop and opened it to sell wool with a little help from the church, and she also sold many hand-made pieces such as: scarves, hats and gloves. As a seasonal shop, Sahar also thought about selling cotton clothes during summer time in order not to stop working.

With the needed support, Sahar became able to provide her customers’ requests, and now she will ensure that her daughters have a good life with the stable income from her project.

Issam is an enthusiastic and energetic young man who lives with his parents and two sisters.

He works in his own Aluminum workshop that he opened in 2017 by borrowing some tools from his relative, this young man became well-known for his good reputation and his wide experience in this field among the other craftsmen.

Issam remembers very well his tough experience during the war which made of him a stronger person; In 2011, Issam and his father were kidnapped and the hardest thing they faced was witnessing the killing of a person in front of their eyes! they remained in captivity for 24 hours which were the longest and the most difficult hours in their life.

After this horrible incident, the family decided to flee seeking safety so they went to a village near Homs and stayed there for 6 years, through these years Issam worked in an Aluminum workshop and learned this profession very well.

When the situation improved in Homs city, they came back home and Issam started working immediately after he rented a workshop and hired a worker to help him.

The frequent electricity blackouts negatively affected his productivity. in addition to the need for some equipment that he was forced to rent from the other workshops which reflected of decrease in his profits.

With the help of Hope Center, Issam has the chance to improve his business and continue his career more successfully. 

Issam works in plumbing and solar system installation since 1984, he lives with his wife Lama, his son Fouad and his daughter Katia. The family went through many hardships during the war as they were living in Al-Hamidia which was a main battlefield back then, so they moved to a village called Mashta Al-Helou.

Issam didn’t stop working while staying in the village, but living away from home was not easy on the family, so when the situation became better in Homs Issam and his family decided to go back. Their house was robbed and Issam’s shop was empty too so they had to start over from scratch.

Issam is working now in his shop with minimum tools, but his income dropped due to the economic crisis which made him unable to buy all the equipment needed. All these hard circumstances affected his business and there were so many services that he couldn’t offer as a result to the lack of equipment and tools.

Today, Issam has all the equipment he needs to work properly and ensure a decent life for his family.

Wadih is a hairdresser who lives with his family of four; his wife Marilyn, his daughter Angy and his son George.

He learned this profession in Lebanon and he became famous for working with television presenters, Wadih went back to his city Homs and opened his own salon in 1996 which was one of the first salons in Al-Hamidia; his wife also helped in the salon for 16 years until the war forced him and his family to flee in 2012 to Mashta Al-Helou.

Leaving Homs was a very hard decision, but Wadih continued working in his field during that time among his clients' houses for almost a year, then he rented a salon for another year. In 2014, Al-Hamidia neighborhood became more safe; when Wadih heard this great news he hurried back with his family to their home where he helped in cleaning the streets and removing the ruins which the war had left behind, then he repaired his house and salon and started all over again.

Post-war results started to appear, most notably the economic crisis which affected Wadih's job and made him unable to provide some services to his clients. When Wadih has the sufficient support for his salon, it would improve his income and help him and his family to continue their life during these hard circumstances.