"I thought I secured my family's future, but unfortunately, the war took away my work and savings, it left me with nothing” Georges spoke. 

It all began when Gorges took his family and fled from the war-stricken village, carrying only their clothes, leaving behind their home and their source of income.

Previously, Georges had his own house, land, and workshop, and everything was great until the war began; after being displaced in 2013, their first stop was Latakia. Georges was trying to find a job, but unfortunately, he couldn't get anything suited to his age, and his original profession in Aluminum crafting needed a big budget.

He soon applied for a job as a mini pick-up truck driver at a company located in Latakia, from 2013 till 2020, earning 50% from each shipment fee. Things were stable for a while, but when the livelihood costs increased rapidly, and the economic situation was getting worse by the day, everything changed. Georges and his family were once again reliant on the financial support sent by their daughter who lives abroad and the last bits of their savings.

The daughter offered her apartment in Aleppo for the family to live in, especially since the apartment is empty since she left. indeed Georges accepted the offer and moved back to Aleppo searching for a little hope.

When Georges found out about the Hope Center, he applied for a mini pick-up truck, a project that will enable him to work again, hoping that it would ensure his family a dignified life and a better future away from dependency. 

After their house was destroyed by the shells, all Boghos' efforts to migrate with his family to a safer place failed. His only choice was to separate from his family which stayed in Aleppo and move to Lebanon and work in a car suspension workshop, a domain he is well experienced in. 

The Lebanese regulations for Syrian residents made it hard for Boghos to stay, he was obliged to come back to Syria with nothing but his 25 years worth experience in car maintenance.

Although Boghos left his job and reunited with his family, he still had to take care of them financially, specially his younger son is still at school and only  his eldest one works part-time in a metal lathing workshop along with his university degree pursue in economics.

As the fiscal crisis took its toll of the family, Boghos's wife decided to help and ease the financial obligations. because Boghos was also the sole provider of his parents, and for those reasons, he wasn't able to purchase the necessary equipment he needed to establish his car maintenance workshop.

Today Boghos's goal is to begin his project and settle in a place of his own, which will become the family business in the future, and earn a good income with his large experience.

Hope Center decided to help him start his micro project, by purchasing the needed equipment and giving this hardworking man the opportunity he deserves.

Bedros had a lovely life with his wife and 3 children until the war came and took everything from him, their lives turned upside down like many Syrian families; they traveled to Armenia where they meant to stay there for only a month, but unfortunately, his relatives in Aleppo asked him not to return because his workshop was destroyed and the whole city was not safe, and indeed Bedros's stay in Armenia extended for 9 years.

When in Armenia, Bedros didn't leave the profession he started in 1979 in an Auto body repair workshop. He utilized all the skills accumulated through the years to rent a workshop in Armenia with his son. However, life abroad wasn't easy at all, the high costs of living forced him to consider coming back to Aleppo once the situation was safe again, hoping that together with his son they could revive and restore their old workplace. 

Rehabilitating the workshop consumed all of their saving and they were left with no source of income although their workplace is renovated, they still need to buy the essential machinery to start the workflow. Bedros says: "if I could work again, my daughters would come back and live with us again". 

This project is a chance for Bedros to maintain and expand his work even more, the father and the son can together establish a solid family business, it's time for both of them to begin a new chapter in life. All he needs is the support to get the equipment to start working again, and then hopefully things will turn out for the better.

Choosing a career is an extremely important decision that impacts an individual’s entire future. The father of George was a major influence on his children’s development and career choices.

George used to work with his father in tailoring, he learned the profession at a young age and gained lots of experience in it until it became his main job, starting from 1994 till 2001. Later on, he opened his own workshops in several locations during the last 15 years.

After his father passed away, George had to take his role as the provider for his widowed mother, trying to do the best for her because she depended on him after she lost her husband and supporter.

Even after traveling to Lebanon in 2016 for four years to escape the war, he didn't give up on his responsibilities towards his loved ones, he worked in a sewing workshop there and sent back money to the family. For George being a business owner rather than an employee would be a drastic shift in every aspect, that's why he worked hard to achieve that level of independence even though he still needed a lot of equipment. George says:  

“The new machines will help me a lot, it will save me so much time and physical effort and allow me to work with various materials, I’m blessed to apply my micro-project and get these new machines”.

His long years in the business have helped him gain a lot of customers and great experience that he will utilize in this new chapter of his career.

It’s never easy to leave everything we have ever known for so long. However, sometimes, moving on is necessary to survive. When Fares left his home in 2014 because of the war, he lost everything; all the belongings and the family’s memories and fled abruptly with family carrying only the clothes they were wearing to a friend’s house for some time.

Fares worked in publishing and design since 2002. First, he practiced in a local printing house and as his experience grew, he managed to work independently. He was happy and content with the life he was planning with his wife and their dreams would come true while their family was growing too. Being displaced was a hard hit for Fares, he had to sacrifice his business investment to buy his apartment the very same one that he lost during the war. But the young man still had hope and resilience, in 2018, he transformed his parent's basement into a modest office with the minimum equipment to make a living out of it. 

In that basement Fares started with only a computer and lots of talent, selling book cover designs, posters and advertisement material. But to establish a proper business he needed much more requirements, for example printing his designs himself will increase his profit margin hugely, however, purchasing the necessary printers and plotters would need a large capital.

No matter how hard the road was, Fares never gave up, on the contrary, he kept doing what he loves to maintain a successful career. When Fares applied to the Micro Projects Program, he had an important goal in his mind; improving his family’s living situation to be able to restore his house and we partnered with him in his journey of success.

 In 2013, Sarkis, a newly married man, moved to Tartus with his mother and wife, trying to escape from the shells that fell randomly everywhere. They stayed there at their relative's house, then returned to their home in Aleppo when the situation started to get safer.

He has had this jewelry-designer career since 2005. He used to work on his own computer from homemaking the designs, in addition, he used to work in a metal molding workshop. He always wanted to develop his business, by purchasing a 3D printer that could help him design several kinds of jewelry using different metals such as copper, silver and gold.

But as this kind of printer is very expensive, Sarkis rented one to work on, even though it is an old-fashioned one.

He still hopes to own a new edition of it, but his only chance to achieve this dream is to apply to the Hope Center, to purchase the newer version of the 3d printer and increase his income and develop his own business.

With this support from the Hope Center, Sarkis believes that he will be able to improve himself, especially that he is the only provider of the family. It would make a huge difference regarding his financial status as well as his business' growth.

Being forced to flee your own home is a life-changing experience; Hanna escaped with his family to another area to live in a rented house. Hanna said: "When we fled from our home, which was located in the Sheikh Maqsoud area, we left all the furniture and our belongings, we lost everything and the house was damaged as a result of the shelling”.

The 31-year-old young man was in charge of his family at an early age, he took care of his uncle and aunt who suffers from mental problems, he left his education to support his family with livelihood expenses. Hanna began working as a waiter in several restaurants in 2006, he gained good experience in addition to his job as a barman for two years until 2017, but due to the bad economic situation, he couldn’t pay the rent for their house and he decided to move to Tartous and work there for 3 years.

Hanna came back to Aleppo and worked in a restaurant, but with the increasing financial obligations of his mother's medical treatments, he searched for something more efficient to make ends meet, like opening a project of his own.

Since rents are fairly affordable in Sheikh Maksoud, the idea of opening a small coffee shop there was swerling in Hanna's mind. coffee grounding machines and some snacks will be a good way to start over as a business owner.

Now with the sufficient funding, Hanna will be able to help his mother with the treatment costs, and improve his family's situation. 

No matter how old we are, losing a parent is never easy, the loss and grief could hit hard and for some people like jack, it leaves them facing new responsibilities in life including taking care of his sister, who was fighting her own battle against cancer that ended tragically after a long fatal struggle.

Jack, who is now 38 years old, has always been close to his family, not only supporting them in difficult times but also sharing with them their interests in sports especially swimming, and like many in his family of athletics, it was something that made them bond. Jack was working as a swimming coach and giving professional swimming lessons, but unfortunately, when he became the sole provider his income was not sufficient anymore and he had to find an additional job, and this is how he transferred his passion from swimming into baking.

Jack became a pastry chef in 2014, then as time passed by he started expanding his experiences. Eventually, when the situation changed and his employers traveled, he decided that it is time for him to become independent and start his own pastry production from home as a first step.

The economic crisis made things very difficult, jack's brother that lives abroad was trying to help from time to time, but Jack wanted to rely on himself and make a decent living from his pastry project. With the presence of many customers to distribute his products, his work will flourish. All he needs are the equipment such as ovens, mixers, and utensils to produce a variety of delicious sweets and pastries.

His seven-year-long experience will be a great base for starting his project from home, and who knows maybe in the future Jack will have his own pastry shop.

“Although you are in your own country, you feel like a displaced person, when you have to leave your house and city”.

With these words the 35 years old Lucy described her family’s struggle, when she, her husband, and her three lovely kids found themselves forced to leave their city of Al-Raqqa and seek refuge in Aleppo, leaving behind their home, work, school, and their memories.

Since they arrived, They have been living at a friend’s house, and Lucy’s husband has been working at a metal molding workshop, while Lucy was working as an accountant for five years, but unfortunately, her employer emigrated and the office closed. 

Due to the hard financial situation, Lucy had to find another job to support her husband with their livelihood, and secure the children's needs.

So, she attended several make up and nail care courses, and started working at home with little equipment she could afford their costs, now she has some customers, but she still needs some other kit, so she can expand her work and advance her experience.

With the support of the Hope Center, Lucy can now work in the beauty domain and provide an additional income next to her husband.

What makes Nabil’s story unique is his innovation, resourcefulness, eco-friendly approach to what may seem a normal and typical process. 

Nabil has been producing cloth’s, bags and shoes related metal accessories for so long now, that he mastered the profession and if it wasn’t for the war, his business was expanding quickly, but good things wouldn’t last in the shadows of the crucial war. In a blink of an eye Nabil’s workshop was confiscated and his tools were stolen and Nabil found himself losing everything.

The start over was not easy at all, Nabil had to sell fuel for a living and when he saved enough, he partnered with a clothes' workshop with high hopes to recover from the hard hit he was exposed to due to war.

To overcome every obstacle, the father of two is innovating solutions for each problem, he altered some of the machinery he bought second hand to give him a wider variety of range of functions, he also designed his molds to save extra bucks, but the most out of the box thinking of his manifested through the recycling of used fuel tanks that would otherwise be thrown away. The metal tanks enter a long process of chemical cleaning, melting and reshaping and finally when they are ready for usage Nabil uses his skills to transform them into different accessories and grommets. 

After all the efforts and creativity Nabil has put in his business, he deserved our support to help him buy an essential part of his process, the molding of the products. They are expensive and Nabil was not able to purchase them without the support. 

Today Nabil is sure of his future more than ever, nothing can stop in his way of prosperity and excellence.    

Nerses’s journey of agony and turmoil started in 2011 when he and his family, fled their homes and lives in Al-Raqqa, carrying only the clothes they were wearing. The city of Latakia became their refuge, it was safer than their hometown which had been bombed and targeted with every kind of bombshells. Due to those bombshells Nerses heard the devastating news, his house and workshop in Al-Raqqa were demolished completely leaving no hope for nerses to go back to his previous life. 

Facing the harsh reality, started with settling in Latakia and finding a livelihood there. All that Nerses had at this point was his decade long experience, no tools no money, no machinery or acquaintances but that was enough to start.

Nerses soon started working in a local car body repair workshop splitting his profits with the owner.

Years passed by, and when Nerses’s life was finally stable, he met his life partner; an Aleppian woman and together they decided to make Aleppo their last stop and settle in.

Although it is hard to start over from scratch, but for Nerses it’s never been impossible. He did it once in Latakia nine years ago and he is so determined to do it again in Aleppo, but this time he has our support.

The loan will be his way of obtaining the essential tools and gadgets for his workshop to take off and the rest is up to his skills and good reputation in the field. 

One of the most harmful things that can happen to a person is losing a child.

No words could describe what's happened to Kevork after the excruciating events Kevork, his wife Suzi and their daughter Rozali went through.

Kevork was born and raised in Al-Kuwait He started working as an employee in a traditional Kuwaiti restaurant since he was a teenager, and kept developing himself until he became a chief supervisor in the restaurant. Later in 2016, he returned to his hometown, Syria.

In 2018, he and his family fled to Germany seeking a safe life and gave up on his Armenian nationality to get refugee approval. But unfortunately, his request was declined, and they had to get back to Aleppo. These adversities happened while his wife was pregnant, and caused her trauma. that might have affected the baby because few days into giving birth to a baby boy, the infant passed away, Leaving his parents in a very miserable situation.

Suzi kept it together, since Kevork couldn't find a job, she became the sole provider for her family, teaching English for a living.

After two years of being unemployed, Kevork decided to take a step and apply to the Hope Center, searching for support to start his dream of having a mini-restaurant. All he wanted for himself and for his family is to put the past behind, make  a good income, and start a new hopeful chapter in life. 

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.