Lifting entrepreneurial spirits in Syria

Rina Rish examines a lens at her family’s shop. The lens-cutting machine Rish received through Micro-Projects will open new sources of income to the family. 

Industrial machine manufacturer George Hariro stands in his workspace in Aleppo, Syria.  

During the war, a bombshell fell on the shop he’d run since 2004, which injured Hariro and led to the deaths of his father, brother and another employee. He has remained determined to keep the business open, however, and recently bought a larger shop. Through Christian Hope Center, he was able to fill this space with much-needed equipment.

Waseem Seris works on a 3D design project. When his father’s pharmacy was looted during the war, Seris, who owned a camera, began supporting his family as a photographer. Market saturation led him to sell his camera and buy a laptop so that he could begin a career in 3D design.  

With funding received from Christian Hope Center, Seris updated his equipment to ensure that he could deliver precise, high-quality work. Since then, his income has doubled.

Aline Tajrian operates the weaving machine she received through Micro-Projects.

Tajrian and her husband wash, weave and sell carpets for a living. During the war, their factory was looted and eventually destroyed. The family moved their operations to their home, but it led to a decrease in customers.

The couple recently decided to rent a shop. Christian Hope Center provided a weaving machine for the new space, plus a rechargeable battery system that supplies power and allows Aline to operate the weaving machine.

Dagad Krikorian stands with the new equipment in the dental clinic he has run in the Aleppo neighborhood of Al Midan since 2000. He has been known to provide free services to people in need.  

Over time, the equipment in his clinic began to wear out, which posed risks for his patients, but he could not afford to replace it. With funding from Christian Hope Center, he has been able to revive his dental practice.

Masses Nishan dries a client's hair. Through Christian Hope Center, Nishan has obtained a generator and new equipment for his business.

Fadi Kebeh carries a box of carpentry tools he received with support from Christian Hope Center.  

Kebeh began working as a carpenter in 2002. As his skills and reputation have grown, he’s taken on projects with engineers, lawyers and well-known companies. Because he lacked carpentry essentials like a machine for edge banding, he had to contract other carpenters to complete some production steps.  

With the items received through Micro-Projects, he will be able to save time and money by completing these tasks himself.

Dr. Ahmad Al-saleh holds a cat in his care at his veterinary practice. Dr. Al-saleh has worked as a veterinarian since 2006.

The war and high cost of equipment had prevented him from obtaining many of the diagnostic, anesthesia and surgery tools he needed to have a truly comprehensive clinic. With support from the Christian Hope Center, he was able to acquire this equipment, which will help him provide more for his family.

Metalworker George Afesah works in his shop in Aleppo. He used to live and work in the countryside of Idlib, Syria, where he owned a fully equipped metalworking shop.

After Afesah became a target for militants in 2013, he and his family moved to Hama, Syria. But the shop he opened there was robbed in 2018. Afesah then went to Aleppo. Rising costs kept him from opening a shop of his own, so he took jobs working for friends. The tools he received through Micro-Projects will allow him to run his own business again.

Areej Moussa stands in the pharmacy that she established with funding from Christian Hope Center.

Moussa is originally from Homs, Syria, where she worked as a pharmaceutical representative. After her workplace closed because of the war, she operated her own pharmacy for four years.

Since she and her husband moved to Aleppo, where his family lives, she has been working for other organizations. Thanks to Micro-Projects, she can again live out her dream of running a pharmacy of her own.

Shoemakers and business partners Mohammad Al-Mouhamad, left, and Issa Benchi stand in their workshop. Both learned the trade at an early age.  

Previously, the pair could not afford the equipment they needed to complete some production stages, so they had to send their shoes out to other workshops to finish their projects.  

New equipment obtained through Christian Hope Center will help them complete these tasks, diversify their production lines, attract more customers and earn more income.

Marwa Al-khalif operates one of the sewing machines she obtained with Christian Hope Center support.  

The sewing machines and other equipment received through Micro-Projects will allow her to work toward her business goals.

Roben Bedrosian operates metalworking tools in Aleppo, Syria. From a young age, Bedrosian had worked with his father and brother in the family’s shop. When the family workshop closed during the war, he rented a space of his own.

Through Christian Hope Center, he received funds for a generator and essential equipment, much of which is battery operated.

Karabet Wartabdian sits in the taxi he received through the Christian Hope Center’s Micro-Projects.  

Wartabdian, an Aleppo, Syria, resident and married father of two, had to sell his last car to pay for leg surgery for his daughter, who has cerebral palsy. Since then, he’s been working as a driver for a phone company, earning a low salary.