Greatness isn’t necessarily defined by making history, but rather by conquering despair and failure, regardless of one’s background.

This is the story of a little lily that flourished at SSSD’s Dafa Center in Saydeh Zaynab.
Z.S.Z is a baccalaureate student. She radiates hope, and is a living proof that a successful person never surrenders to despair and failure.

Her story all started from the area she resided in, which remained under siege for several years. With limited resources and money, she had a father with specific needs, who needed special care and health supplies.

Unfortunately, none of the latter was available until they were finally able to leave the besieged area. However, displacement was no less severe than the siege.
All these unfortunate circumstances made Z.S.Z a desperate, sad girl who could barely afford something to eat.

Nevertheless, this did not break her spirit. She never gave up on her dream to complete her education in order to help her father and family. Still, she faced many obstacles, such as their dire financial situation and the expensive special educational courses.

Luckily, she heard of SSSD’s Dafa Center from one of her neighbours. Once she went to register there, the educational staff received her with open arms. She was assisted with all the available means and educational methods, with the aim to fill all the missing educational gaps. Also, she was provided with stationery and school supplies to pursue her educational attainment.

At the end of the school year, everyone was thrilled to witness the little flower’s success, and she was celebrated and honored by the Center. Her story left an imprint in everyone’s minds and hearts. "There are no words that could describe such moments… The taste of success is indescribable, and I cannot thank you enough for all what you have done for my daughter!" Expressed her parents.

Every time our lily carried a book, her life flourished. Thus, despair was conquered.

RN, a 17-year-old girl, dropped out of school to work with her mother and help her provide for the rest of the family, due to her father’s health condition that left him unemployed.

The girl was referred to the Case Management Programme (CMP), where it was suggested that she should continue in the 9th grade courses, since it was observed that R N was smart and determined to complete her studies. Evening courses were the most convenient to her, and she was provided with the stationery and books needed.

Hence, she started attending the intensive courses during the first and second semesters, then continued in the pre-exam courses.

Before committing to the educational activities, Rama was an introverted and hopeless girl, especially that she was one of the GBV cases.

However, she was followed up by the CMP. Additionally, her commitment was followed up, and her papers were submitted to the Ministry of Education (MoE) so that she could take the High School certificate exam.

Rama pursued her studies very hard, and gained the will and determination to continue her studies despite all the difficulties she faced. She also had classmates to discuss and exchange ideas about studying as well as other things. When it was time to take the exam, Rama was filled with confidence and gave her very best.

Eagerly awaiting the results, everyone at the center was filled with joy once Rama’s results came out, as she had had excellent grades that qualified her to continue her high school studies. Her joy was tremendous, and she hugged us with tears of joy in her eyes. She thanked us for believing in her potential and encouraging her.

She never thought of continuing her studies after she dropped out of school. It was a difficult dream for her to attain, and we helped her achieve it.

Rama is now committed to the Center's courses until she passes the Junior High literary official exam.

Her new dream is to graduate from university in hopes of becoming a teacher and helping girls who are going through the same circumstances and difficulties she faced.

While attending an early marriage campaign organized by SSSD, Mrs. Alan asked for counseling services and was referred to the case manager.
The young woman met the case manager last year when she was 17 years old.

Back then, she suffered from poor mental health and seemed desperate. She mainly complained about being forced into marriage at an early age (15 years old) where she lived abroad, and as a result she was denied of her right to education.

Her parents had forced her into marriage out of the fear of being a spinster and following the traditions and customs of her community that forces girls into marriage at an early age.
Session after session, the woman talked about her husband's abuse, physical and verbal violence, up until one day he sent her to Syria to visit her family for one month, and on her way back to Lebanon, she found out that he ended her stay permit.

Upon reaching out to him, he told her he did not want her in his life and that he was looking for a new life partner.
The young woman was traumatized and suffered from depression and lack of self-confidence. Simultaneously, her husband refused to divorce her to avoid his financial obligations toward her, and her father prohibited her from leaving home.
The case manager worked with the young woman for months up until she was able to prioritize her life goals. The first step of her healing process involved supporting her self- confidence and reducing her self-blame. Next, she was convinced to go back to school, changing her belief from "a divorced woman cannot resume studying" into a new belief "with desire and strong will people can resume studying".

Her parent's first reaction was negative; they refused the idea, worried about the financial burden and based on their belief that a woman's central role in life is being a wife. Later on, the case manager conducted several sessions with her mother to talk her into supporting her daughter's decision in enrolling in the free educational program offered in the centre and an agreement was reached to accompany her daughter to classes, since her father had refused allowing her to step out of home on her own.

Eventually, the young woman was referred and enrolled in the educational program.
During the early sessions, the woman sat alone and never participated in class nor spoke to anyone. Upon talking to her mother, the mother confirmed that her daughter preferred to sit alone at home, even at the lunch table, she also talked about her hurtful behavior toward her family members, based on that, the young woman was referred to the psychologist.
The young woman regularly attended the psychotherapy sessions.

For months, she was encouraged to get involved in many campaigns and activities organized in the centre. She gradually participated and showed drastic favorable reactions, she quit crying and let go of her sadness, and she was able to communicate with ease and developed many friendships. Currently, she is preparing to sit for the ninth grade national exam and she is very optimistic.

After some time has passed, her mother thanked the team for her daughter's change, saying that her relationship with her and her siblings improved and carried on that the young woman opened up her heart for sharing every day details with her and she quit being mysterious.
During the sessions, the woman kept communicating with her husband to avoid divorce and the social stigma of being a divorced woman.

However, the husband kept rejecting her and during their last phone call, he verbally divorced her. With the husband's refusal to document the divorce, the young woman and her parents decided to file for divorce.

She seemed hopeful that divorce would give her the chance to start a new life.
Indeed seeing the young woman's drastic change is rewarding and what is really delightful is sharing her words, "I am no longer a withered flower. I blossomed and regained my beautiful color. I see the beauty of life and I understand that life never ends when someone leaves. I am in control of so many delightful aspects of life, especially, going back to school, I am rebuilding my self-fulfillment. I am strong with everything you have offered in this center- strong enough to embrace life”.

Mrs. Halima is a 36-year-old mother of four. She and her family were displaced from her place of residence, Homs, and are currently residing in Jaramana.

Shortly after her marriage, problems with her husband arose due to his mistreatment and abuse. Unfortunately, she bore this burden alone since her parents lived outside Syria.

Her husband’s violence and abuse increased even more after their displacement, whereby she was continuously beaten and humiliated in front of her children till she once collapsed and had to go to a hospital.

Since this abuse also affected her children, she thought of getting a divorce, but didn’t get any encouragement from her parents.
Mrs. Halima’s eldest son left school because of their bad financial situation, and started learning a new profession_ sewing. As for her, she worked in a coal factory.
Interventions:
Mrs. Halima was introduced to the Jaramana through a friend of hers, and registered her young son in the center’s activities.

She started attending awareness campaigns on GBV, and was later on transferred to the case manager. After several sessions, the intervention plan was developed.
 She was referred to the Psychological Services Programme, and began attending sessions with the psychologist despite her difficult working conditions. “After my sessions with the specialist, I learned how to deal with my husband, and he no longer beats me. My psychological state changed, as I became more acquainted with my rights, and knew how to defend myself. Now I feel strong, and I know that there are people who support me” expressed Mrs. Halima.
 She was then referred to the Vocational Training Programme, where she got a sewing machine to practice the profession in Homs.

 She and her son started working on the machine, and their financial situation started improving.
These interventions had a great impact on Mrs. Halima and her children, especially her eldest son, who was aware of all the problems and was deeply affected by them. Since she started working and her psychological state improved, the affected son became stronger, more responsible, and supportive of his mother.
Mrs. Halima said: “I am deeply grateful to SSSD for their support. For every woman out there subject to violence and abuse, do not keep quiet and abandon your right… Be strong for yourself and your children, because strength is found within you!”

"I lost my home, my health, my life savings, and my source of income revolving production of clothes. I lost all hope in life," said Mrs. O.M.O.

Mrs. O.M.O, born in 1987, is an IDP coming from Aleppo and currently living in a rented flat in Al Qamishli City.

The outreach volunteer team attached to the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD) met the married woman along with her five children (3 males, 2 females) and later accompanied her to Beit Al-Kel Community Center, where she was nominated to receive a small business grant to launch a production workshop of Majales Arabia. Initially Mrs. O.M.O was enrolled in an entrepreneurship training course "to learn the basics of starting one's own business", as put by her.

Afterwards, the woman was interviewed by officers from UNHCR and the start-up small business grants program offered by SSSD to assess her business proposal and experience. Her proposal was approved and she was granted a sewing machine, an overlock sewing machine, and some raw materials (e.g. sponge and cloths).
SSSD team conducted several follow up visits to assess the woman's progress and it was easy for the PIC to witness the improvement of the woman's livelihood conditions.

The positive vibes were even visible in her words, "I enjoy the blessings of each new day. I gain more strength each and every day."
As days went by, the woman expanded her business and bought additional machines depending on her surplus profit.

She continuously works on improving the quality of her work and developing her skills.
Financial aid might initiate favorable change in people's lives; however, real change is about the art of giving infused with love along with the nurture of talents and experiences. And this is what the Syrian Society for Social Development aspires to achieve through its start-up small business grants program that is designed to reach out to the most vulnerable people.

"I am happy to pass my artisan experience to other people, especially the ones who have passion and enjoy being independent, the ones who are in need for support. I received unconditional support and I am working on giving back to the community. I started off with my kids and neighbors," the resilient woman revealed.

In a tent they were gathered, naked and barefoot, an internally displaced family from Al Raqqa, a widow with her three kids, her sick mother, and aunt.
The outreach volunteers attached to the Syrian Society for Social development found the family exposed to burning sun in an empty space of land in Um Al Fursan Neighborhood, Al Qamishli City, and invited her to Beit Al Kel Community Center, where she was introduced to its services and programs.
The woman told SSSD team about the hardships she is facing, namely, harassment, kidnapping, and poor livelihood conditions, especially that her husband is a martyr and there is no one to provide for her.
She requested helping her out in a finding a job to put bread on the table and cover the basics of life for her and her family. Within a few days SSSD officer responsible for the start-up small business grants program handled and followed up on her case, nominating her to receive a grant to launch her business, women clothing shop.

The woman attended an entrepreneur training course to prepare her to run her own business and enter the market supported with skills and the know-how.

The trainer ranked her excellent and thus she was referred for an interview with the PIC from UNHCR and SSSD who assessed her calculation and customer care skills and approved giving her a grant to launch her shop.
Upon conducting several follow up visits, SSSD team was happy to see the radical livelihood improvements.

The woman became independent and resilient, rented a flat to protect her family, provided medicine for her sick mother, and enrolled her children in school to resume their education.
The woman said that the business grant was a turning point in her life and her family's, at which she was able to ascend from a chaotic life to an organized one. She confidently said, "When life pushes you down, fall forward. It is your responsibility to fight for your kids.

It is your responsibility to be their role-model." And she carried on, "A Harsh circumstance is never a choice; however, we have the choice to seize opportunities, we have the choice to believe in our capacity to masterfully invest in those opportunities."

“As the proverb goes: Life consists of two days, one for you and one against you. Alas, days were always against me… “expressed Mr. N A in one of the Hear-My-Heart Programme sessions for men.

Mr. NA, a single young man born in 2000, was an IDP from the area of Tal Ahmad. He lived with his orphaned nephews in an unfinished house that was unsuitable to live in. To top it all off, he had a crippled hand and a mild speech impairment, which hindered his chances of getting a job.

He worked as a laborer at a popular factory for many years, but unfortunately lost his job. Nevertheless, he never lost his will to finding another job to support his family.

Luckily, his case was monitored by SSSD through the SBG Programme manager in cooperation with UNHCR, whereby he underwent an Entrepreneurship Course that he excelled at.

Consequently, he got the grant, and was assisted in his “popular restaurant” project.

His project was shown to be a great success through several follow-ups. He was finally able to support himself, his family and nephews. Also, he rented a comfortable house suitable for living.

In conclusion, Mr. NA expressed his happiness with the given opportunity. Such opportunities are seen as a beacon of hope for every person whose radiance is about to be extinguished by life’s harsh conditions.

Thus, one must never lose hope. Through determination and support, hope becomes our reality.