“Since we were displaced from Aleppo, I haven’t felt that strong and independent…”
These are verbatim words of Mrs. Abeer, 37, displaced from rural Aleppo with her family, consisting of her husband and two sons.

Her husband suffers from frequent heart attacks and is unable to work due to the deterioration of his health condition. Therefore Mrs. Abeer was the only breadwinner for her family, and had to play several roles in the household and community, which forced her to work in cleaning houses to secure her family’s sustenance.

After the family moved to Jaramana, Rural Damascus, Abeer got acquainted with the Beit al-Aman Community Centre of the Syrian Society for Social Development, through a neighbour who attended the Hear-My-Heart PSS sessions at the CC. There and then, after the SSSD team was informed of the woman’s living and social situation, the PSS case-manager referred her to the Small Business Start-up Grant Programme and, in turn, the programme focal point proposed that she attend the training in Entrepreneurship.
Abeer showed enthusiasm and agreed to go through this completely new experiment. When she had completed the training, her feasibility study was presented to a specialised committee composed of SSSD and UNHCR representatives. Her small project, a Home-based Sewing and Repair Workshop, was duly discussed and approved.
Thus, the project was eventually launched. Later on, we paid her a visit, waiting for the good news. During the visit, Abeer expressed the positive impact of the project on her life and character, telling us how she had turned into an independent woman who was now able to address challenges and stand for her rights.

Abeer had become a producer and was able to provide for her family and the daily and school needs of her children. Harmony with her husband had increased and calm and peace prevailed in the household, after the atmosphere was constantly tense.
She also shared with us her joy when she was able to buy a diesel heater after her children had been facing cold, only to find blankets to keep them warm.
After saving further money, she bought a refrigerator to preserve the food and was able to rent a larger house.
Now, she is trying to save more money in order to rent a workplace and a new house that resembles the house the family had fled in Aleppo.
In her own words, “The total change in my character is positively affecting my whole life… I wish all people could benefit as much as me and change their conditions for the better.”

If we go through the lives of every successful person, we would find that they all went through many sufferings and challenges, that contributed to their success.

Mr. Raed, an IDP from Ain Al-Fijeh, currently lives in a house for rent in Hameh, Rural Damascus. He is the sole breadwinner for seven people, including separated children.

Twenty years ago, Raed worked in the accessories industry, until he lost his workshop_ situated in Barzeh al-Balad_ in the midst of the crisis. Thus, he was unable to return to his profession due to the lack necessary materials, which made matters worse, especially regarding his financial situation.

Fortunately, he got introduced to SSSD through the Beit Al Salam Center in Hameh, where he resided, and presented a project on making accessories.

Mr. Raed underwent a training course in the management of small projects. He also underwent an interview which he excelled at, and demonstrated his ability to work and support his family.

Indeed, Mr. Raed received his own project on 11/11/2019, and started working on manufacturing many distinctive accessories that he presented to the merchants.

Thus, Mr. Raed entered the market directly, and began to meet the demands of many merchants. As his business grew and wasn’t able to work for all these demands on his own, he hired several women to work from home and help him.

Consequently, Mr. Raed’s life changed positively on all levels, and specifically on the financial one, whereby he confirmed by saying: “My project is becoming more successful and prosperous, just like a seedling that grows the more it’s being taken care of, and produces fruits. Now, I am able to provide for my family! Everything changed, and I became more self-confident. Currently, there is a boy who is working with me, and I am teaching him the profession of making accessories. Furthermore, 10 girls are working from home!”
He also added: "I still feel like I’m in a dream… except that this dream is actually my reality now! Now, I am aspiring to expand my work and become like these big merchants. This is my new dream, and hopefully, it will become true…”

Fleeing Al Hasakah City to Adra City, F.E became the only provider for her 6 children, especially after being divorced.

The woman faced a lot of adversities after fleeing her home city, she was not able to put a roof for her family and hardly found jobs, where she suffered from abuse and harassment.

While staying in Adra, F.E visited Farah Center which is attached to the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD), where the volunteers referred her to the Start-up Small Business Grants Program and GBV Case Management Program.

The woman was enrolled in a training course revolving the basics of business management and how to launch a small business. The woman showed a lot of enthusiasm during the course and was happy to launch her own women’s clothes shop.

F.E was interviewed and given a business grant. Upon receiving her shop, the woman spared no minute and actively developed her project, buying a sewing machine. She made sure her drop-out kids resumed studying and began treating her sick daughter.

Not only she sold ready- made clothes, she designed and made clothes of her own. She constantly worked on renewing her clothes’ lines and adding new products, such as, watches, accessories and make-up brands.
F.E was happy to talk about the great change in her life and shared her success story within her community.