Believing in the necessity to promote vulnerable groups in community and help them keep pace with others in securing livelihoods and decent living, SSSD, with support from UNHCR, provided a small cattle farming grant (a cow) to Ms. M.H., who lives in al-3leiqa village with her four children and old sick father-in-law in the same house. The woman is the family’s sole provider, with no husband or regular income to support them.
Her new small business turned her into an effective person, capable henceforth of securing her needs and those of her children in food, drink, school uniforms, etc., thus dispensing with people’s pity and charitable donations

A.A, an exhausted young woman born in 1988, her hardship is double her age. With her husband gone missing at the beginning of the crisis, she was responsible for raising up 4 kids.
Her younger child is suffering from Hirschsprung disease, a terminal disease. The child went through 6 consecutive surgeries, with his mom by his side day and night.
Her biggest setback was when she had to flee her home in Qudsaya City to a collective shelter, where she was exposed to a lot of abuse and extortion, and as a result she left the shelter renting a small home, accompanied by her mom.
She worked in all sorts of manual labor, namely, house cleaner, sales person in a supermarket, a cashier in a center, a secretary in a dental laboratory. Making little income, the mother went through tough times leaving her kids behind for long hours.
While conducting field visits, the ORV team of SSSD referred the woman to the Small Business Grants Program. Meeting the criteria of the program, she was enrolled in the business entrepreneur training course to acquire planning skills to successfully manage her future project. Breaking her leg on the first day of the course did not stop her from completing the course, and later she attended the panel interview, at which her project proposal was approved.
It was easy to notice her eyes shining again… the woman launched Shahed Shop for Detergent Supplies with an approximate distance to her home.
After a while, SSSD team visited the woman in her shop, where she expressed her happiness of the project that brought in light into her life, providing her with high self-confidence and independency. She was thankful to the Syrian Society for Social Development for offering her the means to provide for her family and treat her very sick son.

Hanan is a woman with special needs. She is 38 years old. She lives with her sister in her family's home. Hanan suffers from polio which led to her disability, and she used a wheelchair, she relied on her sister's work in a library to pay for their living expenses.
When Hanan visited the center, she joined the group of people with disabilities who were committed to the group and liked to share with the volunteer and others.
They had a small grocery shop they had to sell to treat their father before his death, Hanan was monitoring for the small projects grant. After the monitoring, she showed excellent skills during the course and was granted a small project (Al Haneen shop). Hanan is the one who chose the name of the shop and chose the name of this story. She said that they returned the name of their former shop and obtained with her sister the source of income and guarantee for their future.
On the personal level, Hanan spoke of her great happiness for the people's look of her, her satisfaction and her sense of respect for the people and changing their perception of her, as she challenged her disability greatly and returned the name of their place and secured a source of income, as well as the opinion of the friends around her, which reflected her success on her relationship with everyone and her friends in the PWSNs group. All of this happened after getting this grant.
Hanan thanked the Association for its generosity and confidence in her ability, and said: "You really have noticed the people who are being marginalized and I will work to develop my shop”.

Mr. E is a 28 years old man who has a physical need, and live with his mother, sister, wife and three children in Al Ashrafieh area.
To be responsible for supporting his mother, sister, wife and three children, tailoring was the best profession for him. His hand was disabled and he did not need to use both hands together. That did not last long anyways because the war hit everyone. He lost his job and his brother, who was always a support for him, and now he is responsible for his brother’s family too.
He was forced to work hard works that were not suitable with his handicapped hand, in order to provide his big family's live. During the preliminary evaluation visits of the volunteers of the Syrian society for Social Development in Al Ashrafieh area, the young man was identified and nominated for a small grant.
He applied for the project management course, and he was successful in terms of commitment, mental presence and the outputs that he reached at the end of the training. After the final interview, he was chosen to receive a small grant. He chose his old profession, tailoring, which the war had taken it away from him before.
The young man came back to establish his dream, when he bought the materials he asked for like sewing machines. He is now more able to cope with his difficulties and challenges after he rented a house that he made it a workshop to work in. Believing that tomorrow is better after he has a material resource, he does not have to move between different jobs and now is able to secure the needs of his young children and his family, which has better clothing and food for its members now.
The grant did not stop with Abdullah, he was able to provide jobs for his relatives by involving them in the sewing work on the machines to expand the circle of beneficiaries of the grant, now it includes a larger number and also contributed to meet the needs of the area of sewing.
"My disability was not a hurdle on my way, I overcame myself every time I tired," he said.

Strangers had the unity of a situation: displacement, escaping death, loss and suffering. The village of Um Arquila, in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, was the same as other villages in the same area who had suffered from all above.
Ms. R, 33 years old is a mother of five children, she moved away and then returned after 3 years to live in a mud room at her husband's relatives.
Ms. Kh, a 50-year-old woman. She has six daughters who, after her husband's death, returned to live in her mostly demolished home, working on a small fare to support herself and her children and keep them in school.
Ms. H, 40, has seven children, and lost her husband during the war.
This is the case of women who live in a simple rural society, their largest concern is their homes and their families. But, after their return, the village was no longer the one they used to live in. The people changed and the faces are different. The war ended, but it destroyed most of their homes and loved ones. The destruction of most homes and people is burdened by economic and social difficulties because of the arrival of new families who they do not know.
Mr. S, who is five decades, who lives with his 10 children and his wife. His neighbor, Mr. E lives with his wife and eleven children, two of whom have a disability who can cope, except with the presence of a breadwinner, which requires sufficient money for attention and care.
As part of its role in supporting the material resources, the Syrian Society for Social Development went to the eastern countryside of Aleppo where these and other people were monitored and nominated for a small grant. Taking into consideration the most needed ones. They were given a course in project management for three days and after the approval of the projects, which were about sheep keeping , in view of the nature of the pastoral area and its rapid material return, the beneficiaries received their own sheep and feed.
Day after day, the beneficiaries continue their projects carefully and take care of the sheep without any difficulties, because the region helps them to do so and because of their great knowledge in this area.
Beneficiaries are more able to secure their needs, take care of their children, bring them back to school, maintain their homes and keep their livelihoods and access to resources that will give them a new hope of a decent life.
The village also had its share of the projects. providing the people with sheep products, which is considered a main food after these products did not exist due to poor material conditions for all the villagers, which encouraged some people to return to their places of residence in the village.

Mrs. R S, an unemployed 37-year-old widow and mother of three (two daughters and one boy), lived with her family in Qatana, Damascus. The house she was living in wasn’t hers but rather rented as she couldn’t afford to own one.

Her husband died in Damascus during the unfortunate crisis, leaving her behind a heavy burden to carry since she was the sole breadwinner for her three children.

R.S fled along with her children to Tartous and lived in an unfinished and poorly equipped house in Bluzah village, Banias, as did thousands of displaced families. Suffering from her economic situation, she decided to improve their situation by finding a suitable job, but all her efforts went in vein.

Filled with despair, she felt that all the doors of life were closing and that there was no escape from her deteriorating situation, until she heard of the Syrian Society foe Social Development from an acquaintance who was one of SSSD’s beneficiaries. Since then, hope started reigniting again as she went to SSSD and enrolled for a small project, which was sheep raising. She truly believed in her project, especially after living in the suburbs. Once R S’s project was approved, she was filled with an indescribable joy.

Later on, R S took a 6-day course in project management at SSSD, which helped her stand on her own feet and run her project. Since she loved and chose the project, she had the perfect start. This was clearly reflected in her psychological state as well as her children’s situation. Her economic situation also began to improve gradually through selling wool, milk and other products from her project.

This was how R S’s life has changed drastically, where she became able to provide her family’s basic needs thanks to SSSD, which never hesitates to help and assist all those in need and affected by the crisis that struck our beloved country.

Mr. M A is a 56-year-old husband with two boys and two girls. He and his family were settled in Raqqa and worked there. During the crisis, one of his sons was injured severely in a mine explosion and had one of his legs amputated. The situation deteriorated in Raqqa, which led to his displacement with his family to Ltoun Marqab village in Banias, leaving behind all his life savings.

Like all internally displaced families, Mr. M A settled in a rental property. As all his children are in University, he was the sole breadwinner, but was unable to do anything because of his son’s injury.

He was spotted by one of SSSD’s outreach volunteers (ORV) and was then introduced to its services, which made him interested in registering for a small project (raising sheep) in the village he was in. Later on, he was enrolled in a 1-week project management course, where he learned about project success criteria and steps to be followed for a successful project.

His project was approved, which made him thrilled as he had faith in this project and believed it would help him rebuild his life. During the 6-month follow-up period, Mr. M.A was showing remarkable progress in his life and said: “The Syrian Society for Social Development has given me the opportunity of a lifetime to build my life all over again, and I should seize this great opportunity to improve my life and the life of my children.”

Days have passed, and Mr. M became the manager of his project as if he had been working in this profession for many years- selling, buying and spending money on his children’s education. Thanks to the project, he went from an unemployed man with his hands tied to an active member in society once again.

Mrs. A M is a 33-year-old widow with 6 children, one of whom has down’s syndrome. Her husband was martyred 5 years ago after his enrollment in the National Defense. The family is from Nassirah in Hassakeh and resides in its own property, which makes Mrs. A.M the sole breadwinner after her husband’s death. Right after the heartbreaking death, the family suffered direly from poverty due to the absence of a breadwinner.

This made Mrs. A M feel helpless because of how the society viewed her: a widowed woman with no one to support her. Consequently, she decided to support her family and search for a job, but was faced with psychological pressure from the way her community looked at her and viewed her. Even though she tried to overcome these barriers, she couldn’t find any job, which put her down and crushed her dreams of supporting her family.

Once she was spotted by one of SSSD’s outreach volunteers and her project was approved, that was her ray of hope in all the darkness surrounding her and the turning point in her life as well as her family’s. From that moment on her life changed drastically, as she started her own project (grocery) with both the financial and psychological support from SSSD. Also, she was offered a course that enables her to manage her own project. Thanks to the project, Mrs. A  M was able to provide the family’s basic needs and treatment to her ill child. Additionally, this project gave her a sense of stability since she became an independent woman and her life improved a lot.

“This project was truly lifechanging and made me feel more stable and comfortable because I was able to support my family. None of this would have been possible without SSSD’s efforts, and for that I am deeply grateful”, confirmed Mrs. A.M.

Since women suffer a lot in our society, especially divorcees and widows, all organizations and associations must provide help and support women, and that is exactly what SSSD embodied.

Mrs. S was predestined to become a widowed breadwinner for her 6 children at the age of 35. Her husband passed away because of the events that took place in Sheikh Ahmed village in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, leaving her burdened with greater responsibilities, especially in light of the many displacements she and her children had to go through until they finally settled in Assafira village.

During the Syrian Society for Social Development’s visit to the eastern countryside of Aleppo to support the returnees to these villages, Mrs. S was elected as one of the candidates for a grant within the Small Business Grants project to restore her lost livelihood.

After Mrs. S completed the project management course with total success in terms of attendance and full commitment, she chose to begin a project in sheep raising. The reason behind her choice was the revenue such a project would bring her, the thing which would support her and help her meet life’s basic needs. Also, her children would be able to go back to school once they are back to their village.

Undoubtedly, SSSD purchased and provided all the grant’s requirements.

The smile was too apparent on Mrs. S’s face after she received the grant. Through a follow-up visit, she talked about the difference that happened in her life and the lives of her children, the smile of hope that came back to her and her feeling that there are still people interested in her and other marginalized people. Her joy in securing her children’s needs such as school supplies, food and clothes, was overwhelming. She was also able to build a sheep barn, buy hay and extra fodder from the milk sale surplus.

Mrs. S is now considering expanding her project by selling rams, buying ewes and securing fodder to ensure that her sheep keep increasing.

The importance of the livelihood programme in Mrs. S’s life was crystal clear, especially after her life perspective changed with her five children’s return to school following three years of parting in midst of the crisis.  Her children’s situation could have lasted even more due to the dire financial situation she was living in.

Mr. Kh N is a 36-year-old married man with four children residing in Mjarjaa. He had many failed attempts to improve his family’s life because of his employers’ exploitation and greed, which put him down and crushed his modest dreams.

Once he was spotted by one of SSSD’s outreach volunteers, the spark of hope was reignited and his life was turned upside down when the project of his dreams was approved.

Thus, Mr. Kh’s journey towards achieving his dreams began. During his journey, SSSD supported him both financially and psychologically and subjected him to a project management course. Afterwards, his project, which was a satellite dish shop, was launched.

The project changed Mr. Kh and his family’s life course through the income it has brought them, as they were finally able provide for their basic needs. It has also brought them stability and changed their lives positively, which was confirmed by Mr. KH:” This project is a new beginning through which I can support my family and live independently.”

"Their Help was my Salvation" is the principle from which Mr. Kh embarked on and that SSSD embodied.