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Life in One Spirit

Mrs. L S is a 39-year-old woman married to a 40-year-old unemployed man, Mr. A H. Her husband used to work in Aleppo until an explosion at his workplace in early 2017 left him incapacitated as a result of his left leg’s amputation and right leg’s bone fractures. Consequently, he returned to his former residence in al-Zallou village and settled there with the help of his wife, but was unfortunately unable to provide for his three children due to his condition. He was also going through physical therapy for his fractured leg to prevent its calcification.

After one of Mrs. L S’s neighbors told her about SSSD and the services it provides to the local community and expatriates, she went there without hesitation. Once there, she met with one of the specialized staff and explained her family’s situation. She expressed her interest the small business grants (SBG) programme that SSSD offers to the most vulnerable groups in society.

Hence, Mrs. L S registered for a small project__ a grocery store__ since they have a small room in front of their room located on the village’s main street, which is suitable for such a project. Although she is originally very skilled at sewing, but she gave that up and chose to open a grocery store instead for the sake of her husband, who was unable to provide for his family and feeling completely helpless.

The SSSD welcomed Mrs. L S’s idea and enrolled her for a 6-day Small Business Management Course. Later on, her project was supported and the room she wanted was fully equipped with grocery-specific equipment and materials to be sold.

Once Mrs. L S’s project was launched, people close to the shop were thrilled by the shop as everything they needed could be found there and it was located at a very strategic place. Also, customers started going there because of the excellent customer service and reasonable prices.

Since most customers come at night, Mrs. L S started purchasing all she needs in the morning from the market and let her husband take over instead.  And so, the shop became lucrative and changed their lives both financially and psychologically, as she was able to provide her children’s school supplies without the help of anyone. The project has also had a great impact on their social life, since both Mrs. L S and her husband worked together and supported each other as one in face of life’s tough demands.

 

Waiting for Godot

The biggest loss isn’t death, but rather what dies within us while we are still alive… Those were Maghout’s words to express pain greater than death itself. Maybe Mr. A was one of the people who related to these words, as he said that the pain of losing his job and house was much greater than death. He said that in that time, many things died in him: his impulsiveness, constant optimism and smile. He was more saddened to lose his job than his house.

Mr. A fled with his family of five from his hometown, Karam al-Jabal neighborhood, along with his two brothers and their families. Unfortunately, his brothers didn’t make it out alive. He was left with nothing. According to him, he left his home with his family with only what they were wearing. Other than taking away his brothers, house and job, the crisis deprived him of his son and caused him a leg injury that left him crippled.

Mr. A had to endure living outside his neighborhood for five long years. Once he got back to his neighborhood, home and work, he found nothing… His home was without furniture, and his butcher shop was stripped away from all its equipment. Mr. A said:” Believe me, I couldn’t even find ONE knife!!! There was absolutely nothing left!”

But all the darkness came to an end, when Mr. A was nominated for a small grant and then got it after attending the training course. The small grant which was offered by the Syrian Society for Social Development at Shams Community Center was a way for him to pull himself back up and return to work, whereby Mr. A was provided with the necessary equipment to start all over again (meat refrigerator, grinder, electronic scale, and aluminum table).

Mr. A began working three days after receiving the equipment. During his visit, he expressed his deep satisfaction and optimism about everything. This was clearly reflected by him saying: "Before I opened the shop, I was sleep-deprived and always worried. You know, now I can actually sleep again!"

Full of life, he started working again from morning till evening. His wounds from all the crisis’ loss and pain started healing.

Before he went back to work, all he did was sit in his empty shop, drink tea, and wait, not knowing what he was waiting for… perhaps he was waiting for Godot…

I was waiting for a radish”, expressed Mr. A.

His income increased to thirty thousand SYP in the first month of work. This helped him secure the needs for his and his brothers’ families. Thus, hope knocked on his doors again. He did not fear what the future hides anymore, and expected an even higher increase in income from his work that will improve their life even more.

Apart from improving his situation, he served his neighborhood as well.

The life Mr. A once knew and lost seven years ago came back to him. He is back to being a butcher, and feels good about himself since he went from being a burden to an active member.

And so, hope returned to Mr. A’s life.

 

Finally Back to Work

Mr. A is a 30-year-old married man with three kids, an elderly ill mother and a crippled brother. He was displaced from his home in Tariq al-Bab and lost his furniture workshop, which was his and his family’s main resource.  

Nevertheless, Mr. A didn’t give up, and tried working in several jobs that weren’t related to his main specialty. He was paid poorly, and could barely provide for his family.

Where he lived, Mr. A had a small coffee machine that he worked on in the bitter streets of Sha’ar, under the pouring rain and severe cold. He would rouse at 5 a.m. and work till the evening in a job he didn’t even like, and could barely afford something to eat. “I used to work in the streets till the evening; the hardest thing is to work in the streets”, he said.

Mr. A was spotted by the outreach volunteers in Sha’ar, and was nominated by SSSD for a training course on project management and writing a simplified economic feasibility within the Small Business Grants Programme. Afterwards, Mr. A was able to obtain the grant, and was provided with the necessary equipment to re-launch his previous work in furniture drilling.

Thus, he started to regain his work gradually and increase his income, which helped him pay all his debts, care for his family and secure their needs. Also, his smile came back to him, and he started taking care of himself and his appearance. Mr. A’s benefit didn’t stop at the SBG programme, whereby he enrolled his children at Shams Community Center to benefit from the programme, and his three children were followed up in the Mentoring Programme.

Not only did Mr. A benefit on the personal level, but he also became an active community member, as he participated in restoring damaged houses from the crisis in Sha’ar neighborhood and its surroundings.

The real change starts with individuals, and extends to whole communities. Mr. A’s story is a tangible example of the latter. Since new opportunities came knocking at Mr A’s doors, his smile didn’t leave his face anymore. His psychological sate improved, and was finally able to take care of himself and his family.

 

Success is a Ladder you Cannot Climb with Your Hands in Your Pocket

Mr. B A, born in 1976, is the sole breadwinner of his wife, three children, mother and siblings. The family was displaced from Deir al-Zor, Mayadin, and currently resides in a rent at Ghweiran neighborhood.

Like so many Syrian families, Mr. B A and his family fled to al-Hassakeh without shelter or food. This led to the deterioration of their financial situation and exposure to psychological stress.

When one of SSSD’s outreach volunteers spotted Mr. B A, his life perspective changed positively. That was the moment where he could finally achieve his dreams with great determination.

To attain his dream, SSSSD helped him morally and offered him a course in Project Management that would help him manage his project__ a shop to repair motorbikes.

This project changed Mr. B A’s life, as its revenue helped him provide for his family and offer them a sense of moral and financial stability. He also established many social relations and acquaintances.

"The project changed my life radically and I no longer have concerns as before”, confirmed Mr. B A.

 

And so he continued living on the principle of success, that only comes through perseverance and determination.

 

My Life Became Brighter

Mrs. Kh H is a 42-year-old widow, mother of 10 and the sole breadwinner. She was displaced from Deir al-Zour and is currently living in a rented house along with her mother-in-law, and pays a rent of 15000 SYP per month. Like thousands of Syrian families, she fled with her family to a future that’s lacks shelter and financial stability. What made matters even worse was her health’s deterioration and exposure to psychological stress. Even though Mrs. Kh H tried very hard to improve her family’s situation, the greed of her employers stood in her way.

Mrs. Kh H was spotted by one of SSSD’s outreach volunteers, the thing that brought back her lost hope and changed her life. After she attended a course on Project Management offered by SSSD, her project was approved and she could finally follow her dreams in opening a sewing shop.

Mrs. Kh H’s project changed her life forever, as she was able to improve her family’s situation. This was confirmed by her as she said:” This project is a new beginning through which I can support my family and live independently.”

“Capability to Change” is the principle Mrs. Kh H adopted and embodies by SSSD.

 

Now I am Starting to Breathe

Mrs. M was born in Qamishli in 1982. She’s divorced with three children__ two daughters and a son__ and lives with her parents and siblings in Corniche neighborhood in Qamishli. When Mrs. M attended Hear my Heart activities at Beit Alkell center in Qamishli, and through the Zahharat Baraami activity that revolved around how a mother should handle teenagers, she talked about her daughters and wept. When asked about what made her cry, she said:” I am far away from my kids because I divorced their father. I couldn’t live with him anymore and tolerate all his mental and physical abuse. The only reason I tolerated it a first was because of my children, so that people wouldn’t start talking and say they have a divorced mother. What made me incapable of putting up with him was the fact that my children became affected of seeing their mom beaten up… it just suffocated me!”

From talking to Mrs. M, it was apparent that she suffered from community pressure because of the prevailing view of divorce, especially that she got divorced after fifteen years of marriage. “People are merciless! They keep telling me I should have stayed with my husband for the sake of my children’s reputation. What’s putting me even more down is the fact that I became dependent on my family and without any independent revenue I can spend on myself”, expressed Mrs. M.

She was referred to the GBV programme, and said through the sessions that she tried to commit suicide because she was deprived of her children. She was also subjected to violence from her mother, who refused to receive her children as she considers them to carry their father’s name and are thus for him alone.

And so, she was guided to ask for her rights from her mother, so that she could bring her daughters and be treated right. After her needs were assessed, it was clear that she needed psychological support.

Consequently, she was referred to the Psychological Support programme, and was followed-up by a specialist who worked on her self-acceptance and self-confidence.

Also, after the GBV case manager followed up on her, she found that Mrs. M suffered from poverty and inability to provide for herself and her children. For that reason, she was enrolled in the Small Business Grants programme and got the approval of her project__ a small library__ in the neighborhood she resides in. this project helped her become an independent woman. It also empowered her, as she started fighting for her right to see her children, and brought them presents from her library once she saw them. “I don’t need anyone’s help anymore. I was able to buy my children clothes for Eid from the project’s revenue. I was overwhelmed when I saw the joy in their eyes when they visited me at my library, and I gave them stationary as a gift for them to go to school. My children are a piece of me, and I have every right to see them and hold them tight”, said Mrs. M.

And through I am More Beautiful activity, which includes one’s self-perception and confidence in his potential, Mrs. M recounted her entire story to all the women. She told them about how she used to feel__ weak and chained__ and how she felt after SSSD helped her__ more beautiful and stronger. She was proud of herself for being proud of her dignity, and screamed from the top pf her lungs:” Now I am starting to breathe…”

 

Instead of Giving me Fish, Teach me How to Fish

Mr. A H is a 56-year-old married man who lives at the military neighborhood near Shabo hospital. He is the sole breadwinner of his wife and nine children. Both he and his wife suffer from diabetes and hypertension. Mr. A H had a keys and locks manufacturing shop with an oriental touch, which was taken from him by ISIS.

Since then, Mr. A S headed towards a future without shelter, which led to the deterioration of his financial situation and psychological state.

Luckily, he was approached by one of SSSD’s outreach volunteers. This was Mr. A H’s spark of hope and turning point for him and his family, as his dream project was approved. And so, the journey towards achieving his dreams began, and SSSD assisted him both financially and morally.

After a while, Mr. A H’s project__ a keys and locks manufacturing shop__ was launched. This project was life-changing and had a very positive effect on Mr. A H and his family, as they became able to provide for their basic needs and treat their illnesses.

This project is a new beginning. The next step I took in life to get back on my feet again was thanks to SSSD”, confirmed Mr. A H.

 

Instead of Giving me Wood, Provide me with the Rope to Carry it

Mr. Imad is a 56-year-old husband with five children- three sons and two daughters. His eldest son is a 5th year medicine student, his first daughter a 2nd year media student and his second daughter a 10th grade student. As for his wife, she is unemployed, which makes him the sole breadwinner.

Like thousands of Syrian families, Mr. Imad suffered from the crisis’s negative impacts, namely poverty and psychological pressure since he has to provide for him family.

Through a friend of his, Mr. Imad heard that SSSD provides support to small projects. Consequently, he presented his project, which is a library to sell materials, stationery departments’ supplies/records/, since he’s a retired employee who worked in the financial system for control and inspection.

His psychological and financial situation went from very bad to notably well once his project was approved and he was able to offer his children all the help they needed to pursue their studies.

Mr. Imad was filled with gratitude towards SSSD and the UNHCR for their approval of his project, which helped him restore his children’s academic levels and support his family.

Hence, he said that there’s no life with despair, and shared with us his piece of wisdom by saying: "Instead of Giving me Wood, Provide me with the Rope to Carry it”.

 

You are my Pillar

Mrs. S A is a widow born in 1969 and residing in Rmeilan al-Basha village in rural al-Malkieh with her five sons and four daughters. She went back to her village which turned into a warzone during the crisis, only to find her home completely destroyed and her source of income (sheep raising) lost. This left her devastated as she couldn’t provide for her children anymore. Once she was spotted by one of SSSD’s outreach volunteers, she was offered the services provided by SSSD. There, Mrs. S A broke down and said with deep grief:” Everything dear to me was lost: my husband, my home… I have nothing left to help me and my children go on and stand on our feet.” She was later on accompanied to SSSD’s center and enrolled in a Small Business Management Course. After completing the course, she presented her project, which was sheep raising, and got the approval and funding after meeting with the UNHCR.

Today, Mrs. SA her project’s own sponsor with all seriousness and perseverance, hoping to find the opportunity to provide for her family’s needs without anyone’s help. She expressed her happiness during a visit by an ORV to follow up on her project, saying: "May God reward and protect you. You have supported me in my life’s weakest period. Today I have my own sheep to care for.”  

While each of us goes through a moment of weakness when losing something dear and precious, we could surpass all these difficulties with the right support and help.

 

I Exist

Mr. M J is a father of five (three sons and two daughters) from Qamishli, born in 1960. He was displaced from Duma and is the sole breadwinner. He also supports his mother, and currently resides in Qaddour Beik neighborhood in Qamishli at a house one of his friends lent him.

He used to work at a fast food restaurant, until his health started deteriorating and had to undergo an open-heart operation, which led him to quit his job.

After Mr. M J came with one of his friends the center to ask about the services provided by SSSD, he attended the Old-But-Gold sessions and talked about how he lost his main profession (Shawarma Chef), and how he couldn’t afford going back to his job. Once the session ended, the facilitator referred him to the SBG staff for them to guide him through the needed procedures to apply for a small business. Later on, he was visited by one of the ORV team to assess his situation.

And so, Mr. M J attended the Project Management Course and excelled at it. Later on, he met with the UNHCR and was granted the necessary funding to start his own project. Mr. M J saw this project as a way to get back to his job and city. He became stable and was able to secure a decent life for his family.   

Mr. M J is now getting his project’s revenue and is still attending the men's sessions. In the last session, he expressed his gratitude to the association by saying: “As one gets older, he feels like a burden. When I became unemployed, I started feeling old and waited to die…. Your help brought me back to life and brought back the respect of my existence… with you, I feel that I exist and matter…”

Some roads may be blocked, leaving us no choice but to change our course… Once we get lost, we need a hand that reaches out to us and makes us feel safe to start all over again… Let us be that hand to them and their families.

 

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