"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.