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. 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.

Mrs. F A is a 37-year-old mother of three (two boys and a girl), and married to a missing husband because of the crisis, Mr. M F. she currently resides in al-Zallou village with no one to support her, and decided to search for a job or someone to help her after she lost her husband.

When she heard of the Syrian Society for Social Development in Banias from one of SSSD’s outreach volunteers, Mrs. F A decided to register for a small business grant to support and improve her living conditions. After SSSD studies her situation, she was accepted and enrolled for a 6-day course in Small Business Management that would help her decide the most suitable project and manage it. She was thrilled to take the course, as this was the first course she has ever taken and learned so much from despite the short period.

After she was done with the course, she chose to open a shoe store as her project, where she prepared a room at her house. Her project was supported by SSSD in terms of providing her with materials (shelves, desks, chairs…) and a variety of shoes in various shapes and sizes as a starting point.

Opening a shoe store was a perfect idea as it was the only store in the village. Both the prices and turnout were acceptable, and villagers came from the first week to buy from her. In her third week, Mrs. F A quickly ran out of shoes and headed to Messiaf to buy new ones from the project’s income. When in Messiaf, she met a merchant through one of her acquaintances who helped her greatly.

And so, Mrs. F A set off her career. She explained joyfully how SSSD opened up new horizons for her that allowed her to become a distinguished woman in the village with a job to support her children.

Mr. A A is a 28-year-old man from Alton al-Jared village. He got married at the age of 26, and decided to move with his wife to Damascus. He rented a house in an old neighborhood and started working in a private company two shifts a day. During the first year of his marriage, he welcomed home his newborn baby girl. One day, when Mr. A A was on his way to work, a mortar fell near him and caused his right arm’s amputation, as well as burns and splinters all over his body. This led to his health’s deterioration, which resulted in losing his job and having no other choice but to go back to his village and live with his parents and brothers in a small house.

Mr. A A heard of SSSD from one of his relatives who benefited from the SBG programme at SSSD. Consequently, he decided to visit the center and register for a small project. After a while, an interview was conducted with the vocational training staff, and once it was ascertained that he was in need of a small project, he was introduced to a course in Project Management so that he could manage his own project__ sheep raising.

Ahmed pointed out that he chose this project because his family also raises sheep, so he can consult them and turn to them whenever he needed help, especially after his injuries. When following up on his project for 6 months, the extra attention and care for his sheep until they reached their production stage was clearly observed, where they were being taken care of 6 hours a day. Once the sheep entered the production stage, Mr. A A would sell the products in his village. He said he felt relieved and stable after he improved his situation. He also said that he would seek to expand his project from the profits made from selling sheep products.

Ahmed is currently building a small two-room house near his family's home for him and his wife to settle in.

Ms. R N is a 39-year-old widow and mother of three. Her husband passed away four and a half years ago due to the unfortunate crisis that hit our beloved country. She currently lives in Isqableh village in Rural Banias, and is the sole breadwinner for her children.

After Mrs. R N heard of the services provided by SSSD through one of her friends who underwent a handwork course at Baath Center in Jleity village, she came to Banyas Center and expressed her desire to register for a small project. Consequently, she was offered a 1-week course in Project Management. During the course, she was introduced to the criteria for successful projects, and the steps required that would enable her to succeed in the project she wanted to implement__ a linen shop in the village she lives in.

Once her project was approved and handed over, Mrs. R N felt like a woman in charge for the first time in her life. She did not hide her fear and said:” I hold the trust of three children, and carry SSSD’s gift, which is represented by their trust in me to help me bear my children’s daily costs and life burdens.”

Day after day, Mrs. R N led her shop just like a captain of a ship, selling and buying from the profits of the project new goods and introducing new types and materials that did not exist before, as was observed during the project’s follow-up.

She managed to make her own way into society to occupy a suitable place, and change the stereotype of the widowed woman to a creative woman. She also managed to cover the expenses of her children and enroll her young son in a private kindergarten.

Mr. M N is a 42-year-old married man and father of three. He and his wife are currently unemployed, and he became unable to support his family after he fled and lost his former job.

Mr. M N was displaced from al-Bayda village in rural Banias. He is now living in a rent in Jleiti village with his elderly mother, which led to the family’s poverty and inability to provide the most basic needs.

Mr. M N tried more than once to improve his family’s life, but the exploitation and greed of his employers, and the expensive living costs stood in the way of his modest dreams.

During the ORV tours and monitoring in Jleiti village, Mr. M N was identified. After explaining his situation, he was told about the Small Business Grants Programme, which was offered to the most vulnerable groups in society.  He couldn’t conceal his immense joy and was eager to get the approval as soon as possible. Several days later, he came to the SSSD office and met with the specialized personnel. Once his needs were assessed, he was assigned a six-day course in project management so that he could manage his own project.

The Syrian Society for Social Development supported him both financially and morally, and funded his project __breeding birds__ based on his desire, as he had a long history and expertise in this subject.

The project changed greatly the life of the beneficiary and his family. Through the project’s income, they were able to secure their living needs and live a decent life without having to beg for money.

Mr. M N has also devoted all his time to take care of his project because he saw it as his salvation from poverty and need.

This was confirmed by one of the facilitators when he said that the project was a new beginning for a better life.