Micro-projects help Syrian Christians rebuild their lives

Like many other Syrians, Mousa and Tamara lost their jobs and most prospects for a better life because of the civil war that tore their country apart. But these two Christians never stopped dreaming of a brighter future. And now, thanks to a project supported by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) those dreams are finally being fulfilled.usa Fares, 38, lives with his elderly parents and his brother in a 430-square-foot apartment in Jaramana, a neighborhood in Damascus that is home to many Christians who fled the war in other parts of the country. For most of his adult life, Mousa has struggled to support his family and keep them out of poverty.

Before the war, Mousa worked in a beverage store in Jaramana and earned enough to cover household expenses. But during the conflict, two explosions in front of his shop forced it to close. Mousa then took an administrative position at a travel agency and did cleaning work to increase his income, but a mortar shell exploded near the office, and he was hit by fragments. It took him more than three months to recover.

Mousa in his perfume shop

These calamities didn’t prevent Mousa from fighting for a dignified life. He borrowed some money and started a perfume and gifts shop. To improve his income, he used to open his store in the early morning and close it at midnight, but the COVID-19 pandemic foiled his efforts. Even so, Mousa did not give up. He took a night shift at a supermarket after closing his shop, and for more than four months, he slept for only four hours a day. And even with all his hard work, he was barely able to cover his basic needs.

The Hope Center: A chance for new beginnings

Mousa heard about the Hope Center and asked for help with a microproject. It was approved. The money allowed him to buy the supplies and tools necessary to upgrade his shop and improve living conditions for him and his family.

In July 2021, a Syrian organization called the Christian Hope Center, supported by the Catholic Church, opened its first-ever micro-projects center in the Syrian capital of Damascus. The program provides enterprising people like Mousa with funds to start new businesses or revive projects that were interrupted by the Syrian war. Workers and volunteers in Damascus assess requests for help, usually in the form of equipment or training.

When ACN visited the shop, Mousa proudly presented his products. Despite his challenges, he is grateful to God for the blessings in his life, and he explains that during the war and the economic crisis, a small bottle of perfume can help people feel normal and dignified.

More than just emergency aid

Christians in Syria say that the current economic crisis is worse than the 12 years of war they have endured, with 90 percent of the Syrian population now living below the poverty line. Many Christian families turn to the Church for help in the form of food parcels, rent assistance, and educational aid. But most of them, while grateful, prefer to be financially independent, working a stable job to support their loved ones. This is precisely the aim of the Hope Center’s micro-projects program, and they are hoping to replicate in Damascus the success of their earlier projects in Aleppo and Homs.

Another member of the Christian community who benefitted from ACN’s support of the Hope Center is Tamara Gergos, whose family also suffered greatly during the crisis in Syria. They went to Lebanon, dreaming of a safe and secure life, trying to find a way to live abroad. But this turned out to be very difficult. The high cost of living and expensive school fees forced Tamara to return to Syria with her children, while her husband Hisham stayed in Lebanon, sometimes working three jobs to  send money to his family.

But after the massive explosion in the port of Beirut in August 2020,  the economic situation in Lebanon deteriorated further, and Hisham found it increasingly difficult to earn a living and send money to his family. But Tamara did not surrender to hopelessness. She turned to the Hope Center and asked for help to open a mini-market in Jaramana to provide for her family. Her small business has managed to cover their expenses, and her husband was able to leave Lebanon to return to his wife and children. Tamara is very grateful to ACN and the Hope Center for reuniting her family.

Currently, the Hope Center supports 155 projects in Damascus, 83 of which are funded by ACN. Every beneficiary commits to repaying 20 percent of their loan within two years.

—Agnes Sebaux & Filipe d’Avillez