From Loss to Livelihood

On June 22, 2025, a bombing at Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Damascus, Syria, devastated a Christian community already carrying years of hardship. Families lost loved ones, survivors suffered injuries, and many were left facing new responsibilities with limited resources. Yet amid profound grief, stories of resilience began to emerge. 

Hanan is one of those stories. 

A Life Defined by Perseverance 

A young mother, Hanan’s life has been shaped by perseverance through years of uncertainty. When conflict broke out in Syria in 2011, she and her family were forced to leave their hometown and relocate to Tartus. After losing her father in 2013, Hanan stepped into the responsibility of supporting her household, working in clothing stores to help provide for her family. 

Eventually settling in Damascus, Hanan married in 2018 and welcomed her son a few years later. 

But on that tragic day in June 2025, her life changed forever. Her husband was killed in the attack on Mar Elias Church, leaving Hanan as the sole provider for her young son and an extended family facing significant needs. She now lives with her husband’s family, including her disabled mother-in-law and two relatives with special needs, while also helping support her own mother. 

In the aftermath of unimaginable loss, Hanan faced a difficult question: how could she rebuild a future for her family? 

A New Beginning  

Through Shai Fund’s livelihood grants, Hanan received support to establish a small grocery and homemade sweets business serving families in her community. With business development support, equipment, and initial inventory assistance, Hanan was able to transform her experience in retail into a sustainable source of income. 

The shop provides essential household goods, daily food items, and locally prepared products for the surrounding community. For Hanan, however, it is a step toward independence. A way to provide for her son. A reminder that even after devastating loss, rebuilding is possible. 

Path to Recovery  

Hanan is one of five households supported through the project for victims of the Mar Elias Church bombing. Together, these families represent 27 direct beneficiaries who have received assistance to establish businesses ranging from grocery retail and homemade food production to women’s hairdressing services, clothing wholesale, and plumbing supplies.  

Beyond the households directly supported, these businesses are contributing to the wider recovery of communities affected by violence by strengthening local markets, creating connections with suppliers, and providing needed goods and services to the community. 

For Hanan, her market is a symbol of hope. Through determination, she is rebuilding a future for her son and creating a path forward for her family.