Fadi, 28 years old: “I was working in a local pharmaceutical industrial plant in the outskirts of Homs city since my graduation from the university in 2010. I considered myself very lucky to find such an amazing job. The job was in my domain and it was something that I like doing. Life was good to me and everything was just amazing. After about a year and a half, the fighting reached my house in the old city of Homs, and I had to run for my life leaving everything behind.

I had to move a lot and find a new job. In this difficult time, I was able to work as a teacher for UNHCR’s vocational training, which is when I met my fiancée Rana. She was attending another course for start-ups of small business grants. Soon after, we figured out that we are both from the same neighborhood but we had never met before! Despite the short time we spent together, we found time to sit and talk. We got to know each other well, and discovered many common interests, and we simply fell in love. We got engaged three months ago, our plan is to get married this July.”

Fadi with his biggest supporter: his fiancé Rana. “She supports me in my work, and I help her too in her newly established business”. ©UNHCR/Q.Alazroni/2015

Fadi grinds coffee beans as he usually helps Rana in her business after his work. They hope that with the extra money they earn from the shop, besides Fadi’s salary, they will be able to pay the costs of the wedding and rent a house. ©UNHCR/Q.Alazroni/2015

Fadi sells fresh coffee to one of the costumers. “It's something that is completely different from my work in pharmaceutical laboratories, but still, I enjoy it the same”.

Returning to their old neighborhood, Fadi and Rana are looking for a house to rent as they plan to get married in July. ©UNHCR/Q.Alazroni/2015

Against all odds, Fadi and Rana work hard to eke out a living. They dream of renting their own house and starting a new life. In May 2014, a hundred or so inhabitants of Homs Old City began returning after two years of conflict which left massive destruction in its wake. One year on, assisted by UNHCR and its partners, this number has increased to over 2,000 people. Clean up operations, reconstruction and refurbishment can be seen throughout. There are even a number of small businesses opening up, as the community works hard to rebuild their lives. “I’m happy to see my old neighborhood flourishing again, which was once the bustling center of Homs,” says Fadi, who luckily could return to his old job as a pharmacist.