After the siege of Aleppo in Syria, Amina and her family were forced to leave their city and relocate to Al-Bab city in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, in order to seek shelter and work. Her family was in dire financial situation with no hope in sight. The family settled in a house and it was acceptable to some extent because it provided shelter.
Amina “Umm Mohamad”, a resident of Aleppo, is married with four children, one of which was born with atrophy and cerebral palsy. The family has to cover the medical expenses on a monthly basis for treatment of this serious illness.
Amina’s main career, which she has been working for many years, is sewing, handcrafts for decoration and accessories at home. She started her career in Al-Bab again but she did not have any equipment to be able to continue to work.
Amina says, “I decided to work with my friend as she has sewing machines and some fabrics. We worked together for a while and shared income together, but the income I received was not enough to help my husband meet the needs of the house.”
“After I left work with my friend, I bought an old sewing machine to work on, because I don’t need to leave the house because of my baby’s health condition. I suffered from a lack of work and customers because of the lack of machinery and equipment to work more” she said.

“After a period of fatigue and simple work, I heard from my friends of the Kareem Microfinance Fund project in Al-Bab to get a loan within the collective system, where we formed a group and applied for a loan that was accepted,” she says.
“I received the money as I bought various different styles and colors sewing machines and I bought different kinds of accessories and decorations. I do handicrafts that my customers sometimes ask for. Now I have increased my living and I don’t need help from anyone. I have relied on myself and my husband helps me at work,” she explained.
Amina asserted, “[My] project has been so successful that my products have been shared with many of the city’s clothing merchants. In addition, shop owners demanded some of my products, which led to an improvement in the standard of living of my family, especially my children.”