A teacher at Al-Ghassaniyah School in Homs, a mother of two, and a determined woman, Shireen has the strength of someone who never stops believing in the future.
Driven by the desire to build something of her own, three years ago she decided to take a chance by starting a small artisanal chocolate production, in addition to creating beaded jewelry and jewelry.
The first steps, however, were not easy. During the first year of operation, sales were limited to a small circle of colleagues and family members. Structural challenges in the local context, particularly the severe energy crisis plaguing Syria with daily and prolonged power outages, hindered its potential.
A concrete boost to female entrepreneurship in Syria
The turning point came thanks to an encounter with the RestarT program. Shireen, who until then had been working with just a few basic tools and a lot of inventiveness, applied for concrete support for her micro-project .
The project met her operational needs exactly: Shireen was provided with quality raw materials, new chocolate molds, and, most importantly, a refrigerator equipped with an inverter and a storage battery .
“With the battery, I was finally able to work without having to rely on constant blackouts. The refrigerator continues to run even during power outages, allowing me to complete the processing and cooling process in just two hours. After that, I can focus entirely on packaging: everything has become much simpler and quicker.”
Inspiration, quality and a look to the future
Energy independence and professional equipment allowed Shireen to make a dramatic leap in quality. She began experimenting with new designs, creating increasingly refined and elegant pralines and chocolate shapes.
The market’s response was immediate: with the subsequent move to the Bustan al-Diwan neighborhood of Homs, the number of its customers grew significantly , recording peaks in demand especially during the holidays.
Today, Shireen looks ahead to a real undertaking. Her next goal is clear: to open a small streetside shop where she can work in full view and display her creations, reaching an even wider clientele.
Supporting women’s entrepreneurship in Syria certainly means offering financial assistance, but it also lays the foundation for a genuine social and economic recovery based on the dignity of work.