This is how I rebuilt my life - Vocational training in Syria

I think it’s about time I share my story with the world. I was once an unemployed farmer struggling to survive but now, through hard work and World Vision’s support, I’ve built a new life.

My name is Ammar*, I am 27 years old, from Northeast Syria.

I live in a modest house with my mother, wife and three children. We used to rely on agriculture as our main source of livelihood, but life was never easy. We had no stable income and could barely secure our daily food.

Because of the crisis in our area in 2017, we were forced to flee far from our village. We left behind our home, our land, and everything we owned, departing with fear and exhaustion. Displacement was a harsh experience and life away from home brought us constant pain and sadness.

After two years, we returned home.  We thought returning would mark a new beginning, but reality was harder than we imagined. We found the village burdened by destruction, the fields barren, and job opportunities almost non-existent. I tried to work in farming again, but the crops were poor and the income was insufficient. Every day, I felt helpless, especially when I saw my family struggling with me just to survive. Deep inside, I had a small dream, to learn a trade that would allow me to build a better future. But there was no place to learn, no real opportunity, it felt like the road ahead was completely blocked.

While browsing social media, I came across an advertisement for a Vocational Training Centre. The ad mentioned several training programs, including one on solar energy. That advertisement was like a ray of light in a long, dark tunnel. The project was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). I did not hesitate for a moment and registered immediately.

My journey with the training began, and it was completely different from anything I had experienced before. I took 48 training sessions in the span of three months, both theoretical and practical lessons, during which I learned the principles of designing solar energy systems, how to install panels correctly, maintenance techniques, and even the precise calculations needed to ensure system efficiency. It wasn’t just about the technical side, the training also included business management and computer literacy. These additions opened new horizons for me and taught me how to deal with clients and plan to start my own project in the future.

When I installed my first solar panel with my own hands, I felt that I was finally building something that could change my future. At the end of the training, the project team gave us certificates and a starter kit with equipment to help us start our own business. After the new knowledge I gained, I began offering simple services to my neighbours in the village, such as installing small solar systems and repairing old ones. Soon, people started trusting my work, and my name began to spread among them. That trust became my real capital, and through it, I developed my skills day by day.

Thanks to the project, today, my life has completely changed. I am no longer a farmer working on exhausted land with no return, I have become a professional in a trade everyone needs. My income is now more stable, and I feel capable of supporting my family with dignity. Most importantly, I have become a confident person who believes in his own abilities. I am now planning to open a small solar energy workshop, a step toward a larger project I hope will serve my village and neighbouring areas.

And I’d like to share a phrase I always repeat, “This training didn’t just give me a profession, it gave me a new life. It restored my confidence and opened a door I thought was closed forever.”

In conclusion, I feel an indescribable gratitude. Heartfelt thanks to World Vision, BMZ, and Action For Humanity. These projects don’t just provide training; they give hope and rebuild the lives of those who have lost their way. My wish is that they continue, opening doors to the future for more young people who need an opportunity, just as it happened with me.

Ammar’s story is just one among many. The project’s training component supported more than 80 participants with diverse trainings. The training programs included women’s tailoring, photography and design, plumbing, men’s hairdressing, and solar energy system installation and maintenance. In addition to these technical skills, participants also received training in business management and computer literacy, enabling them to enter the job market with confidence.

*Name has been changed to protect identity.