LocationsDefying the Scars of War: Two Stories of Resilience in the Heart of Raqqa
May 10, 2026
In the war-torn villages of the Raqqa countryside, the work of rebuilding is not measured in bricks and mortar alone, but in the quiet determination of those piecing their lives back together. Here, after years of displacement and conflict, two stories paint a vivid picture of resilience. One is of a man who lost a hand but not his hope, and the other is of three partners turning discarded wood into opportunity.
Thamer Al-Dhaher in his shop
For Thamer Al-Dhaher, the return home was the beginning of his cruellest test. Before the accident, he had spent his life as a farmer, relying on the land to provide for his family. But a landmine, a remnant of a war he had survived, exploded, taking his left hand and, with it, the only livelihood he had ever known. The 35-year-old father of six felt his world shrink. "I lost my left hand and felt that everything had stopped," he recalls. But with a family to feed, giving up was not an option. He opened a tiny shop next to his home, a humble start that barely covered their needs.
Hilal to the left next to Abdel Aziz to the right in their workshop
Miles away, in the same town of Ma'adan, a different kind of rebuilding was taking shape. Three friends named Hilal, Abdel Aziz, and Abdel Rahman saw opportunity in what others threw away. Hilal, a 38-year-old teacher with a passion for business, had the vision. Abdel Aziz, a 30-year-old skilled carpenter and father of two, had the expertise. And Abdel Rahman, a 29-year-old former day labourer with four children, brought the energy. Together, they decided to recycle old furniture.
“People’s circumstances are difficult, and new furniture is very expensive,” explains Abdel Aziz. “We buy the old, repair it, and return it to the market at a price that suits our neighbours.”
The turning point for both Thamer and the three partners came through a local project announcement. For them, the support was more than just a grant; it was a foundation. They attended intensive training on managing a business, from calculating profits to studying the market. Armed with new skills and crucial funding, they transformed their operations.
©️UNDP Syria – Osama Almhamd
Thamer expanded his small stall into a fully stocked mini-market, purchasing refrigerators to preserve food. The three partners bought professional woodworking tools. Critically, both Thamer and the furniture workshop invested in solar panel systems, a strategic move to overcome the region's chronic power cuts and ensure their businesses could thrive.
Hilal and Abdel Aziz in their workshop
Today, Thamer stands proudly in his bustling shop. The physical disability he wears is a powerful reminder not of what he lost, but of what he overcame. "Today I work and cover my family's needs completely," he says with satisfaction. Meanwhile, the furniture workshop is a hub of activity. The team not only gives old wood a new life and plans to open a proper showroom, but their success is fuelling a broader local recovery, allowing them to outsource jobs to other workshops.
Their stories, though different, are branches of the same tree, nurtured by the "Enhancing Livelihoods and Building Resilience" project. Thamer, along with Hilal and his partners, are among 70 people in Raqqa who received support to restart their lives. Implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), these transformative efforts are made possible thanks to the support of the Government of Germany through its Development Bank KfW, proving that when determination is met with opportunity, even the deepest scars can make way for a hopeful future.
By: Osama Almhamd and Asma’ Nashawati
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