Who cares about recovery? People like Hiba do — resilient, determined, and full of hope.

Hiba could have given up — as many would. But caring isn’t about always having strength; it’s about finding it when it seems gone.

“I heard about a grant program from a friend and applied to rebuild my small business,” she explains. “When they told me I was selected, it felt like I could finally breathe again. Though uncertain where to start repairing the earthquake damage, this support gave me the strength to revive my project.”

The program, run by the International Humanitarian Relief Association (IYD), a partner of CARE in Syria, supported entrepreneurs like Hiba to restart and strengthen their small businesses. Whether recovering from disaster or facing today’s economic collapse, CARE continues to give women the tools to stand on their own feet by providing small grants for essential equipment, shop repairs, and training in business management and marketing.

From survival to success

With new equipment and project management training, Hiba didn’t just rebuild — she improved. She enhanced product quality and added new items like ricotta and cream, attracting more customers. For the first time, she gained the skills to calculate costs and profits accurately.

“For the first time, I feel in control of my work and understand how to build financial stability,” Hiba says. “I have big ambitions to grow my business and achieve even greater success.”

 Caring is contagious

Hiba’s story is more than one woman’s determination. It shows what happens when caring connects — when communities, organizations, and individuals come together to refuse to let crisis have the final say.

“Things are changing, and I will do everything I can to keep my customers and expand into new markets to secure my business’s future,” she says. For women like Hiba, economic empowerment is not just about survival; it is a vital pathway to dignity, stability, and hope for the next generation.

CARE was there after the earthquakes and continues to stand with communities with programs that bring hope, give people the strength to rebuild, encourage them to dream of normal life, and help them believe that recovery is possible. Yet Syria’s road to recovery will be long. After more than 13 years of conflict and natural disasters, 16.7 million people still need humanitarian assistance.

The answer is clear

When someone asks, “Who cares about recovery?” the answer is clear.

Hiba does. She cares enough to sift through the rubble of her old life and build something stronger. She cares enough to learn new skills, introduce new products, and dream of growth — even when the ground beneath her feet has literally shifted.

This determination reflects the spirit that CARE carries forward every day. CARE is always there with emergency response, long-term recovery programs, and support for women entrepreneurs who refuse to give up.

Together, we can reach further, last longer, and transform lives.

We are CARE, Always There.