Bethlehem —

In a city worn down by war and weighed with economic hardship, many have been left living between fear and waiting. Families lost their sources of income, businesses closed, and the dreams of youth, women, and men alike faded into uncertainty.

Amid this darkness, the Job Creation Project, implemented by the Shepherd Society in partnership with Bethlehem Bible College, was born — to bring life back into homes that had been silent for too long, and to offer real opportunities for people to begin again.

After the war extinguished hope in so many hearts, this project became more than just employment — it became a lifeline. It restored dignity, rebuilt confidence, and opened doors for those who thought their journey had already ended.

Among the participants was Christina, a 19-year-old from Bethlehem who once dreamed of attending university. Financial struggles forced her to give up that dream and start working in a hotel, but when the war broke out, her job ended overnight.

“After the war, I lost everything… even hope,” she said softly. “Every morning I woke up and had no reason to move.”

Through the Job Creation Project, she was given a chance to work at a local beauty center — rediscovering her childhood passion for nail care.

“Working there brought me back to life,” she said. “I started smiling again. I finally felt that I belonged somewhere.”

The salon owner shared that when Christina first arrived, she was quiet and withdrawn — but with time, her confidence and joy returned, and her hands once again created beauty.

Another story is Silva, a 43-year-old mother of three from Bethlehem. After years of working in administration, she left her job to care for her children. When she was ready to return, the pandemic — and later the war — made that impossible.

“I applied everywhere, but every answer was the same: sorry, no work,” she said. “I reached a point where I lost all hope.”

Through the project, she was placed in a new role working with elderly people — a completely different field, yet one that filled her heart with peace.

“Being with them changed me,” she explained. “We laugh together, we pray together… and I feel that my life has meaning again.”

Her eyes filled with tears as she added:

“War steals our comfort, but faith brings it back. Never lose hope — God never forgets His people.”

Then there is Cathrine, a 26-year-old mother who studied Educational Rehabilitation and loved working with children with autism. When the pandemic began, she lost her job. Her husband’s small business, dependent on tourism, also collapsed.

“We lost our jobs, our income, and even our sense of security,” she said. “I was terrified of tomorrow — wondering how I would feed my baby.”

Through the Job Creation Project, Cathrine found a new opportunity at Al-Shurooq School for the Blind.

“Even though it was temporary, it gave me new hope,” she said. “Working with the children reminded me why I chose this path — it made me feel alive again.”

She ended with a wish whispered through tears:

“I just pray for peace… that one day, we can live normally again, like before all of this.”

These are just a few of the many stories born out of hardship — stories of people who refused to give up, and who found, in this project, a reason to stand again.

The Job Creation Project is not only about employment; it is a journey from loss to renewal, from despair to hope. It is a hand extended to those who fell — a quiet reminder that even after destruction, life can bloom again.

In Bethlehem — the city where hope itself was born — that light still flickers, carried by every person who dares to believe that new beginnings are possible.

The names mentioned in this story are fictional.