Lebanon hosted the most Syrian refugees in the world since the war started in Syria back in 2011. Imagine how hard it is for these people there to integrate and begin a new life after they were forced to leave their original country. Most of them had issues with the paperwork, leaving them unable to get a job, rent a house, and have access to medical services. The man in this article was in this situation but until he met someone. After that, his life changed to 180 degrees.
Abdul, a Syrian refugee was trying to make a living in Beirut, Lebanon doing his best to provide food for his daughter which he was carrying every day while selling pens under the merciless rays of the sun. Even if he was sick, tired, thirsty or starving, he never gave up and continued to walk and sell as many pens possible in order to afford something and eat at the end of the day. The attached pictures will be the proof if you want to see the sadness in Abdul’s face. Well, his life was about to change drastically, and all because of a good person that couldn’t move on without giving a hand.
As he was doing his usual job on the streets, someone stopped them and made a picture of the two. The picture got immediately under the hearts of many people and help was on the way. The picture reached the eyes of a web developer from Norway and he started a fundraiser in Abdul’s name. So many people heard about Abdul’s story and decided to help the family, the pictures and fundraising reached its target: about $200.000 were raised and Abdul was ready to start a new life.
Abdul proved to be very thoughtful and didn’t rush to spend the money. Instead, he opened three businesses. Thinking about the situation he experienced, he thought about the other Syrians struggling, so he hired sixteen Syrians at his businesses. He managed to help his family and other families, proving that he is a very good and loving man.
What a twist, to become a businessman that is able to provide for the society from a walking pen seller. There is always hope for the good people and at some point, they start thriving.