Solar panels for families in Syria

Today, we want to share with you the story of Mussa and his family, who—in many ways—have emerged from darkness and found the light once again.

Mussa is 35 years old, and his journey has been anything but simple. He comes from the village of Knaye, which he was forced to flee after it was taken over by the Islamic State. He then moved to Lebanon, where he found work on a farm.

Life in Lebanon was good, but before long, the country’s severe economic crisis left him unemployed, forcing him to return to Syria. Two years ago, he settled in Aleppo, where he now works in the vegetable garden of the Latin Cemetery, tending to plants and animals. His income is modest, and making ends meet has been a struggle—especially since marrying Leila and starting a family with her.

Leila and Mussa met shortly after the devastating earthquake that struck Syria in 2023. Mussa took in Leila and her family, who had lost their home, offering them shelter in the buildings next to the cemetery where he worked. The two married a year ago, and just a few months ago, they welcomed their beautiful son, Habib.

Thanks to the solar panel project, Mussa and Leila can once again use electricity, their washing machine, and their kitchen. “Along with the light, life has returned to our home. Light is life,” Mussa explains. “Everything has changed: now we have a working refrigerator, but most importantly, we have a washing machine—essential with a newborn in the house.”

Habib, whose name means "beloved" in Arabic, is the light of Mussa and Leila’s family. Their love was born like a ray of light emerging from the darkness of the earthquake and the ruins it left behind. The solar panels now allow the young couple to care for their child and regain a sense of dignity, stability, and normalcy in their lives.

Today we want to tell you the story of Maurice, a young pianist from Syria who, thanks to the solar panels installed on the roof of his house, was able to start playing again.

Maurice is very young: he’s only ten years old and lives in Aleppo with his mother Mary-Belle, his father Antoine, and his little sister Jessy. Living in Aleppo is difficult: the electricity comes and goes, one morning it arrives at 8 a.m. without warning, and the next day it might not come until late in the afternoon. Often, it arrives at night, when the house is already immersed in silence, and electricity is no longer needed for studying, cooking, or playing the keyboard.

Before the solar panels were installed, Maurice and Jessy had to study by candlelight, and Maurice couldn’t play the piano anymore — his keyboard is electric — because his music was forced to follow the intermittent rhythm of the electricity. But since the photovoltaic systems brought light back to the Tabbakh household, life has changed!

The children can’t wait to show everyone the lights that are now on and the table where they can do their homework, and Maurice can finally start playing again.

• Watch the story of Maurice and his family here!