In a quiet neighbourhood in Lattakia, entering what looks like another café, you are instantly hit with a wave of serenity and warmth beaming from the smiley faces of Marcelle and Alia greeting you. 
 
Marcelle is a 37-year-old woman with developmental disability, and Alia, a 24-year-old woman with Down Syndrome, have been working in the café for almost two years now. 
 
Warak Ateek, which is Arabic for antique paper, is a cultural club and café owned and run by Linda Daher, a 49-year-old woman who was one of the 26 winning teams that received financial support and mentorship as part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Idea Challenge project, with funding from Germany. The project represents the first social enterprise programme in Syria to support the development of new and existing social enterprises that are led by women, staffed by women, and created for women who can be catalysts for change.

“Reading was my refuge since I was a little girl. I spent most of my allowance on books. My mom used to take them away sometimes. I always dreamed of owning a safe and quiet space where I could read in peace without being harassed,” said Linda. “I also volunteered at a very young age in an association that cares for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). I was fascinated by their talent and abilities and, more importantly, their ability to spread love around them,” she added.
 
More than 12 years of crisis have pushed millions of people in Syria into unemployment and poverty. More than 90 per cent of the population in Syria is estimated to be living below the poverty line, and close to two-thirds live in extreme poverty, with women and persons with disabilities being disproportionately affected.