Syrian refugee father who sold pens in Beirut's streets now owns 3 businesses

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AcademicSaucer

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Abdul Halim al-Attar, a refugee from Syria who was photographed selling pens in the streets of Beirut, is now running three businesses in the city after an online crowdfunding campaign in his name collected $191,000.

The 33-year-old father of two opened a bakery two months ago and has since added a kebab shop and a small restaurant to his business venture. He employs 16 Syrian refugees.

The photograph of al-Attar carrying his sleeping daughter on his shoulder while trying to sell pens to passing motorists in the scorching heat went viral this past summer and touched people across the world.

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Full article here, is worth a read.

http://mashable.com/2015/12/03/syrian-refugee-pens-beirut/#B1yJeyAI.5qA
 
So happy for him. He deserves all the success. And in one of his interviews, he says he wants to help other refugees with his money.
 
Sounds like he's doing a whole hell lot better. Happy to hear it, the girl looks pretty happy too. If only we could have more stories like this.
 
AcademicSaucer said:
Full article here, is worth a read.

http://mashable.com/2015/12/03/syrian-refugee-pens-beirut/#B1yJeyAI.5qA
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Thank goodness, this is so beautiful and almost brings a tear to my eye. My family when they escaped from the Khmer Rouge didn't have this, but stood by each other in the community to make sure each and every one of them would find work and be safe. To know we have online platforms that sure hurt us sometimes but then see this is beautiful. Thanks to all the kind people who donated, you people are awesome. A little money from each and every one of us to anyone who needs help goes a long way.
 
The real success story is that he is employing 16 other syrian refugees.

He didn't just use the money to secure his and his daughter's lives, he is also securing the lives of others like him.

Real good story.
 
Stallion Dan said:
I thought this was gonna be a some amazing business story but he just got crowdfunded.
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Eh, he's only received a portion of the money, and he's putting it to good use by starting three businesses and employing 16 other refugees. It's a pretty good success story for the moment.
 
Carl said:
Pretty sure anyone could own 3 businesses if people gave them $200,000
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Even with money you have to know business logistics to keep them up, you have to know how to run a business, attract customers, etc. It's not as easy as just making it. Why not just be happy he was able to do this and hope for the best for him and that we can do similar things too
 
SomewhatGroovy said:
Ignorant ass comment. He is making the most of an opportunity. Thats life
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Not ignorant, but hey just throw that around like it means something.

How important are the pens to this story to be featured in the title? Not at all. Title should be something like "Crowdfunded Syrian Refugee sets up 3 businesses and employs others". You know, the actual story that matters.

Title implies something completely different mentioning what it does.
 
Stallion Dan said:
Not ignorant, but hey just throw that around like it means something.

How important are the pens to this story to be featured in the title? Not at all. Title should be something like "Crowdfunded Syrian Refugee sets up 3 businesses and employs others". You know, the actual story that matters.

Title implies something completely different mentioning what it does.
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Well it kinda denotes rising from what he did which was humiliating and sad to now being proud and happy.
 
This title makes it sound like the dude did it on his own. I mean good for him, but it was charity. Nice to see he's passing it on, though, and employing fellow refugees. Good story.
 
Stallion Dan said:
Not ignorant, but hey just throw that around like it means something.

How important are the pens to this story to be featured in the title? Not at all. Title should be something like "Crowdfunded Syrian Refugee sets up 3 businesses and employs others". You know, the actual story that matters.

Title implies something completely different mentioning what it does.
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The title can be a bit misleading. If OP added "after crowdfunding" at the end, it would have reflected the content of the story better. The fact that he got what he did from peoples generosity and paid it back to those like him that are in need is my take away from the story. And I think thats awesome.
 
The crowdfunding part does not look all that good. I mean, ostensibly the point of the story is to say "Hey look, these refugees will be be self-sufficient and productive members of society. They won't be a drain or need handouts."

Then you read the story and the guy effectively took a $200,000 handout. Not everybody that comes here is going to be able to get that.

Best of luck to him and his employees, all the same. His story is just not particularly well-suited to persuade people who are skeptical about taking on Syrian refugees.
 
He could have done anything with that money, including waste it. Instead he opened shops to provide continual support for himself, his daughter and all of the people he employs. A good person got an amazing opportunity and it making sure it helps other people like himself. That's the only story IMO.
 
border said:
The crowdfunding part does not look all that good. I mean, ostensibly the point of the story is to say "Hey look, these refugees will be be self-sufficient and productive members of society. They won't be a drain or need handouts."

Then you read the story and the guy effectively took a $200,000 handout. Not everybody that comes here is going to be able to get that.

Best of luck to him and his employees, all the same. His story is just not particularly well-suited to persuade people who are skeptical about taking on Syrian refugees.
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At least it goes to show that he is making the best of the albeit extremely generous oppertunity and hes not just squandering it. Its a good example of people caring about refugees enough to help. I do see your point about it not being very well-suited to persuade the skeptics but at least it goes to show the generosity of all involved. With all the anti refugee people doing their best to make them feel unwelcome, this is a nice contrast to that.
 
I do want to point that he's received less than $70,000 so far. I'd say it's impressive what he's done with it.

border said:
The crowdfunding part does not look all that good. I mean, ostensibly the point of the story is to say "Hey look, these refugees will be be self-sufficient and productive members of society. They won't be a drain or need handouts."

Then you read the story and the guy effectively took a $200,000 handout. Not everybody that comes here is going to be able to get that.

Best of luck to him and his employees, all the same. His story is just not particularly well-suited to persuade people who are skeptical about taking on Syrian refugees.
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If he did turn a pen-sales business into a bigger enterprise, would that prove to anyone a better reason to take in refugees? I doubt it.

It's just a good example of one person being given an opportunity, and that being spun into not only something more self-sustaining for that individual but also providing opportunities for more people. It's an example of why you give people opportunities and don't write them off as dead weight or lost causes.
 
You guys have no idea what Syrians are capable of. They are very hard working and successful people! Look at what happened in Jordan! They took in many Syrians and a lot of them have opened up businesses that have become more successful than the local ones. Many Jordanian business owners aren't happy about that lol
 
Smellycat said:
You guys have no idea what Syrians are capable of. They are very hard working and successful people! Look at what happened in Jordan! They took in many Syrians and a lot of them have opened up businesses that have become more successful than the local ones. Many Jordanian business owners aren't happy about that lol
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This is very true. Syrians are straight up hustlers when it comes to business or selling something.
 
Even if he did manage to turn pen-selling into 3 businesses without crowdfunding, how would that reflect anything more about refugees as a whole? People who can do that are a dime a dozen.

It'd be like a refugee publishing a landmark scientific paper in Nature and suddenly everyone will generalize that refugees will contribute tremendously to the Science of the accepting country.

How about we don't focus on the stupid shit and accept this heartwarming story for what it is.
 
Gonzalez said:
I don't want to sound like a dick or anything, but from what I hear restaurants are a terrible investment.
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Its a 9000% positive turn from being a dude slinging pens though.. I mean, thats a great take home to me.

Doing more than a lot of folks. Hard to start a business and actually do it. I respect that.
 
man, this thread is making me depressed. this was supposed to be a feel good story now i just think everyone is a piece of shit
 
Awesome for him. The restaurant business is hard, and to hear he's having success just makes it more impressive.
 
davepoobond said:
man, this thread is making me depressed. this was supposed to be a feel good story now i just think everyone is a piece of shit
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there are literally haters everywhere, especially on this board. they can not see the goodness in anything so they have to piss on other people's parade.

The best thing you can do is literally ignore them :)

BuyPens.jpg


The amount of sadness and despair in the left photo compared to the happiness and joy in the right is astounding. Just looking at this photo without any context, you can tell some sort of miracle happen.

The fact that he got a $200,000 without any work on his part is irrelevant. He didn't take the money and buy a sports car. He invested it wisely and is helping other refugees. With only a third of it. If you see any negativity in this you, you are a horrible human being, imho.
 
Good. Happy for him and the kids. Also good to see he hires other refugees to give them a better life. Hope his business will go well, although starting 3 companies within 3 months sounds a bit fast.
 
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