From fleeing Syria to a successful business in Canada: the triumph of the Hadhads

This is the story of a Syrian refugee family, the Hadhads, who built a successful chocolate business, 'Peace by Chocolate', in Canada. Their story was shared at a United Nations Summit by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Before arriving in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, the Hadhads had spent three years at a refugee camp in Lebanon. Prior to that, back in the Syrian capital of Damascus, the family had owned a profitable chocolate factory employing over 30 people.

Their chocolates were exported to several Middle Eastern countries like Yemen, Jordan, and Lebanon. With the disturbances and bomb blasts in Syria, the factory was completely destroyed and the family had no choice except to escape to Lebanon.

Speaking with CBC, Assam Hadhad, the head of the family, said,

"The Lebanese government rejected us. We applied to have a government certificate to establish a business in Lebanon but the Lebanese government has forbidden us to work. It's regarding the decisions of prohibiting the Syrian refugees to work in Lebanon."

Never even having been on an airplane before their voyage to Canada, the Hadhads brought with them nothing more than nervousness, hope, and some clothing. With help from the humble community of Antigonish, though, the Hadhads found an opportunity to re-establish their business.

In an attempt to revive their lives, the family went about building a home-based business, which now employs 10 people. Such was their success that they had enough to make donations to the Canadian Red Cross to help with relief efforts in Fort McMurray, which had been hit hard by wildfires. According to Liberal, Trudeau said,

"The Hadhads said that they knew what it felt like to flee their home and lose everything, and they wanted to help by giving what they could. We have to remember what each refugee or family has lost. Their home, their job, and too often, their loved ones."

Glenda Hamlon, a local resident and a fan of the Hadhads' chocolates, says that it is one of the most inspiring stories she has ever heard. She told CBC,

"To see a family come from a war-torn country and start a little chocolate business in a shed and then have all of this, it just makes you realise you can do anything."

Closing his speech at the United Nations summit, Trudeau said,

"I hope all the leaders here today will keep the Hadhads in mind. I hope they’ll think of the various ways their own community and their own country can be enriched by welcoming families like the Hadhads. I promise you, you will be better for it."

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