Cucumbers: Worth Their Weight in Hope
- Springs of Hope
- Jun 23
- 6 min read

Ayhan: Director of the Hope Centre
"Now that it’s summer, it’s the season when our seeds grow and our garden begins to yield its produce. These fruits and vegetables go to children with special needs, rescued kids, elderly people living alone, struggling widows, and others who are less able to care for themselves. It may seem like a small gesture, but to them, it means the world. It shows them that someone cares—that they are not forgotten or invisible.
I see the joy on their faces when they receive these gifts. I hear the heartfelt prayers they offer, and I feel the blessings they send our way. It’s incredibly moving.
Right now, we’re in the middle of our cucumber harvest, and in the past two months alone (April and May), we’ve distributed around 1,000 kg of cucumbers to those in need. Each delivery carries a message of hope.
While many of the recipients don’t know how all of this is made possible, I want to say thank you on their behalf—to the kind-hearted people who continue to support this mission and make it a reality. We are truly grateful.”
Ayhan
Sami: Gardener with the Greenest Thumbs
"As someone who lives inside this refugee camp, I understand the people here and their daily struggles. I see it, hear it, and live it with them. I help however I can, and I’ve been working in The Hope Garden for several years now. Since this garden was established, it has been a true blessing to our community.
Every year, especially during the summer, we’re able to share the harvest with those who need it most—people with special needs, survivors of ISIS, families in tents who have no access to fresh food, widows, the sick, and those who are less able. We take great care of the produce. In fact, it's often even cleaner and healthier than produce grown elsewhere, thanks to the clean water we use and the attention we give to every plant. Though our land is small, it is full of hope and abundance.
This summer, we’ve already distributed about 1,000 kg of cucumbers and 300 kg of green peppers over the last two months. The cucumber harvest will last another month, and then we’ll move on to grapes, eggplants, and watermelons, which will be ready in the coming months. We’ll continue delivering food to the most vulnerable until mid-December. After that, we begin preparing the land for the next season.
I feel truly grateful to be part of this mission. I know how much it means to people. I see their smiles, I hear their blessings—especially from the widows and elderly who can’t go out and get food themselves. They always say, “God bless you, and keep you for us.”
On behalf of all of us here, thank you for supporting The Hope Garden and keeping it alive. For many people in the camp, it seems almost unbelievable that something like this exists—until they see it with their own eyes. Blessings to everyone who makes this possible.”
Sami
Khero: House Father
"The Hope Garden is a part of me—both during my working hours and beyond. I live here in the camp, and everyone knows me. Whenever I see or hear of someone in need, I add their name to the list with the staff, and we make sure they receive a gift from The Hope Garden.
I work alongside Sami in the garden. I help with the planting, harvesting, and delivering of the produce to families and individuals who need it most. It’s truly a blessing for the people here.
Thank you to everyone who supports us and helps keep The Hope Garden going."
Khero

Ayham's Mother
"This morning, I got Ayham ready, as usual, to go to the center where he receives both health and psychological support sessions. Recently, he has also started playing football with a group of kind teachers who are working to provide a safe and supportive environment for him.
Today, when he returned, he had a bag of cucumbers in his hand and was smiling brightly, full of joy over receiving this small gift. Some might say, “It’s just a bag of cucumbers!” But for families living in poverty, who have almost nothing, this simple gift means a lot. It brought genuine happiness to Ayham’s face. It’s not just a bag of cucumbers — it’s also emotional and psychological support.
This is not the first time you’ve supported us. In past years, you’ve also provided us with cucumbers, falafel, and many other things like grapes and mulberries from the trees. We truly appreciate this, and we thank you for your continued support. We sincerely hope you will keep helping these vulnerable families, as what you do makes a big difference — especially during this season."
Ayham’s mother
Avya Play Therapist
"As I’ve often said, while some of us are managing to live and do well, many others around us are struggling deeply—psychologically and mentally. Life in a refugee camp, especially in tents under the burning sun with temperatures above 40°C, is incredibly hard. There’s little nature, little comfort. But in the middle of all this, we have something extraordinary: The Garden of Hope.
I still remember how impossible it seemed in the beginning. No one believed it could happen—but a few years later, here we are, living with real hope. The garden is not just growing produce; it is spreading hope to everyone who needs it most.
Thanks to the amazing work of Sami, and the dedication of our “house father,” Khero, we now have a small piece of nature growing in the middle of hardship. They are planting and providing hope like seeds, and every day the garden gives its fruit to people in need.
As a play therapist, I also take my students—the children—into the garden. They breathe in the beauty of nature, and they breathe out joy. Just last week, I sent some of the children home with bags of cucumbers. A few days later, their mothers came to me and said, "You are living in our soul. We are happy and grateful for everything you do."
I want to pass that message on to everyone who supports us from the outside. You are living in our souls. Thank you for helping us keep hope alive here."
Avya
Nurse Salah
"This season is truly a healthy one, and we must make the most of this opportunity in the best way possible. Every morning, patients visit our medical clinic for essential check-ups such as blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rate, and other health assessments.
As you may know, we have a garden full of oxygen and vibrant with greenery. It is designed to support the poor, the needy, the sick, people with disabilities, and those suffering from psychological and physical disorders. This environment greatly contributes to improving their mental and physical well-being.
When I arrive at the clinic, I first head to our farm to collect a quantity of cucumbers. I then bring them to our kitchen, where I wash them thoroughly in a hygienic way. After that, I place the cucumber slices into bottles filled with water to make cucumber water, which is known for its detoxifying benefits. It is especially helpful for patients with kidney issues and high blood pressure. This method has been tried and proven effective.
On the following mornings, patients come specifically to receive this beneficial drink. In addition, our clinic distributes bags of cucumbers to patients with such conditions, to provide both medical and psychological comfort — and to bring joy to their hearts.
On behalf of our clinic, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our beautiful garden, which has been — and continues to be — a source of support and comfort for our patients. We sincerely hope that this garden will continue to thrive in the future, allowing us to keep providing such valuable assistance to those in need, especially patients who truly rely on this kind of support. We look forward to the garden remaining with us so that we may continue our mission, and others may continue to benefit from it."
Nurse Salah
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