Where a piece of soap is a treasure to behold
Manushak with her three young children lives in Torfavan in Gegharkunik Region, central-eastern Armenia. The village was settled with 130 refugee families who came from Azerbaijan back in 1988 when conflict broke out over Nagorno-Karabakh. Many of those families came from Baku or Kirovabad cities and were not accustomed to village life and the hardships it brings. Unable to take care of animals or cultivate the land, many people were disappointed and left for the capital city Yerevan. Today, Torfavan is home to just 70 families.
When dad called from Russia he said there is no job; the construction he was working on is stopped Though life in Torfavan is harsh, Manushak and her husband decided to stay. But lack of job opportunities means Gagik migrates to Russia every year and spends six-seven months away from his family to work in the construction industry.
As in previous years Gagik, together with other villagers, left for Russia in the spring counting on securing well-paid jobs to generate enough income to see their families through the rest of the year. Instead they found business in a state of paralysis because of the economic downturn and they weren’t able to find work.
“When dad called from Russia he said there is no job; the construction he was working on is stopped. Now he doesn’t have money to buy a ticket to come back home”, said six-and-a half-year-old Vladimir, visibly worried about the return of his father.
Manushak cultivates their small crop on her own because during the agricultural season Gagik is always out of Armenia. The land provides some potato, cabbage, and carrots for the family’s consumption. Sometimes she barters potato with flour to bake bread. Manushak also works in the village mayor’s office as a cashier and receives a monthly wage of some 30,000 AMD (US$80).
At best I use the same detergent to wash dishes, to wash laundry and for bathing the children “Though my income is very small my job is critical for my family, after all this is the only stable income we have. But I have three children under seven, someone should take care of them when I am at work”, explains Manushak.
There is no kindergarten in the village and when Manushak is at work the children stay home alone.
“Our neighbours are very supportive. They help me during the day. My children know that they can count on them. But still I am concerned about what they do and how they feel”, she continues.
Manushak still manages to keep the children neat and clean even though they spend the majority of the day in the yard, often playing in mud and dirt.
“It is a priority for me to keep the children clean. There is no playground in the village and the children are outside in the yard all day long playing in dirty places. I cannot forbid them. They are children and need to enjoy themselves somehow”, says Manushak.
Keeping three young children clean is not an easy task in Torfavan where none of the families has an in-house water supply. Manushak carries at least 50 litres of water every day over stony village roads to wash dishes and cook food. On Sundays she carries some 200 litres of water to bathe the children. Carrying water is particularly hard during the harsh winters.
“My mother washes our hands and legs every day and we know that we have to take a bath every Sunday and during all the holidays”, explains 5-year-old Varduhi.
“My friend Smbat and I will start helping our mothers to carry water very soon. And when we get older we will bring the water pipes to our houses”, promises Vladimir.
one third of our income is spent on buying hygiene items and to boil water for washing and for bathing Sometimes Manushak washes dishes and clothes without any soap or detergent. Often she has to make a decision to buy food or hygiene products.
“At best I use the same detergent to wash dishes, to wash laundry and for bathing the children”, explains Manushak. “Anyway, one third of our income is spent on buying hygiene items and to boil water for washing and for bathing”, she explains.
World Vision’s Vardenis Area Development Programme with the support of World Vision in the United States recently distributed hygiene items to families across 12 communities in the region.
“The soaps we received from World Vision came just in time. I had only a small piece of soap left and there are still two weeks before I will get my salary. This was a true support to my family”, said Manushak.
“We distribute the soap, shampoo, and hygiene items to all families without exception. These are villages settled by refugees and all are in need”, explains Zorik Karapetyan, Vardenis Area Development Programme Sponsorship Coordinator.
In total, 70,000 bars of soap were distributed to families in need during 2009.
“Working in the remote communities we see how important hygiene items are for many families”, said Sergey Sahakyan, World Vision Armenia’s Humanitarian Emergency Affairs and Commodities Expert.
-Ends-
When dad called from Russia he said there is no job; the construction he was working on is stopped Though life in Torfavan is harsh, Manushak and her husband decided to stay. But lack of job opportunities means Gagik migrates to Russia every year and spends six-seven months away from his family to work in the construction industry.
As in previous years Gagik, together with other villagers, left for Russia in the spring counting on securing well-paid jobs to generate enough income to see their families through the rest of the year. Instead they found business in a state of paralysis because of the economic downturn and they weren’t able to find work.
“When dad called from Russia he said there is no job; the construction he was working on is stopped. Now he doesn’t have money to buy a ticket to come back home”, said six-and-a half-year-old Vladimir, visibly worried about the return of his father.
Manushak cultivates their small crop on her own because during the agricultural season Gagik is always out of Armenia. The land provides some potato, cabbage, and carrots for the family’s consumption. Sometimes she barters potato with flour to bake bread. Manushak also works in the village mayor’s office as a cashier and receives a monthly wage of some 30,000 AMD (US$80).
At best I use the same detergent to wash dishes, to wash laundry and for bathing the children “Though my income is very small my job is critical for my family, after all this is the only stable income we have. But I have three children under seven, someone should take care of them when I am at work”, explains Manushak.
There is no kindergarten in the village and when Manushak is at work the children stay home alone.
“Our neighbours are very supportive. They help me during the day. My children know that they can count on them. But still I am concerned about what they do and how they feel”, she continues.
Manushak still manages to keep the children neat and clean even though they spend the majority of the day in the yard, often playing in mud and dirt.
“It is a priority for me to keep the children clean. There is no playground in the village and the children are outside in the yard all day long playing in dirty places. I cannot forbid them. They are children and need to enjoy themselves somehow”, says Manushak.
Keeping three young children clean is not an easy task in Torfavan where none of the families has an in-house water supply. Manushak carries at least 50 litres of water every day over stony village roads to wash dishes and cook food. On Sundays she carries some 200 litres of water to bathe the children. Carrying water is particularly hard during the harsh winters.
“My mother washes our hands and legs every day and we know that we have to take a bath every Sunday and during all the holidays”, explains 5-year-old Varduhi.
“My friend Smbat and I will start helping our mothers to carry water very soon. And when we get older we will bring the water pipes to our houses”, promises Vladimir.
one third of our income is spent on buying hygiene items and to boil water for washing and for bathing Sometimes Manushak washes dishes and clothes without any soap or detergent. Often she has to make a decision to buy food or hygiene products.
“At best I use the same detergent to wash dishes, to wash laundry and for bathing the children”, explains Manushak. “Anyway, one third of our income is spent on buying hygiene items and to boil water for washing and for bathing”, she explains.
World Vision’s Vardenis Area Development Programme with the support of World Vision in the United States recently distributed hygiene items to families across 12 communities in the region.
“The soaps we received from World Vision came just in time. I had only a small piece of soap left and there are still two weeks before I will get my salary. This was a true support to my family”, said Manushak.
“We distribute the soap, shampoo, and hygiene items to all families without exception. These are villages settled by refugees and all are in need”, explains Zorik Karapetyan, Vardenis Area Development Programme Sponsorship Coordinator.
In total, 70,000 bars of soap were distributed to families in need during 2009.
“Working in the remote communities we see how important hygiene items are for many families”, said Sergey Sahakyan, World Vision Armenia’s Humanitarian Emergency Affairs and Commodities Expert.
-Ends-
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