The dream of an impoverished family living with 9 children in a damp and poor housing conditions
35-year-old Hasmik Sahakyan who lives in Geghahovit village of Gegharkunik province in Armenia has recently given birth to her ninth child. Little Ani is the fifth daughter of the family. Her elder sister is 18 years old, while the elder brother is 16.
“My children are my wealth,” Hasmik told Panorama.am reporter, as the latter visited the family, adding the family lives in peace and amiably confronts the daily hardships. Those appear to be many.
In Hasmik’s words the large family is basically engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding. During summertime they go to mountains to handle the livestock of the fellow villagers. They also cultivate a piece of land to secure potato for the winter months. The family lives on a state subsidy of 82 thousand AMD (USD $175) that barely covers the utility services.
The only dream Hasmik cherishes is about having a renovated house to grow up her children in decent conditions, since the family is deprived of elementary conditions living in a damp house.
“The house is old, in a poor condition, damp with water dripping down from the ceiling. There is no water in the space as the family is forced to carry water in buckets from the village to do washing, while having a TV set is a luxury. I keep dreaming of having a kitchen to have a dinner with my family,” Hasmik says, adding they are ignored by the state, while the later should keep families with many children under attention. Their continuous request for assistance have remained unanswered thus far.
Hasmik informed that her children do not receive proper education for a variety of reasons and are unable to regularly attend school, lacking even the most basic necessities, such as clothes and school supplies because of their poverty.
The only joy for the parents is their children. Despite the measurable living conditions, and difficulties, Hasmik sees herself as the richest person on the planet: “It is quite difficult to care for and grow up the children due to lack of permanent job, however I love children much that is why I gave birth to them. They are my wealth, my pride. We do not ask for much except a little attention and assistance. We are hardworking and will manage to make the rest on ourselves,” the desperate mother concluded.