"The first 1,000 drams I earned, I gave to my father. He asked where I got it, and I said I earned it," 15-year-old Narek says proudly, with emphasis on the word "earned".

Narek earned this 1,000 drams over the New Year's holidays dressed as a Teletubby, having his picture taken with children. "My Dad went to Vanadzor and I was staying with his friend Vachik. I was walking around Lunapark and a boy asked me if I would agree to wear a Teletubby costume. So I went to work with him," Narek says.

To earn a little money, 12 to 16-year-old kids arrange with street photographers to wear animal costumes and pose with children. It's an easy way of making money, especially during the holidays. During the New Year's there were two shifts of twelve "animals" selling balloons and having their pictures taken on Republic Square, a total of twenty-four kids working through the holidays.

"My family doesn't know I'm working here. I told them I was going to Republic Square for the New Year's celebrations. I don't know what would they say if they knew I was working here. They wouldn't get angry, they would ask me what I do with the money," 13-year-old Karen says.

"My family knows that I work. They know I don't steal. And I can spend the money I make however I want. I like going to Internet cafes and playing," Shahen chimes in.

"I'm going to buy my own clothes, to help my family out," Arthur says anxiously.

As for Narek, he works helps his father pay their daily rent and buy something to eat.

Narek used to live in Vanadzor. In the beginning of 2004 his parents got divorced, and Narek decided to stay with his father, Nariman. Nariman, was unemployed in Vanadzor and came with his son to Yerevan to find a job. He now works as a loader at the GUM wholesale market. "I use my shoulders or a cart, but there's not enough work first of all, and then after I pay the daily fee, the charge for the cart, there's almost nothing left. My Narek makes more money than I do," Nariman says.

Narek, his father, and his father's friend Vachik rent lodgings- a basement room. "We live in a basement for 500 drams a day. The owner let us in in the evening and in the morning he let us out and locks the door, since it's his cellar and he's afraid we'll steal something. In this winter cold we're outside all day, and although we work at the wholesale market, it turns out that Narek takes care of us," Vachik says. "He's a good kid, clever, he doesn't smoke, doesn't drink, he helps his father out with the money he earns."

Now that the holidays are over, and children no longer come to have their pictures taken with giant animals, Narek is working at the market. He pushes carts, helping people move what they buy. "It's a good job but I get too tired; I run around all day so people will see my cart and call me. Working as a Teletubby is easy, the clothes are soft - you just put them on and sit, although there wasn't much money. My legs ache because I walk too much," Narek lets himself complain a little. "But otherwise it's an OK job."

"I feel bad as a father that instead of me taking care of the kid, he's supporting me. This is no life, but what can I do?" Nariman says emotionally.

Narek finished seventh grade at School #16 in Vanadzor. His father wanted him to go on at least to eighth grade, but they couldn't arrange it this year. "We wanted to send him to a school for needy families, but Narek didn't want to go. He has already tasted money and he doesn't want to study," Vachik says, worried.

"Now even former A-students do manual labor, so why should I study?' Narek silences everyone. "Instead of going to school, I'll make us some money."

Photos by Karen Minasyan