Kristine Aghalaryan
David Banuchyan

Mikayel Tamazyan, mayor of the Lori village of Katchatchkout, shows us to the house of Samvel Boghosyan and his seven children.

Tamazyan assures us that while the family is kind of “down and out”, the children are good pupils who steer away from trouble.

Samvel Boghosyan and his wife Silva lived in the Russian city of Armavir for the past seven years. When the house they were staying was sold, they couldn’t afford to rent, so they returned to their native village in Armenia.

As we talk, Silva returns from her shopping run in Alaverdi. “Please don’t take pictures,” she instructs us, seeing the camera. It seems she had an uncomfortable encounter with reporters in 2008, when the family returned to the village from Russia.

They had no house and stayed with Samvel’s grandmother. The children were young and the family didn’t receive any subsidies. Silva was irritated that reporters arrived and captured the family’s problems on film.

Silva’s anger slowly subsides. We tell her that we too are reporters covering the plight of large families in remote villages in Armenia. We make a point of telling her that we don’t promise any assistance.

“Thank god, we survive. We don’t go hungry,” she says

The village is located in a sinkhole zone. The family still lives in the house of Samvel’s grandmother. It’s considered unsafe. Some of the children sleep near the beams supporting the ceiling

Silva, who works as a cleaning attendant at the village school, says they get by with state subsidies and the animals they raise. They also pick and sell berries in season. Clothes are handed down from child to child.

“I regret returning from Russia. There is no work here. I can’t get my children all that they want. By boys were taking painting lessons and the girls dance classes. Here, there is nothing I can do,” says Silva.

Her eldest son, Senik, was recently released from military duty. He now in the third year at the Alaverdi European College, studying economics.

Silva says that Artour, her second oldest son, has vision problems and headaches. His conscription into the army is on-hold pending a military investigation.

Samvel chimes in saying that education is their number one priority for the children. All seven seem to agree, focusing on their schooling and doing well in class.

Mariam, one of Silva’s daughters who just graduated high school, wants to become a Russian teacher. The family, sadly, doesn’t have the money for tuition.

All the children have done well at school. Samvel proudly says that Sofya graduated the village elementary school with a “red diploma” (with honors). He doesn’t know where Sofya will continue her schooling.

The girl blushes as she quickly places the diploma on the table before rushing away. She wants to go to university and become an algebra and geometry teacher.