27-year-old Gayaneh Papoyan, a blue-eyed mother of five, got married nine years ago. Since then, she’s moved many times, renting houses here and there together with her husband.

Gayaneh says it’s a challenge to find a house for rent, since many people don’t trust their houses to a family with so many kids.

They had to keep the children a secret in order to rent the current house in her parents’ village Zovouni in December 2018.

6-year-old Varduhi

The house itself is damp and isn’t well furnished, while the monthly rent is 50,000 AMD.

4-year-old Samvel

Being unable to pay the rent for the last two months, they’re now threatened with eviction.

3-year-old Liana

Gayaneh says it was relatively easier to pay the rent and buy some food when she worked last year in Gavar, milking 60 cows per day for monthly wages of 50,000 AMD.

Now, it’s only her husband working daily and bringing some food home if they’re lucky enough.

David and Samvel

All their documents are currently held by a Gavar store employee, who took them in lieu of 37,000 AMD debt. They’ll be able to get the documents back only when they pay it off.

7-year-old Astghik

Children walk in from the garden. 7-year-old Astghik is the eldest. Varduhi is six, Samvel is four, Liana is three and David is two.

David is barefoot, and the other kids have worn shoes. Clothes for the children are mostly donated by neighbors. Finding shoesfor them is not so easy.

Astghik was supposed to start school last September, but she hasn’t.

Varduhi and Astghik

The younger kids don’t attend kindergarten. Gayaneh says she’d work if there was somebody to take care of children. In the past, the elders - Astghik and Varduhi - looked after the minors.

When Astghik burnt one of her legs with hot oil while cooking, Gayaneh decided to quit working to look after the children.

Gayaneh and her 2-year-old son

During our visit, it was painful for Gayaneh to talk about their life, and she got emotional from time to time. She says there is nothing to eat at home right now. Hungry children wait till evening to see if their father has managed to bring home something to eat.

Samvel

The children smile when we ask what games they enjoy. They have no toys to play with.