Zoya Gevorgyan has served as the mayor of the village of Shatjrek, in Gegharkunik Marz, for the past 15 years.

She told me the villagers had forced her to run for the post of community leader and keep re-electing her.

“I didn’t even know what a village mayor was; let alone what the job entailed. Sometimes I say to myself where have all the years gone but I never regret taking the job,” Mrs. Gevorgyan said.

The mayor says that her husband had been forced to look after the house and garden, given that she’s bust working at the office from morning till evening.

Her husband passed away a few years ago, so now Zoya is burdened with the dual responsibilities of mayor and head of household.

“It’s tough being a female mayor because you think with your heart and soul, just a mother. Men leave the job at the office. But if I offend anybody, say by raising my voice, I can never forgive myself. It troubles me all night just thinking about it.”

Mayor Gevorgyan is particularly sought out for advice and assistance by the youth and women folk of the village.

The problems run the gamut from disputes with in-laws and family arguments to more serious matters.

The mayor says that when it comes to bringing in investment to Shatjrek, located just southeast of Vardenis, she doesn’t give an inch to her male counterparts in neighbouring communities.

Shatjrek, as the name implies, is rich in water resources. In fact, drinking and irrigation water is supplied free of charge. The water system is still in the hands of the village municipality even though outside utilities have tried to persuade the town to hand it over.

60% of Shatjrek’s 680 residents are refugees. Most are engaged in agriculture or animal husbandry.

This year milk producers paid 140 AMD per litre to the villagers. In past years, they were only paying 90.

Despite the rise, Mayor Gevorgyan says that residents have a pretty tough time making ends meet and that inflation on basic commodities has erased any profits derived from milk sales.

She also points out that it is high-time for the government in Yerevan to pay more attention to the outlying communities and introduce a more balanced development plan for the country.

Natural gas was brought to the village in 2009 but not all residents use it for heating in the winter.

Many still rely on wood and animal dung – it’s cheaper than paying for gas.

The village cultural center hasn’t been operating for the past 18 months; the place is in ruins.

Mayor Gevorgyan says a renovated center and school are top priorities for the village.

She’s also something of a match-maker in the village. Compared to neighbouring communities you won’t find any bachelors in Shatjrek.

“Despite the tough economic times, we need new generations coming of age. Here, we don’t abide bachelors. When a boy returns from the army and hasn’t gotten married in 2-3 years, we jump all over him saying – get going, we need grandchildren,” said a smiling Mayor Gevorgyan.

Before leaving, she said she hoped to see us again, at the opening of the new cultural center.