By Ani Gevorgyan

Mrs. Asya is one of the 100 former employees of Yerevan’s “Center Cleaning” now out of work after the company dissolved. She still hasn’t received her final paycheck.

“One of the former managers told me that I’m only owed 60,000 drams. He doesn’t understand that even 1,000 drams is a big deal for me,” the 78 year-old told Hetq.

Mrs. Asya continues to sweep Yerevan’s streets so as not to become a burden for her children who already have enough problems of their own.

She works from midnight to 8am. “I sleep for an hour, from 10 to 11 in the morning. Then I tackle the household chores.”

“If I more than one hour daily, I’d go hungry.”

“I have four children. All of them are a handful.”

“I clean a stretch from the Worker’s Statute all the way to the Hayrenik cinema.”

“My daughter does the same work. When she’s sick, I clean her patch.”

“No matter how physically challenging, I have to work.”

“I carry my lunch in this bag. I eat while on my feet.

“We have a small garden where we grow grapes and walnuts. Here’s a handful of my meal.”

“I’m an accountant by profession. But I’ve almost totally forgotten it.”