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[Yervant1]

A STROLL THROUGH ISTANBUL
Ani Hovhannisyan

http://hetq.am/eng/a...h-istanbul.html
12:45, October 24, 2012

Children of Armenia in Istanbul's Labor Market

Every day, 13 year-old Mamoukan must convince himself that he loves
his boss more than his own father. Tough socio-economic conditions
have even started to impact the emotions and views of adolescent
citizens ofArmenia.

Mamoukan works at a shoe making facility in Istanbul's Kumkapı
neighborhood. The boy moved toTurkey with his mother Karineh and
young brother Robert from the town ofHrazdan. Their grandmother and
the youngest brother, Samvel, remained behind inArmenia.

Mamoukan says he has no information about his father. "I don't know
where he is. He was here but left."

Mamoukan and his mother taking a break outside the workplace

For the past four years, Mamoukan has gone to work at 7 am. At 8 in
the evening, the boy returns to an apartment rented by his boss to
rest up until the next workday. He's the most well-liked guy at the
shoe facility and he gets all the odd jobs.

Mamoukan explains how he turns leather into shoes

When I asked Mamoukan if he missesArmeniaand wants to return, his
answer was a categorical "no". "I have good friends here who watch
my back," the boy said.

Mamoukan speaks fairly fluent Turkish and hasn't gone to school in
years. Karineh says the boy has a good future sewing shoes and that
he might get a place of his own one day.

Karineh - Mamoukan's mother

"Don't you think I wouldn't want to be inArmeniawith the rest of my
family? I don't want my boy working here but rather studying. But
this is their future, to work and take care of themselves," says an
emotional but realistic Karineh.

Mounting debt back inArmeniaforced Karineh to move toTurkeywith
the kids. She won't bring her third son toTurkeybecause the boy has
physical problems that don't allow him to work.

"He was two when I left and cried as I exited the house. I never
turned back to look. I miss him terribly. Why has our government
inArmeniaforced us to migrate toTurkey?"

Over the past four years, Karineh has been able to visitArmeniato
see her mother and son once or twice. She's been sending back $150
or so a month to the family back home since she's been inTurkey.

Karineh and Mamoukan Mamoukan and a fellow child worker

"No one wants to go toArmeniaanymore. No one will ever live there. Had
the government taken care of us, would I have left my two year-old to
come here? My baby wanted to eat and I had nothing to feed him. What
hasArmeniadone for me?" asks Karineh.

Mamoukan and his Alevi boss

P.S. Hetq has shot a film of Mamoukan, Karineh and others from Armenia
now working inIstanbul. We will present it to our readers after this
series of articles entitled "A Trip through Istanbul" has ended.

[Yervant1]

A STROLL THROUGH ISTANBUL - PART 2
Ani Hovhannisyan

http://hetq.am/eng/a...–-part-2.html
11:35, October 31, 2012

Residents of the Kumkapı neighbourhood of Istanbul regard Anahit as
one of the oldest and best traders around.

Fifteen years ago she sold her apartment in Yerevan and moved to
Istanbul with dreams of striking it rich and enjoying the good life.

She's now 70; alone and tired.

In pursuit of a better life overseas, the family has split up. Anahit
hasn't seen her children, now living in Russia, for many years.

"We only talk on Skype. That's how we stay in touch. Where can I go
at my age," Anahit says, assuring me that she has many friends in
Istanbul to keep her company.

Since she's an old-timer, Ano watches out and cares for those who
have recently migrated from Armenia. But she complains that the
newcomers have cheated her in return. "They come here. I gave them
stuff to sell but they never paid me back. They cheated me out of
$28,000. They cheat the Turkish families they work for as well. No
wonder there's a backlash here against us."

All that Ano has left to her name is a small table from which she
sells her assorted Russian food items. She just sells enough to get
by from day to day.

Her cell phone is always in her hand. Ano says her girlfriends back
in Armenia are always calling.

"They call to tell me that they are planning to come to Istanbul
to work. When I tell them not to bother, that the streets aren't
paved with gold, they think that I am trying to make all the money
by myself. They won't be dissuaded so let them come and see for
themselves."

Presently, Ano is sharing an apartment with two women just arrived
from Armenia. She says that despite the unpleasant experiences of
the past, it's tough for her to turn down a fellow Armenian in need.

"What would you have me do? Throw them out on the street? So I put
them up until they can find a place of their own. So many are coming,
and with the kids. They come here and have more kids," Anahit tells me.

During our street-side conversation, many of the passersby say hello
to Anahit in Armenian. The woman, a native of Gyumri, has made many
Armenian, Turkish and Kurdish friends over the years.

"We even teach the Turks some Armenian. Everyone knows me. I've really
settled in. Even though we know each other, they tried to burgle my
apartment. They were Armenians. It was at night. One came in through
the door, another through a window. I woke up, took the rolling pin
from under my pillow, and frightened them off. I later found out that
they were arrested for something else."

Anahit has no desire to return to Armenia. She can't imagine how she
would live there.

"If I went back, no one would let me set up a sales table on the
street like I do here. They'd come and force me to pay taxes and a
business fee before forcing me to move. No one bothers me here. I
sell my wares without trouble. If I went to Armenia and wasn't able
to sit down and make some money, I'd die. Do you want me to come to
Armenia and die," Anahit asks.

P.S. Hetq has shot a film of Anahit and others from Armenia now
working in Istanbul. We will present it to our readers after this
series of articles entitled "A Trip through Istanbul" has ended.