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A STROLL THROUGH ISTANBUL
Ani Hovhannisyan
http://hetq.am/eng/articles/19820/a-stroll-through-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.
From: A. Papazian
Ani Hovhannisyan
http://hetq.am/eng/articles/19820/a-stroll-through-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.
From: A. Papazian