Garbage cans as means of living

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Four-year old Isahak and his mother have come to Yerevan in search of food and necessary items from garbage cans.

With the hope of finding shoes, clothes, plastic bottles and food leftovers, they are forced to tour central Yerevan and the suburbs every day.

"When my son was little, I would beg for money in underground passageways. Now, I collect food and fuel from garbage cans to survive in the winter. I collect anything that can be used as fuel in the winter since it is impossible to stand the cold," the child's mother, Hasmik told "A1+".

The single mother has been living in a trailer for years to protect her child and has asked many people for help. She says Isahak was born as a disabled child and always needs medical assistance.

"We can't live in these conditions. We went to the hospital, but they didn't accept us. Perhaps it was because there was nobody who would bring us food or take care of us. I would like to have Isahak attend a kindergarten, but they don't accept him there either, saying he is disabled and can't communicate with anybody," the single mother said.

Despite her misery, the single mother has never thought of handing her child over to an orphanage.

"I have faced so many hardships to keep my child. If there is anyone with conscience, let them help me get out of this situation," the woman says.

Hasmik currently receives help from "Huysi Avan", but assures that it is not enough to treat and take care of her disabled child.