"I carry five litre buckets three times per day”
By Parveena Muhammedkhajaeva Shahnoza Abdulloeva (16): “We have no electricity at home or in school. But our home is quite warm, as my parents stored coal and wood during the summer, because we anticipated a cold winter. However, this year is very cold. Last year my sister and I enjoyed playing in the snow. This years we avoid going outside except when coming to school and collecting water. This is another problem we face this winter, since we have to collect water over long distances.Last week my mother allowed me to attend school, but my younger sister stayed at home because of the cold. I tell Shukrona how it is cold, as she always asks me to tell her about school, and I describe how we cannot write and vapour trails fill the air every time we speak”.
Gulmurod Oibek (15): “I live very close to the school and my parents allow me to come, but my friends living in remote areas haven’t attended for the last two weeks. Today most of them came because it was sunny with the hope that it will be warm in classes. But our class is located on a shady side and it is not warm. In summer time, my elder brother and I collect wood for the winter, because as elders at home we have to take care of all family members. I noticed my parents started stockpiling food more than they usually do and to my question ‘why’, I got the answer that most probably in the beginning of February it will be severely cold and who knows what to anticipate with the hopeless electricity situation this winter."
Karomarullo Khairiddin (12): “We have electricity for two hours per day and will not have it back properly for another 10 days for sure, because I heard on TV that very cold days are coming in February, which makes it harder for the power supply. Our district in spite of being close to Dushanbe every year suffers from non-electricity. Honestly, I like spring, although it’s raining we can easily come to school and be warm here.”
Zainura Orifshoeva (14): “We had electricity 12 hrs per day until yesterday because we were connected to “5th line”, which is a very important line, but unfortunately yesterday it was cut off by the energy supply department of our district and we have no light at home. As for the heating, we always install “burghuika” (a charcoal-burner) by the end of each autumn”.
Boimurodov Akmal (15 ): “My brother and I collect wood in summer for the winter months, because every year starting from October we have only two hours electricity. My father doesn’t allow us to watch TV and insists we prepare homework during that one hour of the evening. I always attend school as I live very close to the school. Of course, it is very cold in classes but I have to attend schools to get knowledge otherwise will not be able to become “an important person”. I cannot go outside to play with my friends, as they stay at home. Mother allows me to go outside only for collecting snow (when it is fresh). We melt it and use it for drinking and preparing meals, because the well is frozen and no other alternative is available in our area. My father installed a pipe with one end in our roof and the other end in a bucket, so when snow starts melting, water flows to the bucket and we do not have to go collecting snow”.
Kuganov Umurzo (16) : “I live in Zarqamar village, which is very far from the school, but I have grown-up and cannot stay at home even it is very cold. Besides school works and how can I miss it. We do not face so much difficulty at home in this cold season because every year we prepare heating fuel supplies in the summer; therefore this is not a surprise for us. We have coal and enough wood at home. Recently my mother asked me to bring flour from the storehouse and can you imagine, I could not scoop flour from the bag. That was really surprising as this is the first time I' ve been faced with a “frozen bag of flour”. I always bring water, I have a little sister, only 9 months-old, and of course, as an elder brother, I have to help my mother as much as possible”.
Sokinai (11)
"We have a problem obtaining water. My sister and I bring water from a long way. I carry five liter buckets, three or four times a day." Qosimova (12)
"It is very hard for me to go to school, because do not have a good winter coat. But the teacher convinced my mother that I should go, because else, I will get to far behind." Saidaliev (12)
"At home I have to prepare my homework by candle light. Our teacher has told us that we can jump or jog in the classroom when we get too cold" Mehrangez (12)
"My mother told me to stay at home, because of the cold. |
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