After climbing up the stairs of the grey concrete, post-Soviet apartment block we were welcomed into the tiny two room apartment, by grandma who had obviously spent some time preparing for our visit. Nuray was lying on the floor near her blocks, she was clean, her hair done and her clothes obviously just pressed.
As I walked into the room she hid her face in her arms, and as kids do, she peeked out every now and then to see if she was the centre of attention - which of course she was. It didn't take too long, playing the universally accepted ice breaker of "now you see me, now you don't" to get a smile out of her. She is a gorgeous little girl.
But (as I have mentioned already) she cannot go to school and her grandma has not received any government support for her. But, through a friend of a friend, Nuray and her grandma were referred to our Community Welfare team, and today we are here to confirm that Nuray has an assessment date. Her level of disability will be assessed and as a result she will go on the "Commission of Minors" list. That means that she and her grandma will receive a government pension and as of 2013 she will be registered on the Home School list.
As we left, Nuray was just getting to the "over this stage", the small tower of blocks she had built came tumbling down, and she lay down on the floor and hid her face in her arms. But just as I said goodbye in my accented, lousy Azeri, she smiled - one of those smiles that start with the mouth and end in the eyes - that's Christmas!
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Just across the road from our office in Baku there is one of those nice walls I've mentioned before. I've walked alongside it numerous times on my way to the office. But the other day, I went behind it... I had no idea that right here in front of our office, in a section of concrete about 15m2, there are 8 homes. 10 families, 51 people live here.
Meters away, on the the busy main road, on the sandstone clad side of the wall, international brand shops (like Guess, Tiffany, Gucci and Pierre Cardin) attract people in BMWs and a Bentley.
Irina (right) lives in one of the 'houses' smaller than my hotel room, with her Mum, a 19 year old sister, an 8 year old brother and a 2 year old sister. I take two steps through the door and I am at the door to the main room, in the back right corner there are four mattresses piled one on top of the other. In the left corner, hard up against the mattresses there is a cupboard. Just to my right, is a small table stacked with some cooking equipment and plates - five steps gets me from the front to the back of the room.
Surprisingly, as I look out the only wondow, I see a WiFi modem hanging on the wall. The 19 year old sister is in University, studying - the internet is an essential luxury.
Irina shows us around, shy she is not; but despite this 'minimalist style' of living, the family, and those around them welcome us with tea, and share their stories. They smile, they laugh, they share - and thanks to the Community Welfare workers this family are now on the social benefits list and getting some support.
