Statement:
- (2020 Grant recipients of Pulitzer Center)
Mrs. Zahra is 48 years old. She is a cleaning lady and is getting ready to sweep the house with a mask on her face. As the sole breadwinner of her home, she has four daughters and a sick and disabled husband. Not only do they not have insurance, the cost of her husband's treatment is a heavy burden on Zahra. "My daughters don't want me to work at other people's homes and be known as a cleaning lady. That's why I prefer to work in a limited number of trustworthy homes, and I feel safe there," she said.
The outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran and the announcement of quarantine by the government made working conditions more difficult for Zahra. However, despite the quarantine days, she was forced to keep working due to her family's economic situation. On the days she can work, she earns 100,000 tomans a day, equivalent to $5 in Iran. "I have no dreams in life. My dream is to make my daughters' dreams come true so that I can raise them with self-esteem and honour, and help them with what they deserve. If the quarantine days come back and I can't work, I don't know how I can pay for my husband's treatment, food, and the children's school expenses. I can only pray to God," said Zahra.
-
- Tabriz, Iran – April 2020. Ms. Zahra is 48 years old. She is sweeping the hallway of the house while having a mask on her face. She has four daughters and a sick husband. Despite quarantine days, She has to work in other people’s homes for her family’s economic problems. The days she works, she earns 100,000 Tomans a day, equivalent to $ 6 in Iran today. Iran is amongst five of the countries with the highest spread of COVID-19. Iran’s government began an official lockdown on March 15th, 2020, the quarantines in place are for those who do not exhibit symptoms but have been exposed to the illness. For the large number of Iranians who live on a day by day income, staying home, means having no money to pay for essential things such as food. Therefore, they must take their life in their own hands and work in order to survive even at the risk of getting infected, spreading the virus in society at large, and even getting fined for breaking the quarantine. For them, choosing either path has extreme consequences. (Photo by Jalal Shams Azaran / NVP)
-
- Tabriz, Iran – April 2020. Ms Zahra is 48 years old. She is resting after hours of work. She has four daughters and a sick husband. Despite quarantine days, She has to work in other people’s homes for her family’s economic problems. The days she works, she earns 100,000 Tomans a day, equivalent to $ 6 in Iran today. Iran is amongst five of the countries with the highest spread of COVID-19. Iran’s government began an official lockdown on March 15th, 2020, the quarantines in place are for those who do not exhibit symptoms but have been exposed to the illness. For the large number of Iranians who live on a day by day income, staying home, means having no money to pay for essential things such as food. Therefore, they must take their life in their own hands and work in order to survive even at the risk of getting infected, spreading the virus in society at large, and even getting fined for breaking the quarantine. For them, choosing either path has extreme consequences. (Photo by Jalal Shams Azaran / NVP)
-
- Tabriz, Iran – April 2020. Ms. Zahra is 48 years old. She is moving home furniture while having a mask on her face. She has four daughters and a sick husband. Despite quarantine days, She has to work in other people’s homes for her family’s economic problems. The days she works, she earns 100,000 Tomans a day, equivalent to $ 6 in Iran today. Iran is amongst five of the countries with the highest spread of COVID-19. Iran’s government began an official lockdown on March 15th, 2020, the quarantines in place are for those who do not exhibit symptoms but have been exposed to the illness. For the large number of Iranians who live on a day by day income, staying home, means having no money to pay for essential things such as food. Therefore, they must take their life in their own hands and work in order to survive even at the risk of getting infected, spreading the virus in society at large, and even getting fined for breaking the quarantine. For them, choosing either path has extreme consequences. (Photo by Jalal Shams Azaran / NVP)
-
- Tabriz, Iran – April 2020. Ms. Zahra is 48 years old. She is wiping the sweat from her forehead , which is bothering her eyes while having a mask on her face. She has four daughters and a sick husband. Despite quarantine days, She has to work in other people’s homes for her family’s economic problems. The days she works, she earns 100,000 Tomans a day, equivalent to $ 6 in Iran today. Iran is amongst five of the countries with the highest spread of COVID-19. Iran’s government began an official lockdown on March 15th, 2020, the quarantines in place are for those who do not exhibit symptoms but have been exposed to the illness. For the large number of Iranians who live on a day by day income, staying home, means having no money to pay for essential things such as food. Therefore, they must take their life in their own hands and work in order to survive even at the risk of getting infected, spreading the virus in society at large, and even getting fined for breaking the quarantine. For them, choosing either path has extreme consequences. (Photo by Jalal Shams Azaran / NVP)
-
- Tabriz, Iran – April 2020. Ms. Zahra is 48 years old. She is cleaning the tableware, mirrors and the photo frames while having a mask on her face. She has four daughters and a sick husband. Despite quarantine days, She has to work in other people’s homes for her family’s economic problems. The days she works, she earns 100,000 Tomans a day, equivalent to $ 6 in Iran today. Iran is amongst five of the countries with the highest spread of COVID-19. Iran’s government began an official lockdown on March 15th, 2020, the quarantines in place are for those who do not exhibit symptoms but have been exposed to the illness. For the large number of Iranians who live on a day by day income, staying home, means having no money to pay for essential things such as food. Therefore, they must take their life in their own hands and work in order to survive even at the risk of getting infected, spreading the virus in society at large, and even getting fined for breaking the quarantine. For them, choosing either path has extreme consequences. Iran is amongst five of the countries with the highest spread of COVID-19. Iran’s government began an official lockdown on March 15th, 2020, the quarantines in place are for those who do not exhibit symptoms but have been exposed to the illness. For the large number of Iranians who live on a day by day income, staying home, means having no money to pay for essential things such as food. Therefore, they must take their life in their own hands and work in order to survive even at the risk of getting infected, spreading the virus in society at large, and even getting fined for breaking the quarantine. For them, choosing either path has extreme consequences. (Photo by Jalal Shams Azaran / NVP)
-
- Tabriz, Iran – April 2020. Ms. Zahra is 48 years old. She is carrying the vase while having a mask on her face. She has four daughters and a sick husband. Despite quarantine days, She has to work in other people’s homes for her family’s economic problems. The days she works, she earns 100,000 Tomans a day, equivalent to $ 6 in Iran today. Iran is amongst five of the countries with the highest spread of COVID-19. Iran’s government began an official lockdown on March 15th, 2020, the quarantines in place are for those who do not exhibit symptoms but have been exposed to the illness. For the large number of Iranians who live on a day by day income, staying home, means having no money to pay for essential things such as food. Therefore, they must take their life in their own hands and work in order to survive even at the risk of getting infected, spreading the virus in society at large, and even getting fined for breaking the quarantine. For them, choosing either path has extreme consequences. (Photo by Jalal Shams Azaran / NVP)
-
- Tabriz, Iran – April 2020. Mrs. Zahra is 48 years old; cleaning lady and she is getting ready to sweep the house while having a mask on her face. As a sole breadwinner of the house, she has four daughters and a sick and disabled husband. Not only they do not have insurance, but the cost of her husband’s treatments is a heavy burden on Zahra. “My daughters don’t want me to work at other people’s homes and be known as a cleaning lady. That’s why I prefer to work in a limited number of homes that are trustworthy, and I feel safe there.” she said. The outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran and the announcement of quarantine by the government made working conditions more difficult for Zahra. However, despite the quarantine days, due to her family’s economic situation she was forced to work. On the days she can work, she earns 100,000 tomans a day, equivalent to $ 6 in Iran. “I have no dreams in life. My dream is just to make my daughters’ dreams come true so that I can raise them with self-esteem and honor and help them with what they deserve. If the quarantine days come back and I can’t work, I don’t know how I can pay for my husband’s treatment, food, the children’s school expenses and …. I can only pray to God.” said Zahra. (Photo by Jalal Shams Azaran / NVP)
-
- Tabriz, Iran – April 2020. Ms. Zahra is 48 years old. She is getting ready to sweep the house while having a mask on her face. She has four daughters and a sick husband. Despite quarantine days, She has to work in other people’s homes for her family’s economic problems. The days she works, she earns 100,000 Tomans a day, equivalent to $ 6 in Iran today. Iran is amongst five of the countries with the highest spread of COVID-19. Iran’s government began an official lockdown on March 15th, 2020, the quarantines in place are for those who do not exhibit symptoms but have been exposed to the illness. For the large number of Iranians who live on a day by day income, staying home, means having no money to pay for essential things such as food. Therefore, they must take their life in their own hands and work in order to survive even at the risk of getting infected, spreading the virus in society at large, and even getting fined for breaking the quarantine. For them, choosing either path has extreme consequences. (Photo by Jalal Shams Azaran / NVP)
-
- Tabriz, Iran – April 2020. Ms. Zahra is 48 years old. She is pulling the curtain to clean the windows while having a mask on her face. She has four daughters and a sick husband. Despite quarantine days , She has to work in other people’s homes for her family’s economic problems . The days she works, she earns 100,000 Tomans a day, equivalent to $ 6 in Iran today. Iran is amongst five of the countries with the highest spread of COVID-19. Iran’s government began an official lockdown on March 15th, 2020, the quarantines in place are for those who do not exhibit symptoms but have been exposed to the illness. For the large number of Iranians who live on a day by day income, staying home, means having no money to pay for essential things such as food. Therefore, they must take their life in their own hands and work in order to survive even at the risk of getting infected, spreading the virus in society at large, and even getting fined for breaking the quarantine. For them, choosing either path has extreme consequences. (Photo by Jalal Shams Azaran / NVP)
-
- Tabriz, Iran – April 2020. Mrs. Zahra is 48 years old; cleaning lady and she is getting ready to sweep the house while having a mask on her face. As a sole breadwinner of the house, she has four daughters and a sick and disabled husband. Not only they do not have insurance, but the cost of her husband’s treatments is a heavy burden on Zahra. “My daughters don’t want me to work at other people’s homes and be known as a cleaning lady. That’s why I prefer to work in a limited number of homes that are trustworthy, and I feel safe there.” she said. The outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran and the announcement of quarantine by the government made working conditions more difficult for Zahra. However, despite the quarantine days, due to her family’s economic situation she was forced to work. On the days she can work, she earns 100,000 tomans a day, equivalent to $ 6 in Iran. “I have no dreams in life. My dream is just to make my daughters’ dreams come true so that I can raise them with self-esteem and honor and help them with what they deserve. If the quarantine days come back and I can’t work, I don’t know how I can pay for my husband’s treatment, food, the children’s school expenses and …. I can only pray to God.” said Zahra. (Photo by Jalal Shamsazaran / NVP Images)
-
- Tabriz, Iran – April 2020. Ms. Zahra is 48 years old. She is ready to go home after hours of work while having a mask on her face. She has four daughters and a sick husband. Despite quarantine days, She has to work in other people’s homes for her family’s economic problems. The days she works, she earns 100,000 Tomans a day, equivalent to $ 6 in Iran today. Iran is amongst five of the countries with the highest spread of COVID-19. Iran’s government began an official lockdown on March 15th, 2020, the quarantines in place are for those who do not exhibit symptoms but have been exposed to the illness. For the large number of Iranians who live on a day by day income, staying home, means having no money to pay for essential things such as food. Therefore, they must take their life in their own hands and work in order to survive even at the risk of getting infected, spreading the virus in society at large, and even getting fined for breaking the quarantine. For them, choosing either path has extreme consequences. (Photo by Jalal Shams Azaran / NVP)
-
- Tabriz, Iran – April 2020. Ms. Zahra is 48 years old. She is leaving the workplace after finishing her work while having a mask on her face. She has four daughters and a sick husband. Despite quarantine days, She has to work in other people’s homes for her family’s economic problems. The days she works, she earns 100,000 Tomans a day, equivalent to $ 6 in Iran today. Iran is amongst five of the countries with the highest spread of COVID-19. Iran’s government began an official lockdown on March 15th, 2020, the quarantines in place are for those who do not exhibit symptoms but have been exposed to the illness. For the large number of Iranians who live on a day by day income, staying home, means having no money to pay for essential things such as food. Therefore, they must take their life in their own hands and work in order to survive even at the risk of getting infected, spreading the virus in society at large, and even getting fined for breaking the quarantine. For them, choosing either path has extreme consequences. (Photo by Jalal Shams Azaran / NVP)
-
- Tabriz, Iran – April 2020. Ms. Zahra is 48 years old. She is washing the broom while having a mask on her face. She has four daughters and a sick husband. Despite quarantine days, She has to work in other people’s homes for her family’s economic problems. The days she works, she earns 100,000 Tomans a day, equivalent to $ 6 in Iran today. Iran is amongst five of the countries with the highest spread of COVID-19. Iran’s government began an official lockdown on March 15th, 2020, the quarantines in place are for those who do not exhibit symptoms but have been exposed to the illness. For the large number of Iranians who live on a day by day income, staying home, means having no money to pay for essential things such as food. Therefore, they must take their life in their own hands and work in order to survive even at the risk of getting infected, spreading the virus in society at large, and even getting fined for breaking the quarantine. For them, choosing either path has extreme consequences. (Photo by Jalal Shams Azaran / NVP)
