David, 6, and Arthur, 4, stand in their yard in Kut village, Vardenis region in central eastern Armenia. The brothers were helping their elder sister to collect the clean laundry that they usually dry outdoors. The family of five faces many hardships, including a dire lack of clothing which sees the children sharing each other’s clothes and shoes.

Winter in Armenia is a season of joy, but also a season of survival for many vulnerable families when temperatures in the coldest regions of the country plummet to 35C below zero. Here, photos illustrate both the fun and the daily struggle that winter brings to Armenian families.