Lea Beraha with colleagues

Here I am photographed with the workers from the Liberation tailor's cooperative, which was established by the Jewish community right after the end of WWII. I am standing, second from right. The photo was taken in Sofia in the second half of the 1940s. We used to gather old clothes from the Jews. They sent us clothes from Joint as well. The ones that were better preserved we gave to the poorest people. We unpicked and altered the rest. I attached sleeves using a sewing machine. I also attended high school evening classes. I studied from 6 to 10 in the evening. From 10pm to 7am I worked - I only took night shifts. The cooperative was in the bazaar opposite the Law Courts and I used to walk to Odrin and Positano Streets, where we lived. We often changed our address and everywhere we lived under terrible conditions; the whole family in one room. When I got ill, my colleagues showed great compassion and took care of me. They came to visit me in the hospital and brought to me presents.