Parents Find Caring for Handicapped Children a Major Challenge

Caring for mentally and physically children is difficult any where in the world. In South Africa the situation is worsened by the fact that parents with handicapped children are stigmatized and some parents believe giving birth to a handicapped children is the result of witchcraft or punishment by God.

NGO introduces ICT to schoolchildren in Cameroon

In Cameroon Information and Communication Technologies education is not universally accessible to Primary and secondary school children. A non-governmental organization called Ramsi ICT's House is filling the void by introducing school children to use computers, telephones and digital cameras.

Cook Islanders Greet Leaders At Pacific Islands Forum

The 43rd Pacific Islands Forum was held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, from 28 to 30 August 2012 involved leaders from the 16 member Pacific nations including Australia and New Zealand. This year's theme: “Large Ocean Island States – the Pacific Challenge” with major topics including climate change, trade and fishing. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton along with more than 500 officials from nearly 60 countries including China, and European Union attended as observers and participated in other meetings in the Cook Islands, some 3000 km northeast of New Zealand.

Running From the Guns

As fighting rages on in Syria, thousands of civilians are fleeing the country with little more than their families and the clothes on their backs, seeking refuge on the Turkish-Syrian border.

New York Farmers Aid the City’s Hungry

At a time when big grocery stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods are attracting scores of hungry customers, many local family-run farms are fighting to keep afloat.

New York Farmers Aid the City’s Hungry

At a time when big grocery stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods are attracting scores of hungry customers, many local family-run farms are fighting to keep afloat.

“We Tripantu”, the Mapuche people’s new year celebration

"We Tripantu" means "rising of the new sun," and is the new year celebration of the Mapuche people, held over the shortest days of the year in the southern hemisphere, coinciding with the winter solstice.

When the Himalayan Glaciers Recede

Every morning, as Gian Pietro Verza walks up the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier in this Himalayan country’s north-east to take measurements, the wind makes colourful prayer flags flutter noisily. That same wind carries soot particles that are causing the snow on the mountains to melt faster.

Q&A: To Be a Child and HIV-Positive in Ethiopia

U.N. correspondent Stephanie Parker sits down with filmmaker Lieven Corthouts as he opens up about the children in "Little Heaven" orphanage, located in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

A Sustainability Paradise : Ecovillage at Ithaca

Why can't we live a different way? That’s the question asked by a pioneer community of 160 trying to achieve greater sustainability and a higher quality of life.

Youth grow flowers to get money

Farming flowers in slums is becoming an option for jobless youths in cities across Cameroon. Flowers and ornamental trees are planted to decorate compounds ,roadsides, lanes and tourism sites. Aaron Kaah reports.

Snails boost food, medicine production

Starting plantation farming in Cameroon in the 1980’s, and the spraying of pesticides, almost drove certain snail species to extinction. But farmers in the coastal regions of Cameroon are now cultivating the animals for food, traditional medicine and income.

Paradise island fights poverty

“Every child born on this island has got a potential and we have to nourish it through education. This is the answer to poverty and exclusion,” says the Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam.   Audio Slide Show

Cameroon farmers plant trees for bees

Honey producers in Cameroon are looking to restore bee habitats by planting trees in areas where deforestation have left the countryside bare.

Southern Africa’ fruit and vegetables come here

The Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market is the hub of fruit and vegetable trade in Southern Africa, with some 10 000 buyers getting their wares here. Siphosethu Stuurman compiled this sound slide.   Audio Slide Show

Kenyan nurses suffer after self-diagnosis

“ … when you are stigmatized, you hide away, you are in denial, you become depressed, and you stay away in isolation. That kills us …”   Audio Slide Show

After Rio+ 20, the Path Ahead

Two weeks after the United Nations conference on sustainable development in Rio de Janeiro has left many lukewarm, activists, government representatives and U.N. officials are looking forward to setting new goals for the future.

Mushroom farmers bloom in Cameroon

In the NW region of Cameroon, mushrooms are a cherished delicacy, eaten by almost every household. Yet in the markets mushroom is scarce and farmer say successful cultivation is highly profitable.

New Initiative to Combat Toxic Threats

Reducing the risks associated with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats is the goal of a new multi-country initiative known as the Centres of Excellence (CoE).

Mauritius fisherman do not want EU trawlers

Mauritian fishermen are angry about  fishing vessels from the European Union in their territorial waters. And environmentalists are concerned that over-fishing may deplete the Indian Ocean of its stocks of fish.   Audio Slide Show

SLIDESHOW: Pride Parade Draws Hundreds of Thousands in Support of LGBT in Washington DC

On Saturday, Jun. 9 2012, the annual Capital Pride Parade brought together hundreds of thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people marching with their allies in the sunny streets of Washington DC.