Worldfocus » Hard Lives

Former child soldiers, sex slaves recover from Liberia’s war

Worldfocus — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:21:11 +0000

Worldfocus has chronicled Liberia’s struggles to recover from a bloody civil war that spanned 14 years in the signature series Liberia’s Long Road Back.

Some of the biggest victims of that era were young women who were often taken prisoner and forced to fight, or made into sex slaves. As Worldfocus special correspondent Lynn Sherr and producer Megan Thompson report, many of them are now struggling to recover and struggling to forget.

For more on the rehabilitation and reintegration of child soldiers, watch PBS Wide Angle’s film on child soldiers in Uganda, “Lord’s Children.”

Some of the biggest victims of Liberia’s 14-year civil war were young women who were taken prisoner and forced to fight, or made into sex slaves. Many of them are now struggling to recover and struggling to forget. http://worldfocus.org/files/2009/04/th_libredo.jpg http://worldfocus.org/files/2009/04/th_libredo.jpg

India’s “untouchables” trudge through sewers

Worldfocus — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:29:18 +0000

Worldfocus special correspondent Martin Himel reports on the lowest form of work, for members of India’s lowest class.

For all the progress seen in India’s transformation into a modern global economy, the country remains strongly tied to the traditions of its caste system, which largely governs where Indians work and in what jobs. Worldfocus reports on the lowest form of work, for members of India’s lowest class. /files/2009/03/th_india_sewersig.jpg /files/2009/03/th_india_sewersig.jpg

Dirt poor Haitians eat cookies made of mud

Worldfocus — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:20:50 +0000

Last year, Worldfocus reported on the devastating poverty in Haiti. This story was originally broadcast last February.

The small island nation of Haiti relies heavily on food imports, but with prices soaring, some Haitians are resorting to eating mud.

The cookies — made of dirt, butter and salt — hold little nutritional value, but manage to keep Haiti’s poor alive.

Worldfocus special correspondent Benno Schmidt and producer Ara Ayer report from Haiti, showing how far some people are going to fill their stomachs.

For more Worldfocus coverage of Haiti, visit our extended coverage page: Haiti’s Poor.

The cookies — made of dirt, butter and salt — hold little nutritional value, but manage to keep Haiti’s poor alive. The recipe has been passed down through generations of Haitians. /files/2009/02/th_haiti_dirtcookies.jpg /files/2009/02/th_haiti_dirtcookies.jpg