Global Us: What connects us all

Housing in Soweto used to be cheap, but more and more people are moving into the township near Johannesburg. Sound, affordable homes are rare. One start-up is on a mission to build sustainable homes from recycled building rubble.

Around 4,000 people work in the 80 or so research stations in Antarctica. "Neumayer III" is one of the few German laboratories there. One of the objects of study: the behavior of Emperor Penguins.

The Tamarind Tree School in Maharashtra state is designed for indigenous children who wouldn’t otherwise get an education. Students study reading and math, but also computer programming. And they learn about social justice and democracy too.

Karanraj Dewasi from India loves going to school. His father is a teacher. But he's worried about environmental pollution and that he might not have the same standard of living as his parents and grandparents.

Hygiene is of utmost importance. Midwives at Madagascar's state-run health centers get regular training, to combat maternal and infant mortality. And thanks to a new health insurance scheme, more women are now able to go to the doctor.

Until 2018, almost 2,000 illegal waste pickers worked on the largest garbage dump in Brasilia. Now they're part of the city's waste management program. Even at the university, you can study climate friendly garbage disposal.

All work and no play is normal for a seven-year-old in China. Education is a top priority. Children learn languages, study math and do sport too, well into the evenings and even on weekends.

Iceland may be beautiful but the weather is, well, bracing. Locals and tourists agree that there’s no better a winter warmer than hearty soup, the specialty at Svarta Kaffid in central Reykjavik. And it comes in a bread bowl!

This week’s Global Living Room comes from Kenya, where we visit a mother-of-four and her dog Abby.

The Dominican Republic is a popular destination among visitors to the Caribbean. Inconsiderate tourists, sewage and climate change have already destroyed 90% of the coral reefs there. Coral Gardens is a conservation project set up to protect them.