People Fixing the World

More than 100 million people have been forcibly displaced from their home around the world – fleeing conflict, natural disasters or persecution. Millions end up in refugee camps, living in tents.Around the world, designers and architects are trying to improve the lives of these displaced people, by improving the temporary homes they’re living in.From prefabricated shelters made using Swedish flat-pack design methods, to the homes made from scratch using local knowledge and materials, we meet the people trying to replace tents with homes that have a little more dignity.Presenter: Myra Anubi Reporter/Producer: Farhana Haider Producer: William Kremmer Syria Producer: Ali Haj Suleiman Production Co-ordinator: Ibtisam Zein Sound mix: Hal Haines Executive producer: Tom Colls Editor: Penny MurphyPhoto credit Ali Haj SuleimanDescription Kafirjalas IDP camp Idlib, Syria

Bank accounts and clever investment schemes are being used to help improve the lives of homeless people. In the UK, a number of banks have started offering accounts to homeless people - which until recently were only available to people with a fixed address. Having a bank account can be a crucial turning point, and we meet a disabled homeless person in one of Britain's biggest cities, who's now able to receive welfare payments as a result. We also hear from the city of Denver, Colorado, in the United States, where investors were invited to finance a scheme to house people classed as ‘chronically’ homeless. If the scheme succeeded in saving money for the City council by keeping those people out of Emergency Rooms and police cells, the investors would get their money back - if the initiative failed, they'd lose their cash. Find out what happened on People Fixing the World. Presenter: Myra Anubi Reporter: Daniel Gordon Production Co-ordinator: Ibtisam Zein Sound mix: Hal Haines Editor: Penny Murphy Image: Hands holding a house (Getty Images)

If your child develops cancer and you live in a wealthy country there’s a really good chance they will survive - more than 80%. If you live elsewhere, the chances are much lower - less than 30%.Over a decade ago, Dr Mae Dolendo set up a centre in the Philippines to treat children with cancer. Since then she’s saved the lives of hundreds of children who’ve received treatment for free. Now others are replicating her trailblazing hospital. We head to the Philippines to meet Dr Dolendo and see how she’s linking up with St Jude’s paediatric cancer team in the US — one of the best of its kind in the world. Doctors from the team provide expertise remotely, enabling Dr Dolendo to save lives for a fraction of what it would normally cost.Presenter: Myra Anubi Reporter: Micaela Papa Producer: Jo Mathys Production Co-ordinator: Ibtisam Zein Sound mix: Hal Haines Executive producer: Tom Colls Editor: Penny MurphyImage: Dr Mae Dolendo

Therapy has been helping Boko Haram survivors and street youth in Liberia turn their lives around. In northern Nigeria, a programme called Counselling on Wheels is offering mobile mental health services in remote and dangerous areas. They’ve been giving Boko Haram survivors and others affected by conflict a safe space to talk about the horrific violence and trauma they have been exposed to. In Liberia, a project called Sustainable Transformation of Youth in Liberia has been using cognitive behavioural therapy and a cash reward to turn young men away from crime. A new study has shown the scheme is working. Presenter: Myra Anubi Producer/reporter: Lucy Burns Liberia producer: Massa Kanneh Production Co-ordinator: Ibtisam Zein Sound mix: Hal Haines Executive producer: Tom Colls Editor: Penny Murphy Image: Counselling on Wheels (Credit: Neem Foundation)

How enzymes and earthen pots could help keep medicines safe. Access to life-saving medicines often relies on a complex system known as the cold-chain – the refrigerated lorries, store rooms and fridges, which keeps them at the right temperature from the factory to the patient. However, a traditional cold chain runs on electricity- meaning that it’s often difficult to keep medicines and vaccines cold for long enough to reach the remote places and look after them when the electricity supply is intermittent. The food we eat also relies on the cold chain to keep it cool from the farm until it reaches our plates. We meet some of the inventors and entrepreneurs working on cooling solutions, from using enzymes from a special bacteria that make water freeze at a higher temperature, to the earthen pots keeping insulin cool in India. Presenter: Myra Anubi Producer/Reporter: Craig Langran Reporters: Mayank Prakash Bhagwat, Daniel Ominde Production Co-ordinator: Ibtisam Zein Sound mix: Andy Mills Executive producer: Tom Colls Editor: Richard Vadon Image: Alkesh and his insulin (Credit: Mangesh Sonawane, BBC)

Could floating wind turbines and kites that generate electricity help fight climate change? There are lots of innovative new ways people are harnessing the power of the wind. We visit a floating wind farm off the coast of Scotland, check out wind turbines on street lamps and see how much power giant kites can generate. Along the way we investigate the massive potential of wind energy and assess the challenges involved in catching the breeze. Presenter: Myra Anubi Reporter/producer: Claire Bates Reporter: Craig Langran Executive producer: Tom Colls Production Coordinator: Ibtisam Zein Sound mix: Hal Haines Editor: Penny Murphy Image: Illustration of a wind turbine on a cloud (Getty Images)

More than five million children live in orphanages or other institutions - the vast majority in low or middle income countries. Staff are often overstretched, poorly paid and don’t last long in the job, which leaves children deprived of one of the most important things for healthy development - a consistent, loving relationship. Organisations around the world are now working hard to find these children the one thing they desperately need - a family. But in countries with high rates of poverty and fragile social work and foster care systems, it’s not always easy. We visit a project in Colombia to meet the children, parents, and trainee foster carers whose lives are taking a very different turn. And in the UK, we look at a project giving foster families the support network they need. Presenter: Myra Anubi Reporters: Megan Janetsky and Jo Mathys Producer: Craig Langran Executive producer: Tom Colls Production Coordinator: Ibtisam Zein Sound Mix: Annie Gardiner Editor: Penny Murphy Image: A mother and daughter in Colombia

How a race to write books and a gadget that counts words are helping child literacy. In South Africa 8 out of 10 children struggle to read by the age of 10. But a charity called Book Dash has come up with an innovative way of getting more kids to read. It holds events where teams of writers and illustrators create a book in just 12 hours. More than a hundred titles have been created and over 2 million books have been given away to children. And in the US a group called Birmingham Talks is giving pre-school children a pedometer-style gadget to wear. But instead of counting steps, the gadget counts the number of words they hear every day. The idea is to encourage parents to talk to their children more and therefore improve language development. Presenter: Myra Anubi Reporter: Lucy Burns Photo: Book Dash

At the human library you borrow a person you wouldn’t usually meet for a half-hour frank conversation. The volunteers have various book titles from polyamorous to former prisoner. The aim of these face-to-face chats is to break down our assumptions and prejudices. We explore whether simple discussions can make a difference. Produced and presented by Claire Bates. Picture: Ronni Abergel, Human LibraryRepeat - first published 7 Sep 2021

Street harassment and violence against women in public spaces is a global issue. According to one survey, 84% of women in cities around the world reported being harassed on the street before the age of 17; half of respondents said they had been groped or fondled.It’s acknowledged that intimidating, violent behaviour from men needs to stop, but what can be done to improve the safety of women and girls in cities now?We look at initiatives that allow women to tell authorities what changes to make to the fabric of their cities to make them feel safer, plus some new technologies that might help in an emergency.Presenter: Myra Anubi Reporter: Dima Babilie Producer: William Kremer Executive producer: Tom Colls Editor: Penny Murphy Image: Silhouette of a women (Getty Images)