The State We're In, 23 January 2010: Stories about and from children who’ve conquered unimaginable odds: a woman in Rio de Janeiro who educates street children, despite death threats from police. As well as adult children of sectarian extremists in Northern Ireland and the son of a child murderer.

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Socialite in the slums
Ever since police massacred eight street kids in 1993, Yvonne Bezerra de Mello has devoted herself to educating the children of Rio de Janeiro’s slums. Her school attracts international attention for its success. 

Child of a child murderer
Nick Castree grew up in a violent home with a volatile father. Yet he was still shocked when he learnt of his father's conviction for murdering a child. He tells Jonathan about his journey out of the darkness he grew up with.

Paramilitary families
Sharon and John had fathers on opposing sides of the extremist fence in Northern Ireland. Both their fathers did prison time. They describe what growing up was like, and how they’ve put their lives back together.

Microfinance: the promise and the pitfalls
When Muhammad Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, microfinance was heralded as the cure-all solution for poverty. But Malcolm Harper has a sobering view of how microfinance can actually make some lives worse.

Five years after the 'Year of Microcredit', Radio Netherlands Worldwide is taking the debate on microfinance a step further. For more details, go to RNW's Microfinance Dossier.
 
It’s the thought
RNW producer Dheera Sujan thought she was doing the right thing when she offered to finance the education of a young boy she met in Malawi. But the boy’s family disowned him as a result of her gift and she’s still haunted over whether she did the right thing.