This week Earth Report looks at the lives of children around the
world - the skills they're learning for the future and some of the
problems they face.
In Mongolia's capital the number of street children is rising. We visit the
subterranean world where many of them band together, sleeping on the warm
pipes of the sewers underneath the city, finding at least some shelter and
companionship.
Meanwhile at a primary school in London, some young entrepreneurs are
harnessing energy from their local river to provide electricity for their classroom
lights.
In Costa Rica children are learning household plumbing techniques and
environmental conservation - handy in the home and good for a greener future.
Chicago is infamous for its school drop-out rates of up to 80%. But one
educational project is tackling the problems of gangs and youth crime, providing
adult mentors to help teenagers cope with the stresses of the big city.
The children's parliament in Rajasthan is led by the world's only 14 year old
prime minister, who chairs the heated debates among her young MPs with a firm
hand. This exercise in democracy has inspired other ventures which encourage
children to explore their rights.
Hands On this week comes from Montego Bay, Jamaica, where the 'Sanitation
Support Unit' is building new toilets and educating children on the importance of
being clean!