Clockwise from top left: Rohingya refugee children find a place to play amid construction work at a refugee camp near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. A classroom at a chess club in Chennai, India, is prepared for the arrival of students. A new kindergartener from Maryland waves goodbye to parents. The milestone made his father remember when he himself went to school in Uganda. Sandals near a brothel on the Uganda-Kenya highway. Among Uganda's many losses after US aid cuts: free condoms and PrEP for sex workers.
Clockwise from top left: Daniel Villasanal; Viraj Nayar for NPR; Joan Simpson for NPR; Bey Cruz/NPR
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Clockwise from top left: Daniel Villasanal; Viraj Nayar for NPR; Joan Simpson for NPR; Bey Cruz/NPR
The Goats and Soda blog publishes hundreds of articles every year about global health news, the fight against poverty, and everyday life in the Global South. Some of these posts attract a lot of readers. Plus there are stories that people clearly enjoy – the page time is excellent! But let's call them underrated in terms of total viewership.
We asked our writers and editors to nominate stories that mean a lot to them and that they think could reach a wider audience. As 2025 wanes, it's not too late to catch up with these wonderful works.
My son really enjoyed his first day of kindergarten. It brings back bittersweet memories for me
As his son started kindergarten this week, educator James Kassaga Arinaitwe recalled going to school himself while growing up in much humbler circumstances in Uganda.
Guess who will inherit all this? The origins of an amazing tradition
When parents die, disagreements may arise between siblings over inheritance. In many traditions, all this went to the eldest child. In an unexpected twist in one part of Pakistan, the youngest person is getting elected.
Children play with makeshift jump ropes and hide-and-seek to cope with the crisis
From Gaza to Ukraine to South Sudan, children play to cope with stress and find moments of joy.
One Country's Survival Guide to US Aid Cuts
Uganda is one of the countries that has been hit hard by cuts in US foreign aid. This is how the healthcare system is responding—with passion, innovation, and resilience.
Scientists are trying to understand how Ebola hides inside the bodies of survivors
Congo is suffering from an Ebola outbreak, but even when the virus is contained, the risk remains. Scientists are trying to understand how it can hide inside the bodies of survivors.
India (and its children) aim to conquer the world of chess
Chess is experiencing a global renaissance, fueled by Queen's Gambit and the impact of the pandemic on leisure time. India is a developing and powerful country with 85 grandmasters and strong chess schools for youth.
