obesity is a serious problem. the solution? finding strength in numbers. nearsightedness is skyrocketing inin asia. we go o to taiwan to find out w. and d in uganda, we meet some courageous animal lovers who are helping to save the rhino. rhinos are one of the world's most endangered species. in africa, only zimbabwe, kenya, namibia, and south africa have

reasonably sized populations of them. the reason is poachers who are keen to profit from their valuable horns. they fetch a fortune on the global black market. traders get around $60,000 u.s. per kilo. in uganda, their numbers have slowly been increasing in recent years. our reporter jululia henrichman paid a visit to a privately-run sanctuary and met with some committed conservationists. reporter: they're safe here in this sanctuary. it covers 70 square kilometers and is sponsored by the rhino fund. the southern white rhinoceros has been wiped out in other parts of uganda. but here, 24 of them roam the savannah and woodlands. raymond opio is trying to find one for us.

the ranger sometimes has to trek far into the bush to track one down. finally we catch a glimpse of uhuru and her baby, who was born in june. the gestation period for the species is 18 months. we have to be cautious. rhino mothers are ferocious in defense of their young. raymond: uhuru is like mother like daughter. the mother is the same characteter. the mothther will hear just aa smsmall stick breaking, shshes very alert. she is already facing that area, that direction. that is what uhuru is. uhuru is a no nonsense lady, so anything coming around, she will attack. reporter: three rhinos cross our path. the driver is getting a little nervous. raymond: she is just coming to check. reporter: the safest move when

you see a rhino is to freeze. then it understands you don't represent a threat. raymond: can you s see? ok, wewe can continue. reporter: about 90 rangers work here. angie genade is in charge. she's been running the rhino fund since 2008, and has brought a lot of new stataff on board. and the numberer of animals s ie sanctuary has almost doubled under her direction. angie: the situation of the rhinos has been dire for a long time. there was a short period, maybe in the 1970's, early 1980's, where the rhinos were pretty secure and then the poaching spiked. the problem is, it doesn't just spike in one country, it spikes all over. reporter: poachers haven't killed any animals in the sanctuary. the rhino fund h has been breedg them here for 18 y years now. the first was brought in from kenya, others from various zoos.

when out in the bush among the rhinos, it's important to remain quiet. walkie-talkies can make the rhinos restless. the rangers observe the animals' behavior during ththe day and t night, documenting where they graze, sleep, and wander. ththe data arere shared with resesearchers and zoos all ovr the world. martin lokiru is more involved with the rhinos than he is with his own family. he only sees them twice a year. martin: the rhinos are my second family. they are the one paying my school fees, they are the ones helping mymy family, keeping tm save and free. reporter: the rhino fund is financed largely by tourists, who come here from around the glove. the sanctutuary is one of the w places they have a chance to see rhinos in a natural habitat.

karen: we've been all over africa, western africa and southern africa, and the rhino is the one thing that we have not seen. so, anywhere where we have been looking for r the big five we'e seen them, but the rhino have just evaded usus. so this looked the one opportunity to be able to see themem. reporter: the rhinos are only safe in the sanctuary because so many rangers work here. raymond opio explains their strategy. raymond: the thing is we are very successful up to o the dy because of the community around. because we work hand in hand with the community around. and for this kind of project to stand, the first people is the community. a poacher cannot come from china area, anywhere to come and poach rhinos right from where they are. they have to use the local people. and if the local people are your friends, it is the best. now the local people are our informers.

reporter: and that includes the farmers in the area. they are allowed to graze their cattle in the sanctuary, up to 40 animals each per day. daniel: this sanctuary, they help us to graze our animals, they have enough grass, which also helps the animals to increase in the amount of milk. reporter: and the children in the area can now also attend school. it's financed by the rhino fund. the rangers regularly come to talk to the kids about the rhinos, and explain why they're so important. raymond: all of you know what a rhino is. what do rhinos have on their head? >> horns. raymond: how many horns? >> two. raymond: rhinos use their horn to protect themselves. how do they? they fight using their horn. if the enemy comes, they will use their horn and fight. do you know that when we started

here, people within this area, they were like, it's fine to kill an animal, to kill a wild animal, it is fine to do anything to the wild, cutting trees -- it was fine for them. and when we came to be here, it was a big tug of war to get a grassroot person to understand why we should conserve. reporter: raymond opio spends a lot of time out on patrol. he hopes that one day rhinos will again be able to live free, without need of protection. raymond: it will hapappen that e rhinos will go back into the wild in uganda, but we need a very tough law for that, and also we need people that are very much committed in conservation. my dream is to see the rhinos being put back into the national park and multiplying in numbers in the national park of uganda.

reporter: but that will take at least 20 to 30 more years. only then will the organization have bred so many southern white rhinos that some can be released from thehe sanctuary to roam fe in uganda's national parks. host: according to an international survey of eye doctors, in 30 years, half the world's popupulation will be shortsighted. that means everything past a certain distance will be out of focus for 4.7 billion people. researchers sadly predict that a billion of them will be almost blind. short-sightedness can be hereditary. but that can't possibly account for the dramatic increase in numbers. the condition begins in childhood, while the eyes are still developing. if you don't practice looking into the distance, you can end up shortsighted.

in many countries, children spend too little time out of doors, and too many hours staring at phones or tablets, starting at a very early age. this development is particularly acute in countries likike singapapore, south korea, chin, and taiwan. reporter: a dragonon boat racen taipei. an exciting event, especially if you u can tellll who's out in f. yet many here can see about this much -- practically nothing. some 80% of taiwane e childr ke pegeggyre severery shorortsighted by y the time y leleave school.. peggy's mother onlrerealized th when n pey was 1212 years old. she w was constantltly fag behindnd in class tsai: one day she ca homome d codn't r reaanymore.e. the dodoctor told meme that py woululd need an opoperation ii didn't do something ouout it straight awaway.

reporter: peggy was about t too blind. then, tragagically, her r fatr died and h her mother cocouldt afford laser eye surge f for her dadaught. and so, from their small flat, peggy's mother began selling insurance policies. she'd then sew until the early hohours of the morning, scrarag together enonough money fofor a treaeatment that's become very popupular in east t asia -- nt lenses. the extrthick coact lens reshape the patient't's cornea while they sleep. but eyey're on effffecti if worn everyry night. and peggggy's mother h has to p buyiying new ones. tsai: it's expensive, but the eyes are the windows to the soul.. and if she didn't see anything, then the wororld would be e a y da placece. r thoughgh, too. i wawant her to hahave light thoughts. peggggy: i wasas so scared of g blind. my mother hahad already prprepd me for it.t. she got t me a sleeping mamaskn ught m me how to wasash and fod

my socks w with it on, for whn everything e eventually wentnt . reporter: peggy was luy.y. yecaseses ofudden n bldness as a result of shortsightneness are beming e evemore comomn in taiwan. they're mamainly due to o te immense pressure of succeengng atchooool anuniverersi. and the ntinued e of old inesese aracterss also problematic. ththeyake a long time l learn because ey'r're complicateted d difficult toto decipher. russ khan was a successful i.t. manager and had justst developea new software programhehen he wokep one e rning, looood at his cell pho, anand uldn't see anhihing. he had a detached retina. he had ignorored his shortshthtedne for t too long. kh undererwent 12 operatns, without success. russ: i actually tried to do it, and i i fell. of couourse. because whenen you're blinind,s didifficult to d do anythin, inclcludinsuicide.

so, it w was ironic, but then t was the pointhat t my family made me rerealize no matatter t happeneded to me -- ifif i'm b, i can'n't hear, i cacan't mov- theyey wilalwaysys bthere fofr me. that's the lov anbecaususof the famamil bondings, it made me reaealize that perhapsps if i settleleon more m myself, i canan do somet. i i can still dodo something r myself and others. poporter: nce e thenhe's b bee touring tataiwan's schools asa livingarnining tothersrs. this principal invitedimim persrsonal. she's wants to move ayay from coconvenonal t teaer-led clses, w whi can be e d for the eyes, and insteabrbring in more plalayful way of f learn. khkhan first desescribes what s like to wakeke up and not t bee to see. then h he tells the e studentsw best to help a blind person. it's a lesesson that's b becoa fixed part of the timetable.

the principal wants to attac e prproblehead-o-on. today, twororofesss are visiting. she shows them h her students' highgh marks. the profesessors are here on hahalf of e gogovernnt andnd a analyzininstudy methods. a high-rkiking oicial l sitsn e backgrnd. chin-chn:n: sho-sightedness is now a nionanal curity prlelem fotaiwanan we're struggng t to nd engines and soiersrs. and ourur sdents s n't see, thenn the enthey can learn anything. repoport: the studies ar unequivol. at's need are fer acher-led lesson morore breaks, and rere natal ligig. wu pei-c-chang: our recent experiments with chickckens ad monkeys have clearly shown that relar r daylht canan ruce myopopia in childrenen by 30% aa yearar. reporterer: everyone agrees in e staff room, too.

it's parents who are the principal's biggest problem. huanang: they keepep telling met ththere are no g grades for bg able to see well. it's exaxamshey care about.. ththey say it's s more importatr their chilildren to do w welln those thanan it is for them toe able t to see. rereporter: khanan, meanwhiles breaking more tataboos, by susuggesting the c children ln leless. russ: every half hour we give our eyes a breakfor how w ng? >> 1 10 minutes. russ: : and how longng do you e to py outside each day, at the ve least? >> two hrs. reporterer: it's sometething t many o of their parerents would rarather not admdmit, but . . n is t thesehildreren'ideal teher. a realerson, tking frohis own expeence, inead of deliveri a conveional lesson huang: he is v very eciall rson. he i in taan we e y he felll from the clouds into a deep vavalley, and hahad totart a l

over againin. ththe children u understand t. and i admirereim for his courage in sringng historyry witus. reporter: khan's recommendatnsns arimmemediaty put t into practice. it's t time to get o out of the classroom. from n, , all afrnoooon clses will be e held outsidede. e pupupi here are now lenining that thehe health of their eyess more imptatant thainintense study and gogood grades. and d that this sosort of learg cacan be really y fun. for most of those here, in any case. host: the fact is, we human beings sit around too much. according to a study by the world health organization, 42% of people in germany are couch potatoes. that's more than the global average. in kuwait, it may apply to as many as 67% of the population.

and that's bad for our health, too. too little exercise can give rise to diabetes, heart and circulation disorders, and weight problems. 2.3 billion people were overweight in 2016. in the small town of narón in northwest spain, people are actively tackling the issue. reporter: hard as it may be, they set off at 7:00 in the morning. and carlos pineiro knows only too well just how hard it can be. that's why the general practitioner always accompanies his patients on their daily walk. 20 to 40 people take part depending on the weather. some are overweight, others have heart problems or diabetes. but after three-quarters of an hour they all feel great. josé: my friends are all round like barrels, drink too much beer, and then it's coffff here we come.

carlos, our doctor, says move around, don't eat so much, don't take so many pills, that's healthier. and i'm trying to do that. reporter: you don't want to end up like your friends? josé: no, i still have some fight in me. reporter: you need to be pretty optimistic to believe that you can persuade thousands of people to change their r lives. at first, people used to say cacarlos is crazy. but the physician's got narón moving. in this small town in galicia, inin the far n northwestern cor ofof spain, almostst 4000 peopoe taking part in this collective exercise. young and old, healthy and sick. and they have discovered a new sense of community along the way. sowing beans is pretty tough work. but this group of preschoolers doesn't seem to mind. now it's time to add a kernel of maize to each bean. and of course, everyone knows what m maize kernels are there

for. >> it grows into popcorn! reporter: well, not exactly, but that's where lorenzo comes in. he explains maize cobs come first. and they grow on plants that are this big. he can show the kids the apples where apple juice comes from. and the children are even allolod to collelect the eggs ld by lorenzo's chickens. the 80-year-old is one of the many volunteers who have embraced the health project. he believes children should learn where food comes from. lorenzo: i show them that salad and cabbageses are healthy and complete norormal food. how can they know if they like something or not if they've never seen it? reporter: alesandra has lost nine kilos. she's a veteran of carlos pineiro's project. miguguel, a relative newbie, s also here for a weigh-in.

carlrlos: if you keep up your 10 0 ststeps every morning, thenn you're on the e right path. reporter: everyone whoho has signeded up to the project this that the m most important thig about it is that they're not alone. miguelel: there is an advantageo doing things togogether. you don't want to look stupid in front of the others. so on some days when you really dodon't feel like getting out f reporter: one in two adults in spain are overweight. and obesity rates have doubled in the last 20 years. in galicia, a relatively poor region, the development is paparticularly visible. unemployment here is high. many people don't get enough exercise. obesity is frequently linked to poverty. carlos: of course, everyone is responsible for their own health. but it would be a mistake to blame individuals for this disease.

the problem is more common in particular social backgrounds. reporter: seafood and fish used to be a staple part of the diet here in galicia. today, many of these products are fairly expensive. meat, bread, or eggs often end up in people's shopping carts instead. restauranteur diego platas says that doesn't need to be the case. he is making sardines today. they are currently in season, and he says they're full of healthy fats and very affordable. 10 restaurants in narón, including diego's, are participating in the health project. their mission is to return to atlantic cuisine, with simple-to-prepare food that people can also cook for themselves. and the chefs are happy to tell customers how. diego: this is not sorcery. prepare good quality products well and enjoy them, whether it

takes three minutes or an hour. but people don't take the time to cook these days. reporter: at medical and public health conferences, delegates are being informed about this health project that draws on the expertise of chefs, retirees, and patients. researchers say what's happening in narón is trailblazing. euan: their initiative really attempts to engage the whole community. they're t talking abt inteteracting with almost evey single member of the city. and that really doesn't happen anywhere else. reporter: and if it's to work, it must be fun, too. that's the line that local schools are taking. sports teachers say kids should be motivated and not preached to. children are getting a chance to try out games and pastimes that their grandparents used to enjoy. >> everyone had forgotten about the old games. now we're playing them again.

>> if i forget a rule, i just ask my grandparents to remind me. >> boys and girls always play football separatelely. but we can play the old games together. reporter: over the next two years the aim is to get up to 12,000 people moving. the project leaders are convinced they'll achieve this goal, thanks to new ideas and the revival of past traditions. together, they have taken a big step forwards. >> i am a global teen. host: today, our global teen comes from costa rica.

sharon: my name is sharon pamela pinellll analiz. i'm 17 yearsldld and live e in cacartago, costata rica. i have three sisters andy y mom in c cachí. get t alg really well wi them.. one ster i iengaged and one lis in p pblo nuevo. itakakes mreallylyappy to bebe withth my family.. nonothinmakes s meappier.. when i'm far away from tm m i get sa they're what mak m me haiest in life.

in my free time i like to wahh tv o or pl with h myister. somemetimes i playay footballr listenen to music. when i i'm older i'd'd like ton a a beauty salonon with my sis. we'd'd run it togegether. ththat's my dreaeam. if that t doesn't workrk out,d like t to design cloloth. i'd also l like to have e chiln with my y boyfriend, a and i t them to finish high school and not dr outut liki did. then they could do somhihing with t theirives.. there are serious problems here. people leave trash all over r e

placace. there isnsn't enough m. some people e live on the e re. otrsrs cannly afafford trentnt a home. theyon't h he enough money, and ey suffer along thth the chdrenen. host: on theext editn, we heado the stets of being, the capital of what once was cacaed the kingdom of bicycles. but t a growing mimiddle classs brought with it more cars and increased trafaffi a bikehaharing bm gogot unrway herere three yearsrs ago. are bicles making a comeback?

we're back next week. and in the meantime, don't forget to write to us, global3000@dw.com, or on facebook. see you next time. ♪ aptioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org]

narrarator: on ththis episodedef "eaarth focus"... the e race to transition to sustainable solar powower is underway. in zanzibar, rural women are learning solar skills, bucking a tradition of entrenched gender roles, empowering their communities in the process, while i in southernrn californi, it's genererating the e growth f grgreen jobs s and winning over skeptics. [filmlm advance clicking]