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Latest News
  • [ May 31, 2026 ] Critical Urban Park in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone Is at Risk of Disappearing After Decades of Government Neglect by Community Contributors
  • [ May 27, 2026 ] ‘We Belong to the Land’: An Interview With John Mussington on the Urgency of Learning from Barbuda’s Communal Land System [VIDEO] #GentrificationWatch
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  • [ May 15, 2026 ] Complex and Intelligent, the Favela Has Its Own Geography *Highlight
HomeFavela Culture

Favela Culture

Church of Our Lady of Penha_ the beginning of a Quilombo that, later, would become Vila Cruzeiro. Photo by VejaRio.
*Highlight

Vila Cruzeiro’s Legacy for Black Culture

By William Reis • Translation by Ikrom Alajoulin • November 19, 2020

Clique aqui para Português This article is published as part of Brazilian Black Awareness Month, celebrated every November around Black Consciousness Day on November 20. For the original article by William Reis, executive coordinator of […]

Desenho por Geisa Paganini De Mio
*Highlight

Who Does Favela Research Serve? Residents and Academics Demand Reciprocal Exchange [VIDEO]

By Gianna Giordani • October 26, 2020

Clique aqui para Português This is our most recent article in a series created in partnership with the Behner Stiefel Center for Brazilian Studies at San Diego State University, to produce articles for the Digital Brazil […]

Eloanah, in the center, with a white shirt during the 1st edition of OCA in Complexo do Viradouro. Photo by Rafael Lopes.
#CoronavirusWatch

Black Women from Viradouro Affirm: ‘The Favela is Ours! Respect It!’ [VIDEO]

By Eloanah Gentil • Translation by Ikrom Alajoulin • October 20, 2020

Clique aqui para Português This is our latest article about Covid-19 and its impacts on the favelas. It is also part of a series created in partnership with the Center for Critical Studies in Language, Education, and […]

*Highlight

#MaréBunkerOfPotential and Not of Criminals #VoicesFromSocialMedia

By Tatiana Lima • Translation by Ikrom Alajoulin • September 16, 2020

Clique aqui para Português This is our latest article on the new coronavirus as it impacts Rio de Janeiro’s favelas and is also part of RioOnWatch’s #VoicesFromSocialMedia series, which compiles perspectives posted on social media by favela residents and […]

#CoronavirusWatch

The Reinvention of Favela Artisans During the Pandemic [VIDEO]

By Thomas Maggiola • August 31, 2020

Clique aqui para Português This is our latest article on Covid-19 and its impacts on the favelas and in the series of Teach-Ins on Covid-19 in favelas. On August 17, the Sustainable Favela Network’s (SFN)* Income Generation Working […]

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RioOnWatch’s anti-racist reporting series won silver in the 2022 inaugural The Anthem Awards, in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion category among Best Local Awareness Programs.
A Project of

About

In May 2010, Catalytic Communities launched what was originally Rio Olympics Neighborhood Watch (hence RioOnWatch), a program to bring visibility to favela community voices in the lead-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics. This news site, RioOnWatch.org, grew into a much-needed and unique reference featuring favela perspectives on the urban transformation of Rio. With diverse and deeply interlinked articles by a mix of community reporters, resident opinions, solidarity reporters, international observers, and academic researchers, we work to engender a more accurate picture of favelas, their contributions to the city, and the potential of favela-led community development in Rio and around the world.

Contact & Support

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10 Years! Check Out Our Story:

Awards

Special Thanks

Fundação Heinrich Böll Brasil
World Habitat
Fideicomiso de la Tierra Caño Martín Peña
Pastoral de Favelas
Center for CLT Innovation
Global Land Alliance
Ecocity Builders
Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation
SDSU Behner Stiefel Center
The Rio Times
Forum Grita Baixada
Beto Paixão Graphic Design
Architecture Museum of Vienna
Yale School of Architecture

  • Home
    • Highlighted Stories
    • Understanding Rio
    • Reference Articles
  • Communities
    • Central
    • South Zone
    • North Zone
    • West Zone
    • Greater Rio
  • Policies
    • Public Security
    • Housing
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Health
    • Sanitation
  • Violations
    • Human Rights
    • Housing Rights
    • Police Violence
    • Government Neglect
  • Organizing
    • Community Organizing
    • Community Solution
    • Resistance
    • Sustainability
    • Participation
    • Protest
    • Culture
    • Responsible Tourism
  • Content Map
    • by Community Contributors
    • by Int’l Observers
    • Series
      • Anti-Racist Series
      • Energy Justice Series
    • Event Reports
    • Video Stories
    • Photo-Essays
    • Interviews/Profiles
    • Research & Analysis
    • Reviews
    • Listicles
    • Opinion
    • Reference
    • Podcasts
    • Translated Articles
  • About
    • Timeline
    • Our Reporting Policy
    • License
    • Feedback
  • For Journos
  • Donate

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