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Latest News
  • [ January 29, 2026 ] ‘It’s the Place of Resistance of Our Existence’: Duque de Caxias’ Culture Manor is a Hub for Art, Education and Leisure by Community Contributors
  • [ January 13, 2026 ] 10 Years Since the Rio Olympics: Vila Autódromo Continues to Resist Gentrification Pressures Amidst New ‘Olympic Barra’ Neighborhood #EvictionsWatch
  • [ January 8, 2026 ] COP30 Civil Society Rundown: Thousands of Communities and Social Movements, Representing Favelas, Indigenous, Quilombola and Other Marginalized Groups Fill Belém During COP30 [IMAGES] *Highlight
  • [ December 31, 2025 ] ‘What We Want Aren’t Bodies on the Ground… It’s Recognition of [Our] People Creating Solutions’: Penha Favelas Hold Composters and Integrated Health Events Highlighting Local Climate Memories *Highlight
  • [ December 26, 2025 ] 2025 Retrospective of Top International Reporting on Rio’s Favelas #MediaWatch
HomeFavela Culture

Favela Culture

#ParticipationWatch

The Right to Live: Favela Residents Celebrate Community and Fight for Their Rights

By Brian McNamara • June 29, 2017

Clique aqui para Português Rio de Janeiro is known worldwide for beautiful beachfront neighborhoods such as Copacabana, and the striking statue of Christ the Redeemer, yet beyond the scenic views of this southern edge of […]

#HousingWatch

History of Urban Renewal ‘Project Rio’ in Maré Part 1: A Siren’s Song

By Claire Jones • June 29, 2017

Clique aqui para Português This is the first article in a three-part series on the history of the Projeto Rio urban renewal program in Maré, from 1979-1981. On the afternoon of June 10, 1981, Brazil President […]

*Highlight

Two Distant Places Intimately Connected Through the Birth of Brazil’s First Favela

By Claire Jones • June 5, 2017

Clique aqui para Português It’s an old story to anyone familiar with Rio’s favelas and their history: the first favela was founded in 1897, when veterans of the Canudos War, most of them former slaves, […]

Maré LGBT Theater Group - Photo by Douglas Lopes
*Highlight

Maré Arts Center Hosts First Ever LGBT Cultural Exhibition

By Tyler Strobl • May 22, 2017

Clique aqui para Português The Maré Arts Center was packed this past Thursday as the Theater of the Oppressed LGBT Lab hosted the First Favela LGBT Culture and Citizenship Exhibition. Attendees, ranging from high school […]

Civil Society

Baixada Never Gives Up: Cultural Collective Featured in New UN Documentary

By Stephanie Reist • May 13, 2017

Clique aqui para Português On May 9, journalists were invited to an advanced screening of the documentary “Baixada Never Gives Up.” The film, directed by Italy’s Christian Tragni and Brazil’s Juliana Spinola, introduces the world to […]

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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.
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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.

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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
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  • Communities
    • Central
    • South Zone
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    • 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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