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  • [ December 10, 2025 ] Youth at the Center of Climate Decisions: During COP30, Children’s Summit Highlights ‘It’s Children Who Feel It Most!’ Civil Society
  • [ December 5, 2025 ] ‘Favela-based Media Are a Pillar of Democracy’: In Rocinha, Climate Justice Takes Center Stage at the 3rd Conference on Favela and Peripheral Journalism #MediaWatch
  • [ December 4, 2025 ] Portrait of a Centenary-Old Favela of Stilt Houses: Belém’s Vila da Barca Resists, Organizes and Fights for Sanitation and Adequate Housing #HousingWatch
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HomeFavela Qualities

Favela Qualities

*Highlight

Anitta’s Global Hit ‘Vai Malandra’ Music Video In Context: Favela Funk and Passinho

By Lucy McMahon • January 17, 2018

Clique aqui para Português The December sun beats down on a vividly painted school playground, where several teenagers are going through the fast steps of a passinho phrase. They pause to teach each other, to […]

*Highlight

West Zone Social Development Initiatives Come Under the Spotlight at Exhibition

By Luisa Fenizola • Translation by Anna Jönsson • December 27, 2017

Clique aqui para Português Unfolding from December 2 to 9, a sensory, interactive, and emotional exhibition entitled “Illuminate the West Zone” aimed to increase visibility for social organizations and community collectives that, with support from […]

*Highlight

‘Strollability’ of Favelas is the Focus of the 13th Annual Circulando Event in Alemão

By Luisa Fenizola • Translation by Lucy McMahon • December 22, 2017

Clique aqui para Português Following last year’s event focused on ‘reinventivity’ in favelas, the 13th edition of the event “Circulating: Dialogue and Communication in Favelas” took place on December 9 in Complexo do Alemão, in […]

#CommunityMedia

Five Ways Favela Activists Use Facebook as a Tool to Resist Eviction

By Lucas Smolcic Larson • December 19, 2017

Clique aqui para Português In Brazil, 52.5% of the population has a Facebook profile, making it the third highest user base in the world. And favelas are at the heart of the country’s social media craze. 59% […]

*Highlight

Devas—Maré’s Women Artisans #SustainableFavelaNetwork [PROFILE]

By Sophie Pizzimenti • December 18, 2017

Clique aqui para Português Initiative: Devas—Maré’s Artisans (Devas—Artesãs da Maré) Contact: Facebook | Instagram | Email Year Founded: 1996 Community: Nova Holanda, Complexo da Maré Mission: To build citizenship for women living in precarious social situations with low levels […]

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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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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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