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  • [ 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
HomeGentrification

Gentrification

Seu Zeca holds his grandfather's whistle, who was one of the old guards of the Botanical Gardens.
#EvictionsWatch

The Guardians of Tijuca Forest: The Residents of Horto Florestal [IMAGES]

By Sophia Zaia • Translation by Cheyne Bull • January 2, 2018

Clique aqui para Português The Botanical Gardens in Rio de Janeiro has threatened to remove the community of Horto, the same community that has been taking care of the “most conserved area” of the Tijuca Forest […]

#EvictionsWatch

‘The Green Firefly’ Carnival Bloco Broadcasts Horto’s Sustainable Legacy [INTERVIEW]

By Sophia Zaia • Translation by Grace Atwell • December 11, 2017

Clique aqui para Português Hugo José Camarate was born and raised in Horto Florestal and founded the street carnival group, or bloco, Vagalume O Verde (The Green Firefly) in 2005. He sought to resurrect his childhood memories […]

Public space in Babilônia in 2012
#GentrificationWatch

The Power of the Plaza: Favela-Led Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design in Babilônia

By Mayu Takeda • November 29, 2017

Clique aqui para Português This is the third article in a four-part series on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. “First of all, this plaza is different because this plaza is our plaza,” declares André Constantine, a powerful […]

#ParticipationWatch

At Favela Literary Festival, Contest Highlights History of 5 Areas of Vidigal

By Priscilla Mayrink • Translation by Cheyne Bull • November 27, 2017

Clique aqui para Português In its sixth annual edition, this year’s Urban Peripheries Literary Festival (FLUP) took place in Vidigal in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro with the theme “Revolution, Choose Yours,” which sought […]

#EvictionsWatch

‘There Will Be No Evictions’: Rio das Pedras Wins One Battle, Faces Another

By Lucas Smolcic Larson, Tyler Strobl • October 30, 2017

Clique aqui para Português Hundreds of people gathered at the Campo do Via Light in the Rio das Pedras favela, in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, October 26, to hear an important announcement […]

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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

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    • Sanitation
  • Violations
    • Human Rights
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    • 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
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    • Research & Analysis
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    • Listicles
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    • Translated Articles
  • About
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