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Latest News
  • [ November 13, 2026 ] Favela Communicators and Movements Elect Lula in Rio de Janeiro #CommunityMedia
  • [ November 11, 2026 ] Favela Rivers Also Have Rights, Say Residents, Activists and Students During Rio de Janeiro’s 3rd Sustainable Favela Festival *Highlight
  • [ October 29, 2026 ] Favela Leaders Confronting the Climate Crisis In Diverse, Creative Ways Is Top Takeaway From Latest ‘Sustainable Favela Festival’ *Highlight
  • [ October 23, 2026 ] ‘We Are at Risk of Losing Everything We Hold Most Precious:’ What’s at Stake When Brazilians Head to the Polls This Sunday [OPINION] #CoronavirusWatch
  • [ October 22, 2026 ] What Do Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro Policy Platforms Intend For Favelas? #UPPWatch
HomeSanitation

Sanitation

*Highlight

Do You Know the Mysteries of Serrinha? The Source of Rio’s Cultural Abundance

By Flávio Silva • Translation by Cormac Whitney Low • April 16, 2020

Clique aqui para Português My name is Flávio da Silva França Alves, better known as Mestre Flavinho. I am a batuque and jongo percussionist, member of the Império Serrano samba school, and founder of Projeto […]

#CoronavirusWatch

Rocinha and Other Favelas Issue 17-Part Manifesto to Combat Covid-19 Pandemic

By Rocinha Residents' Association • Translation by Cormac Whitney Low • April 6, 2020

Clique aqui para Português The following text is from a letter sent to Rio de Janeiro Governor Wilson Witzel by the Rocinha Residents’ Association and signed by representatives of many different favelas. Read all of […]

#CommunityMedia

‘We’re Excluded’: Coronavirus Prevention Tips ‘Forget’ Favelas Lacking Basic Sanitation

By Lola Ferreira • Translation by Elfie Lawson • March 24, 2020

Clique aqui para Português For the original article in Portuguese by Lola Ferreira published in Uol Notícias click here. This is the third article in what will be a spotlighted issue on RioOnWatch for the […]

#CommunityMedia

Six Coronavirus Realities in the Favelas: From Lack of Information to Lack of Water #VoicesFromSocialMedia

By Luisa Fenizola • Translation by Abigail Cramer, Sharonya Vadakattu • March 20, 2020

Clique aqui para Português This article is part of RioOnWatch’s #VoicesFromSocialMedia series, which compiles perspectives posted on social media by favela residents and activists about events and societal themes that arise. This is the second article in what […]

*Highlight

Defeating Social and Urban Barriers: Inequality and Urban Design in Rocinha

By Camilla Piccolo • March 10, 2020

Clique aqui para Português The Lagoa-Barra Expressway separates the favela of Rocinha, located in Rio de Janeiro’s South Zone, from the adjacent, wealthy neighborhood of São Conrado. The noisy two-lane motorway begins in the Miami-like […]

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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.

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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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  • Violations
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    • Police Violence
    • Government Neglect
  • Organizing
    • Community Organizing
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    • Sustainability
    • Participation
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    • Culture
    • Responsible Tourism
  • Content Map
    • by Community Contributors
    • by Int’l Observers
    • Series
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      • Energy Justice Series
    • Event Reports
    • Video Stories
    • Photo-Essays
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    • Research & Analysis
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    • Listicles
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  • About
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