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*Highlight

Samba Abstrato Exposes the Whitening of Samba Schools [OPINION]

By Paulo Mileno • Translation by Staff • March 10, 2025

Clique aqui para Português Launched in 2016, the Samba Abstrato (Abstract Samba) Facebook page was created to document the appropriation and whitening of Brazilian carnival samba schools, as well as to confront the invasion of […]

*Highlight

Rio Carnival 2025: Mangueira Samba School Exalts ‘Pride in Being from the Favela’ While Telling the Story of the Bantu Peoples [INTERVIEW]

By Rhuan Gonçalves • Translation by Staff • February 28, 2025

Clique aqui para Português Rio de Janeiro’s 2025 Carnival is here, celebrating a people increasingly proud of themselves and their history. Of the 12 samba schools in the Special Group, only two—Mocidade and Vila Isabel—will […]

#CommunityMedia

‘I’m Still Here’ Say Rio’s Favela Media. Get to Know, ‘Folha do Borel,’ a Historic Favela Newspaper Produced During Brazil’s Military Dictatorship

By Igor Soares • Translation by Kay Alvito • January 29, 2025

Clique aqui para Português This article is part of RioOnWatch‘s series on Memories of Favela Power, which documents and celebrates the history of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas through narratives and reports from residents’ collective memory, in […]

*Highlight

Rio de Janeiro’s Second Largest Favela, Rio das Pedras, Claims Space at the Center of Favela History Through ‘Territories of Memory’ Event

By Wellington Melo • Translation by Hannah McKenzie • December 12, 2024

Clique aqui para Português On November 23, community news outlet Lume Agency held an in-depth event on memory at the CAIC Euclides da Cunha secondary school in Rio das Pedras, Rio de Janeiro’s second largest […]

*Highlight

Get to Know Two Inspirational Women Leaders From Rio’s Favelas on This Afro-Latin American Women’s Day

By David Amen • Translation by Vasti Cruz • July 25, 2024

Clique aqui para Português July 25 marks Afro-Latin American, Afro-Caribbean and Diaspora Women’s Day, a date that celebrates the diversity, resistance, and international struggle of Afro-diasporic women in the region in their fight for rights. […]

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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
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    • Listicles
    • Opinion
    • Reference
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    • Translated Articles
  • About
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