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Latest News
  • [ July 23, 2026 ] Surf Legend Ricardo Bocão’s Enduring Legacy in Rocinha [OBITUARY] by Community Contributors
  • [ July 17, 2026 ] ‘Favela Tourism as Citizenship: Pathways to a Community-Based, Sustainable Model’ — Public Hearing Highlights the Potential of Community-Based Tourism in Rio de Janeiro by Community Contributors
  • [ July 16, 2026 ] In the Context of Climate Overshoot, ‘Cities Are the Crucible and Fire That Drive the Change We Need, and That Change Will be Realized Through Housing,’ Says IPCC Coordinating Lead Author *Highlight
  • [ July 14, 2026 ] ‘There Is No Climate Justice Without Adequate Housing,’ Argue Leaders at First Brazilian Housing and Climate Forum *Highlight
  • [ July 13, 2026 ] Rio de Janeiro’s ‘Milícias’—Vigilante, Off-Duty Police Gangs—Are Not a Parallel Power: They Are the State at Work [BOOK REVIEW] #UPPWatch
Hometour guides

tour guides

Cosme Felippsen leads the Rolé
*Highlight

Favela Activists Launch Series of Unique Favela Tours for Cariocas and Visitors Alike

By Stephanie Reist • February 20, 2017

Clique aqui para Português The second installment of Rolé dos Favelados (Stroll of the Favelados) kicked off this Saturday, February 18 in the downtown favela of Providência, which will celebrate its 120th anniversary this year. Amid a […]

View from Dois Irmãos
#Rio2016

Increased Tourism to Dois Irmãos Trail Raises Concerns in Vidigal

By Nia McAllister, Sarah Cronin • August 13, 2016

Clique aqui para Português Dois Irmãos, the iconic “two brothers” mountains of Rio de Janeiro which can be viewed from Ipanema beach and upon which the Vidigal favela is built, are a popular tourist attraction. The […]

Favela Culture

Favela Tourism: A Profile of Rocinha Guide Erik Martins

By Daniel McGill • May 14, 2016

Erik Martins has many fingers in many pies. I told him so, on the first of many nights that we spent together in Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro’s largest favela, located in the city’s South Zone. […]

Civil Society

Vale Encantado Plans for Sustainable Sanitation Project

By Emily Hosek • July 30, 2013

Clique aqui para Português Vale Encantado, a tranquil favela located in the heart of the Tijuca Forest, has developed a creative solution to ensure the historic community’s future development in light of limited public investments: […]

Posts pagination

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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.

Contact & Support

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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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