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Latest News
  • [ 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
  • [ November 30, 2025 ] The Story of Dona Pascoalina, Midwife and Healer of Morro do Borel by Community Contributors
  • [ November 15, 2025 ] ‘There’s No Such Thing as Normal After a Massacre’: One Week After Police Mega-Operation Kills 121 People, Residents From Complexos do Alemão and Penha Speak Out #UPPWatch
  • [ November 13, 2025 ] ‘Human Beings Forget That They Are Nature’: Favelas Teach the Path to the Future at the 2nd Favela Sustainability Festival Civil Society
  • [ November 12, 2025 ] Food Sovereignty and Culinary Heritage Connect with Fight for Climate Justice at the 2nd Sustainable Favela Festival Civil Society
HomeMorro do Chapadão

Morro do Chapadão

#Rio2016

The Importance and Challenges of Putting Favelas on the Map

By Natalie Southwick • October 11, 2016

Clique aqui para Português Mapping Rio de Janeiro’s favelas can be a contentious political and social issue, and the debate has only amplified in the last few years, as Rio hosted increasingly high-profile global mega-events like the 2014 World […]

#Rio2016

Rio’s Hometown Olympians Showcase Favelas’ Athletic Potential

By Natalie Southwick • August 20, 2016

Clique aqui para Português When Rafaela Silva threw her hands into the air to celebrate her victory in the Olympic gold-medal match of women’s judo, residents, athletes and coaches throughout Rio’s favelas celebrated with her. Much has already […]

Event Reports

“Funk Fridays” Series Debates Women’s Empowerment in Funk [IMAGES]

By Sarah Cronin • July 21, 2016

Clique aqui para Português This past Friday, July 15, a group of around 70 community members and artists gathered at Arena Carioca Dicró in Penha, in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone to discuss and recognize the contributions of women […]

*Highlight

Known for Violence, Chapadão Favela Inspires with Its First Literary Festival

By Renan Schuindt • Translation by Jodie Brauer • June 19, 2016

Clique aqui para Português In the early 90s, Brazil was full of uncertainties. Rampant inflation stole the dreams of many, the president had just resigned because of an impeachment process and the recently replaced government was […]

*Highlight

‘Favelas Have Memory’ Exhibition Explores Social Memory of Rio’s Favelas [IMAGES]

By Rhona Mackay • March 15, 2016

Clique aqui para Português Favela Tem Memória (Favelas Have Memory) is an exhibition by the NGO Viva Rio that explores the history of 12 favelas situated along Rio’s metro lines. The exhibition opened on February 29, at the Pavuna metro […]

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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
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  • Communities
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    • South Zone
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  • Policies
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    • 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
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    • Research & Analysis
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    • Listicles
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  • About
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