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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
HomeWritersDavid Robertson

Writer: David Robertson

#HousingWatch

Building the Favela: The Story of Diogo Barbosa in Vila Laboriaux, Rocinha

By David Robertson • September 8, 2016

Clique aqui para Português This is Part 2 of the Building the Favela series, a collection of stories of how people build their homes. The informality of Rio’s favelas means residents use their creativity and own know-how to build almost every […]

#EvictionsWatch

Olympic Opening Ceremony Spectacle Draws Criticism from Favelas on Social Media

By David Robertson • August 8, 2016

Clique aqui para Português The world watched on Friday as the Rio 2016 Olympics‘ opening ceremony took place in Maracanã stadium. Incredible fireworks, colorful costumes and smooth Bossa Nova filled the air. It was, in many people’s […]

#EvictionsWatch

Seven Years Since Eviction, ‘Island’ of Residents in Beira Rio, Manguinhos, Still Awaits Compensation

By David Robertson, Natalie Southwick • July 28, 2016

Clique aqui para Português Seven years have passed since over 1,000 families from the Beira Rio community in Manguinhos in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro were evicted due to Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) projects […]

#EvictionsWatch

Vito Giannotti Occupation in the Port Region Wins Legal Right to Remain

By David Robertson • July 28, 2016

Clique aqui para Português On Wednesday July 27, more than six months after first occupying the INSS-owned abandoned hotel in Santo Cristo in the Port Region, the Vito Giannotti occupation won a huge legal victory. Residents, […]

#EvictionsWatch

Building the Favela: The Story of Daniel Ferreira Campos in Vila União de Curicica

By David Robertson • June 25, 2016

Clique aqui para Português This is Part 1 of the Building the Favela series, a collection of stories of how people build their homes. The informality of Rio’s favelas means residents use their creativity and own know-how to build almost every […]

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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
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  • Communities
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  • Policies
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    • 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
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    • Research & Analysis
    • Reviews
    • Listicles
    • Opinion
    • Reference
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    • Translated Articles
  • About
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