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Latest News
  • [ January 13, 2026 ] 10 Years Since the Rio Olympics: Vila Autódromo Continues to Resist Gentrification Pressures Amidst New ‘Olympic Barra’ Neighborhood #EvictionsWatch
  • [ January 8, 2026 ] COP30 Civil Society Rundown: Thousands of Communities and Social Movements, Representing Favelas, Indigenous, Quilombola and Other Marginalized Groups Fill Belém During COP30 [IMAGES] *Highlight
  • [ December 31, 2025 ] ‘What We Want Aren’t Bodies on the Ground… It’s Recognition of [Our] People Creating Solutions’: Penha Favelas Hold Composters and Integrated Health Events Highlighting Local Climate Memories *Highlight
  • [ December 26, 2025 ] 2025 Retrospective of Top International Reporting on Rio’s Favelas #MediaWatch
  • [ December 24, 2025 ] ‘No One in Terra Firme Will Sleep Hungry Today!’ Amid Adversity, Belém Favela Initiatives Distribute 2,200 Meals During COP30 With Support from the People’s Summit Solidarity Kitchen *Highlight
Homegarden

garden

#Rio2016

The Sahara Tram: The Soul of Santa Teresa under Attack

By Maristela Grynberg • Translation by Felicity Clarke • August 16, 2016

Clique aqui para Português On August 27, 2011, there was a terrible accident on the Santa Teresa tram, or bonde, in the hilltop neighborhood in Central Rio which resulted in serious injuries and several deaths. Among […]

Event Reports

Vila Laboriaux Repurposes Vacant Lot for New Edible Urban Forest

By Nia McAllister • December 11, 2015

Clique aqui para Português On Sunday December 6, over twenty residents and collaborators gathered in Vila Laboriaux to plant and revive a vacant plot located at one of the highest points of the community. Once threatened […]

#EvictionsWatch

Vila Autódromo Invests in Remaining Public Spaces As Evictions Persist

By Sam Salvesen • November 20, 2015

Clique aqui para Português Last weekend students from two universities joined residents of Vila Autódromo to revitalize the community park, or Parquinho. Participants tied colored ribbons around trees, painted the jungle gym, seesaw and swing-set, and […]

Favela Qualities

Living with Nature in Morro da Formiga: An Interview with Amadeu Palmares da Silveira [VIDEO]

By Claire Lepercq • October 31, 2015

Clique aqui para Português October 31, 2015 is the second annual United Nations’ World Cities Day, a day intended to promote interest in sustainable urban living around the world. This year’s theme is ‘Designed to […]

*Highlight

Water Societies and Other Sustainability Initiatives Thrive in Morro da Formiga

By Claire Lepercq, Lovinia Reynolds, Nia McAllister • October 10, 2015

Clique aqui para Português Community-based sustainability projects are an integral part of the rich history of the community of Morro da Formiga. Located in the North Zone of the city, Formiga borders the vast Tijuca Forest and […]

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.

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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
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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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    • Translated Articles
  • About
    • Timeline
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    • License
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