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Latest News
  • [ January 29, 2026 ] ‘It’s the Place of Resistance of Our Existence’: Duque de Caxias’ Culture Manor is a Hub for Art, Education and Leisure by Community Contributors
  • [ 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
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Civil Society

Vidigal’s Organic Medicinal Roof and Living Gallery Declared Rio Heritage Site

By Laura Fairman • December 28, 2016

Clique aqui para Português On Niemeyer Avenue at the entrance of Vidigal, in the community’s Human Rights Plaza and at its first kombi and moto-taxi stop, there’s a colorful graffiti wall portraying the community’s history in a sort of territorial museum. […]

*Highlight

Rio de Janeiro’s Urban Heat Islands: A Primer

By Lovinia Reynolds • October 26, 2015

Clique aqui para Português Summer is approaching in Brazil and with it come searing temperatures upwards of 40 degrees Celsius. However, not all areas in Rio de Janeiro’s metropolitan region will experience this heat to […]

Source: World Travel Server
*Highlight

World Environment Day: Five Community Projects for Sustainability

By Nicole Froio • June 5, 2015

Favelas are natural incubators for new ideas, sustainability initiatives and community-led projects. They are increasingly being recognized as models of sustainability worldwide. World Environment Day is organized annually by the United Nations to bring awareness to environmental issues around the […]

Civil Society

Vidigal Launches Series of 75th Birthday Celebrations

By Iman Ahmed • Translation by Cara D’Rosario • March 31, 2015

Clique aqui para Português On March 14 the main square of Vidigal was taken over in festivities. Seniors and young people got together to enjoy the day and celebrate 75 years of Vidigal. The celebration lasted the full […]

Residents of Manguinhos took part in Planting Ideas event on Wednesday March 4. Photo by Edilano Cavalcante
Civil Society

“Planting Ideas”: Manguinhos Launches Environmental Awareness Project

By Brooke Parkin • March 11, 2015

Clique aqui para Português On Wednesday March 4 community leaders, environmental activists and young people all from the North Zone community of Manguinhos gathered at the community library to launch the project Plantando Ideias (Planting Ideas). The initiative […]

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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

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  • Content Map
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