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  • [ 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
HomeSustainability

Sustainability

Understanding Rio

City Sweeper Specializes in Collecting Religious Offerings in Alto da Boa Vista

By Thiago Jansen • Translation by Kayla Boisvert • January 29, 2014

For the original by Thiago Jansen in Portuguese for O Globo click here.  In addition to being a Comlurb employee, Alexandre is a pai-de-santo (male priest of Umbanda, a primary Afro-Brazilian religion), and approaches his work […]

Solutions

Vila Laboriaux Builds Momentum to Achieve Goals

By Andrew Lindsay • October 15, 2013

On Sunday October 6, members of Vila Laboriaux joined together in a day-long celebration of their community’s vitality and to look to the future. Perched at the top of Rocinha, the largest favela in Rio […]

#GentrificationWatch

Building the Singular City: Land Tenure and Urban Planning in Rio de Janeiro’s Favelas

By Theresa Williamson • September 19, 2013

Clique aqui para Português On August 7, 2013, Catalytic Communities‘ Executive Director and urban planner, Theresa Williamson, gave a presentation on land tenure and urban planning in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas as part of a Casa […]

#CommunityMedia

Favelas Are Heaven and Hell for Cyclists

By Mariana Alvim • Translation by Amanda Bradshaw • September 16, 2013

For the original by Mariana Alvim in Portuguese on Viva Favela click here. Fewer motorized vehicles, proximity to points of interest, and a sense of community: these are some of the features that would make favelas good […]

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: […]

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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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    • South Zone
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    • Greater Rio
  • Policies
    • Public Security
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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
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