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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
HomeCommunity Leadership

Community Leadership

Seu Zeca holds his grandfather's whistle, who was one of the old guards of the Botanical Gardens.
#EvictionsWatch

The Guardians of Tijuca Forest: The Residents of Horto Florestal [IMAGES]

By Sophia Zaia • Translation by Cheyne Bull • January 2, 2018

Clique aqui para Português The Botanical Gardens in Rio de Janeiro has threatened to remove the community of Horto, the same community that has been taking care of the “most conserved area” of the Tijuca Forest […]

#ParticipationWatch

Ten Lessons from Asa Branca on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

By Mayu Takeda • December 16, 2017

Clique aqui para Português This is the final article in a four-part series on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. Founded in 1986, the favela of Asa Branca is situated in the region of Barra da Tijuca in […]

#CommunityMedia

Complexo da Maré’s Gizele Martins Receives Rio’s Highest Honor

By Sidney Magana • September 21, 2017

Clique aqui para Português On Saturday, September 16, activist, community communicator, and Complexo da Maré resident Gizele Martins received the Pedro Ernesto Medal at a ceremony at the Museu da Maré (Maré Museum). The Pedro Ernesto Medal […]

Ceramics for All teacher Tatiana Costa at the AMAHOR studio
#EvictionsWatch

Horto Association Offers Free Arts Courses to Foster Community Resilience, Economic Solidarity

By Sophia Zaia • August 19, 2017

Clique aqui para Português The Horto Neighborhood and Friends’ Association (AMAHOR) of the historic Horto community located near the Botanical Gardens, launched free sewing, crafts and ceramics courses early this year. The courses take place weekly […]

José Martins fights for proper sanitation in Rocinha. Photo by AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo
*Highlight

Water Activist José Martins Looks Back Over Five Decades Living and Organizing in Rocinha [INTERVIEW]

By Claire Jones • March 29, 2017

Clique aqui para Português José Martins de Oliveira, a long-time activist and organizer in Rocinha, and currently co-director of Rocinha Without Borders, marked exactly fifty years since he first came to Rio de Janeiro on March […]

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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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    • by Int’l Observers
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      • Energy Justice Series
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    • Video Stories
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