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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
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community pride

*Highlight

Alex Belchior and His Work to Document Memory in Vila Kennedy [INTERVIEW]

By Luisa Fenizola • Translation by Desirée Poets • March 15, 2018

Clique aqui para Português Nominated for the ‘Making a Difference’ Award in the RIO category by the O Globo newspaper, Alex Belchior is a resident of Vila Kennedy, in the West Zone, and currently works as a tour guide […]

*Highlight

Cerro Corá Residents in Motion #SustainableFavelaNetwork [PROFILE]

By Lucas Smolcic Larson • February 15, 2018

Clique aqui para Português Initiatives: Community Library, Memories of Cerro Corá, and Cerro Corá College Prep Contact: Facebook: Residents in Motion, Memories of Cerro Corá, College Prep | Email Year Founded: 2013 Community: Cerro Corá Mission: To preserve the memory […]

#CommunityMedia

‘For some, they’ve had enough. It’s time to go,’ Says Rocinha Resident

By Edu Carvalho • Translation by Wendy Turner • February 2, 2018

Clique aqui para Português For the original article in Portuguese by Edu Carvalho published by O Globo click here.  RioOnWatch Editor’s note: In an article analyzing the “indifference” and “silence” of Brazilian authorities and institutions […]

*Highlight

Anitta’s Global Hit ‘Vai Malandra’ Music Video In Context: Favela Funk and Passinho

By Lucy McMahon • January 17, 2018

Clique aqui para Português The December sun beats down on a vividly painted school playground, where several teenagers are going through the fast steps of a passinho phrase. They pause to teach each other, to […]

#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 […]

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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
    • Central
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    • Greater Rio
  • Policies
    • Public Security
    • 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
    • Interviews/Profiles
    • Research & Analysis
    • Reviews
    • Listicles
    • Opinion
    • Reference
    • Podcasts
    • Translated Articles
  • About
    • Timeline
    • Our Reporting Policy
    • License
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  • For Journos
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