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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

#GentrificationWatch

Communities Unite Against Water Privatization in South Zone Favelas

By Anna Cash • February 24, 2016

Clique aqui para Português Around 100 people met at the base of Vidigal on Wednesday, February 17 to voice their discontent with the state’s impending decision to privatize the water and sewage management utility, CEDAE, in the favela. […]

Gilmara helped create gay rights marches in Maré, Alemão, and Rocinha--three of Rio's largest favelas. Photo by: Fabio Teixeira
*Highlight

“Being Gay in a Favela Hasn’t Gotten Easier. We’re Still Fighting for Our Lives.”

By Jefferson Puff • Translation by Sarah Jacobs • February 10, 2016

Clique aqui para Português For the original article by Jefferson Puff in Portuguese published by BBC Brasil click here. “In the favela you can’t kiss or walk holding hands. Gays, lesbians and transexuals living in favelas have […]

#EvictionsWatch

Leader of Quilombo das Guerreiras Shares Memories of Occupation, Struggle and Resistance

By Katja Majcen • October 5, 2015

Clique aqui para Português The Quilombo das Guerreiras occupation is a symbol of resistance and community organizing. From 2006 through 2013 over one hundred families occupied and built a community in an abandoned warehouse in […]

Photo by André Fernandes / ANF
#ParticipationWatch

Unit to Potentialize the Poor: The New Utopian UPP

By Cléber Araujo • Translation by Alice Lupton • September 9, 2015

Clique aqui para Português For the original in Portuguese by Cléber Araujo, resident of Complexo do Alemão, published in Agência de Notícias da Favela, click here. This is a satirical piece. After various meetings and revisions given the countless […]

Civil Society

‘Militant’ Favela Activist Wins Historic Election in Babilônia

By Brooke Parkin • June 18, 2015

Clique aqui para Português The Chapa Amarela campaign ticket won the Neighborhood Association elections on April 26 in the community of Babilônia, in Rio’s South Zone, with 394 votes. A total of 754 residents voted, choosing between […]

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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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