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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
Homemobility

mobility

#Rio2016

The Sahara Tram: The Soul of Santa Teresa under Attack

By Maristela Grynberg • Translation by Felicity Clarke • August 16, 2016

Clique aqui para Português On August 27, 2011, there was a terrible accident on the Santa Teresa tram, or bonde, in the hilltop neighborhood in Central Rio which resulted in serious injuries and several deaths. Among […]

#ParticipationWatch

Budget Cuts Halt ‘Olympic Legacy’ Bike Path Construction in Maré

By Carolina Vaz, Thaís Cavalcante • Translation by Carolyn Oliveira • July 24, 2016

Clique aqui para Português The Rio Bicycle Capital City project, which encourages cycling in the city, arrived for the first time in a favela complex: Maré in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro. In partnership with […]

#Rio2016

“Public (In)Security and the Olympics”: Maré Residents Discuss Increased Military Presence

By Ciara Long • July 22, 2016

On Thursday July 14, the Popular Committee on the World Cup and the Olympics chaired a debate on the impact of increased police presence in Complexo da Maré on favelas and communities. Taking place in Museu da […]

#HousingWatch

An Island in Your Own City: Life in Gated Communities in Barra da Tijuca

By Christian Kuitert • June 27, 2016

Clique aqui para Português The gated community is a well-known phenomenon across the Americas. The model first gained popularity in the United States before South American countries adopted this architectural style in the 1970s. Real estate developers created and marketed […]

*Highlight

Accessibility is a Challenge for Older People in Favelas

By Saulo Pereira Guimarães • Translation by Sheila Taylor • March 18, 2016

Clique aqui para Português For the original article by Saulo Pereira Guitarães in Portuguese published in Vozerio click here. Whether it is the flat City of God or the steep Santa Marta, senior citizens living in favelas have to […]

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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.

Contact & Support

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10 Years! Check Out Our Story:

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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  • Policies
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    • 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
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    • Research & Analysis
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    • Listicles
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    • Reference
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    • Translated Articles
  • About
    • Timeline
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