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Latest News
  • [ 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
  • [ December 24, 2025 ] ‘No One in Terra Firme Will Sleep Hungry Today!’ Amid Adversity, Belém Favela Initiatives Distribute 2,200 Meals During COP30 With Support from the People’s Summit Solidarity Kitchen *Highlight
HomeParaisópolis

Paraisópolis

Doctor Dráuzio Varella said he regrets his initially optimistic take on the spread of coronavirs. Photo - BBC, Youtube reproduction
#CoronavirusWatch

Oncologist Drauzio Varella Predicts ‘National Tragedy’ from Coronavirus: ‘Brazil Will Pay the Price for its Inequality’ [INTERVIEW]

By Ligia Guimarães • Translation by Sharonya Vadakattu • May 8, 2020

Clique aqui para Português For the original article in Portuguese by Ligia Guimarães published on BBC News Brazil click here. This is our latest article on the new coronavirus as it impacts Rio de Janeiro’s favelas. […]

Women organize foods for distribution in Paraisópolis during the pandemic. Photo by Gloria Maria | UOL
#CoronavirusWatch

We Are All Block Captains [OPINION]

By Gilson Rodrigues • Translation by Cormac Whitney Low • May 5, 2020

Clique aqui para Português For the original article in Portuguese by Gilson Rodrigues, president of the residents’ association of São Paulo’s largest favela, Paraisópolis, published in UOL click here. This is our latest article on […]

#CommunityMedia

Broken Connection Part 2: Polygons of Disconnection

By data_labe, Escola de Jornalismo Énois • Translation by Cheyne Bull, Desirée Poets • February 1, 2018

Clique aqui para Português This is the second article in a four-part series on Internet access access in favelas and urban peripheries in Brazil. Don’t miss part one here. For the entire original article in Portuguese […]

Favela Qualities

Urbanists from India want to import ‘Brazilian way’ to the slums of Mumbai

By BBC Brasil • Translation by Ali Milan, Jake Cummings • April 9, 2012

Clique aqui para Português For the original article in Portuguese by BBC Brasil published in Folha de São Paulo click here.  A group of Indian architects wants to import lessons learned in Brazilian favelas to Mumbai in […]

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
    • Understanding Rio
    • Reference Articles
  • Communities
    • Central
    • South Zone
    • North Zone
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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
    • Feedback
  • For Journos
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