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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
HomeTranslatorsZaira Apolinario Chaplin

Translator: Zaira Apolinario Chaplin

#CommunityMedia

Favelão: Political Voice and Favela Journalism Ahead of Its Time

By Tatiana Lima • Translation by Zaira Apolinario Chaplin • October 4, 2022

Clique aqui para Português Favelão—The Voice of Favelados, a newspaper from the 1980s preserves the memory of political communication in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas and their resistance against forced evictions. “Those who live in favelas […]

*Highlight

‘Pacified’ Film Emphasizes Human Relationships but Repeats Clichés About Drug Trafficking in Favelas [REVIEW]

By Rafael Lopes • Translation by Zaira Apolinario Chaplin • August 30, 2022

Clique aqui para Português Right away, the title of the movie Pacified grabs your attention. It’s difficult for those who experienced the setting up of the Pacifying Police Units (UPP), from 2008 onwards in the […]

Estrelas do Mandela cover picture
#CoronavirusWatch

In Manguinhos, ‘Estrelas do Mandela’ Girls’ Soccer Transforms Lives On and Off the Soccer Field

By Gabriela Buffon Vargas • Translation by Zaira Apolinario Chaplin • August 23, 2021

Clique aqui para Português The Brazilian soccer player most frequently considered the best in the world is a woman. Still, the sport is often viewed as a masculine activity throughout the country. Actions that challenge […]

#CoronavirusWatch

MC Martina’s Slam Poem: ‘The Virus that Stopped the Nation’ [VIDEO] #UprootingRacism

By Luiz Neto, MC Martina • Translation by Malena Galuccio, Zaira Apolinario Chaplin • June 7, 2021

 Clique aqui para Português This video report is part of our series about Covid-19 and its impacts on the favelas and is also the latest contribution to our year-long reporting project, “Rooting Anti-Racism in […]

*Highlight

‘Pavuna’s Little Market’: A Rio de Janeiro Black Cultural Heritage Hotspot [PODCAST]

By Ingra Maciel • Translation by Zaira Apolinario Chaplin • April 30, 2021

Clique aqui para Português This article is the latest contribution to our year-long reporting project, “Rooting Anti-Racism in the Favelas: Deconstructing Social Narratives About Racism in Rio de Janeiro.” Follow our Rooting Anti-Racism in the Favelas […]

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

contact@rioonwatch.org
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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
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  • Communities
    • Central
    • South 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
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    • Listicles
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    • Translated Articles
  • About
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