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  • [ 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
HomeWritersEric Borja

Writer: Eric Borja

#Rio2016

Eight Characteristics of Social Media Fueled Movements: Brazil

By Eric Borja • July 12, 2013

Over the past few years unprecedented large-scale movements have challenged states across the globe. From Tahrir Square in Cairo to Zuccotti Park in New York City, and most recently, the streets of Brazil. Common to […]

#Rio2016

As the Confederations Cup Draws to a Close, Peaceful Protesters Chant to Brazilian Rhythms [IMAGES]

By Eric Borja • July 3, 2013

Clique aqui para Português Sunday, June 30, 2013–While the Brazilian national soccer team prepared for the final match of the Confederations Cup, the World Cup and Olympics Popular Committee organized a mass demonstration against forced […]

#Rio2016

Favela Residents Mobilize at Rio’s Historic Protest

By Eric Borja • June 24, 2013

Clique aqui para Português On Thursday night, June 20, at least 300,000 Cariocas (Rio residents) filled Avenida Presidente Vargas and walked from Candelária to the Prefeitura (the city government building), while at least 700,000 other […]

#EvictionsWatch

People’s Cup Brings Together Communities Threatened with Eviction

By Eric Borja, Kate Steiker-Ginzberg • June 22, 2013

Clique aqui para Português As the rain fell last Saturday June 15 in the Quilombo da Gamboa–not far from the corporate marketing campaigns and lavishly refurbished stadiums of the Confederations Cup–communities facing eviction participated 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.
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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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Fundação Heinrich Böll Brasil
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Pastoral de Favelas
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SDSU Behner Stiefel Center
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Forum Grita Baixada
Beto Paixão Graphic Design
Architecture Museum of Vienna
Yale School of Architecture

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