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Latest News
  • [ January 31, 2023 ] Anielle Franco: From Maré’s Alleyways to Minister of Racial Equality Democracy
  • [ January 27, 2023 ] ‘Let’s Walk Together’: Brazilian Minister of Racial Equality Anielle Franco’s Inauguration Speech in Full #MarielleLegacy
  • [ January 25, 2023 ] Rio’s Urban Peripheries Literary Festival Comes to Maré and Pays Homage to Marielle Franco, Lima Barreto and Pai Santana *Highlight
  • [ January 23, 2023 ] 1st Festival of Social Museology Held in Rio de Janeiro: Community Museums as Tools of Resistance by International Observers
  • [ January 16, 2023 ] 2022 Best and Worst International Reporting on Rio de Janeiro’s Favelas [EDITORIAL] #MediaWatch
HomeWritersSophia Zaia

Writer: Sophia Zaia

Seu Zeca holds his grandfather's whistle, who was one of the old guards of the Botanical Gardens.
#EvictionsWatch

The Guardians of Tijuca Forest: The Residents of Horto Florestal [IMAGES]

By Sophia Zaia • Translation by Cheyne Bull • January 2, 2018

Clique aqui para Português The Botanical Gardens in Rio de Janeiro has threatened to remove the community of Horto, the same community that has been taking care of the “most conserved area” of the Tijuca Forest […]

#EvictionsWatch

‘The Green Firefly’ Carnival Bloco Broadcasts Horto’s Sustainable Legacy [INTERVIEW]

By Sophia Zaia • Translation by Grace Atwell • December 11, 2017

Clique aqui para Português Hugo José Camarate was born and raised in Horto Florestal and founded the street carnival group, or bloco, Vagalume O Verde (The Green Firefly) in 2005. He sought to resurrect his childhood memories […]

#EvictionsWatch

Granddaughter of Horto’s ‘Folha Seca’ Calls Botanical Gardens’ Tribute a ‘Joke’

By Sophia Zaia • Translation by Rachel Fox • September 21, 2017

Clique aqui para Português Orlando “Folha Seca” (Dry Leaf) Pereira da Silva, the first gardener to be formally employed by Rio de Janeiro’s Botanical Gardens, died on June 1 at the age of one hundred. […]

Ceramics for All teacher Tatiana Costa at the AMAHOR studio
#EvictionsWatch

Horto Association Offers Free Arts Courses to Foster Community Resilience, Economic Solidarity

By Sophia Zaia • August 19, 2017

Clique aqui para Português The Horto Neighborhood and Friends’ Association (AMAHOR) of the historic Horto community located near the Botanical Gardens, launched free sewing, crafts and ceramics courses early this year. The courses take place weekly […]

Fábio shows a presentation on his self-designed solar-powered briefcase presentation system
*Highlight

São Paulo’s Sustainable ‘Favela da Paz’ Models Green Community-Building and a Path to Peace

By Sophia Zaia • December 11, 2016

Clique aqui para Português The seeds for the Favela da Paz Institute were planted 27 years ago when Claudio Miranda began playing samba with his friends in São Paulo favela Jardim Ângela. They made their […]

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  • ‘Let’s Walk Together’: Brazilian Minister of Racial Equality Anielle Franco’s Inauguration Speech in Full
    By Anielle Franco • Translation by Kay Alvito • January 27, 2023
  • 2022 Best and Worst International Reporting on Rio de Janeiro’s Favelas [EDITORIAL]
    By RioOnWatch Editorial • Translation by Staff • January 16, 2023
  • Permissiveness for the Self-Described ‘Patriots.’ Bullets for the Favelas. What #VoicesFromSocialMedia Say About the Brasília Attacks
    By Tatiana Lima • Translation by Staff • January 15, 2023

  • Understanding Energy Justice and Efficiency in Rio’s Favelas [VIDEO]
    By Jaqueline Suarez • Translation by Pilar Boyero • December 13, 2021
  • Pedra Branca and the Energy Dilemmas of Rio’s Urbanization: From Charcoal to Electricity
    By Antonio Alonso, Iamni Torres Jager • Translation by Trisha Ponti • November 1, 2021
  • Energy That Comes From Waste: Biodigester Turns Sewage into Biogas in Vale Encantado Favela [VIDEO]
    By Jaqueline Suarez • Translation by Saskia Wright • August 1, 2021

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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Architecture Museum of Vienna
Yale School of Architecture

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