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  • [ September 29, 2023 ] Favela Climate Memory Circles, Part 5: Vidigal Memories Nucleus Pleads ‘People Need a Place to Live!’ by Community Contributors
  • [ September 28, 2023 ] Favela Climate Memory Circles, Part 4: The Favela Museum in Cantagalo Makes Clear ‘We Need to Change Our Relationship With Garbage’ *Highlight
  • [ September 27, 2023 ] Favela Climate Memory Circles, Part 3: NOPH in Antares, Santa Cruz, Where ‘No One Was Supposed to Stay, but 40 Years Went by and They Never Took Action’ *Highlight
  • [ September 26, 2023 ] Favela Climate Memory Circles, Part 2: Sankofa Museum in Rocinha Shows That ‘When We Fight Together, We Win’ *Highlight
  • [ September 25, 2023 ] Favela Climate Memory Circles, Part 1: Maré Museum Highlights ‘Stilt Houses as a Survival Strategy, as Knowledge’ *Highlight
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Writer: Sophie Snowden

#Rio2016

Rio Academia Discusses Influence of UPP Pacification on Favela Youth

By Sophie Snowden • May 22, 2013

Last Friday morning, May 17, nearly 100 students, researchers and scholars gathered at the State University of Rio de Janeiro’s (UERJ) Social and Policy Studies Institute (IESP) in Botafogo to discuss the Pacifying Police Units (UPP), youth and […]

#Rio2016

Voices of Vila Autódromo: Barrão, the Fisherman

By Sophie Snowden • May 16, 2013

Paolo Roberto Ferreira Mezes, known by all as Barrão, moved to Vila Autódromo sixteen years ago. After learning to fish and dedicating himself to the craft, he brought his wife and two young children to […]

#Rio2016

Voices of Vila Autódromo: José Arimateia, the Baker

By Sophie Snowden • April 23, 2013

Clique aqui para Português In 1986, the newlywed José Arimateia moved to Vila Autódromo to buy his first home and to start a family. He moved from his parents’ house in a neighboring community, Vila […]

  • ‘Monkeys’: A Transformative Theater Experience Confronting the Reality of Grieving Mothers and the Genocide of Black Brazilians [REVIEW]
    By Cleyton Santanna • Translation by Felicity Clarke • September 12, 2023
  • 8th Black July: Insurgent Media Unites Brazil and Palestine in Fight Against State Violence
    By Amanda Baroni Lopes • Translation by Staff • August 10, 2023
  • Casa Dulce Seixas: The First and Only LGBTQIAPN+ Refuge in the Baixada Fluminense Offers Hope and Transformation
    By João Victor Silva • Translation by Cristina Fornara • June 30, 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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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.

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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

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