{"id":82568,"date":"2025-12-31T16:09:46","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T19:09:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=82568"},"modified":"2026-01-13T16:01:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T19:01:19","slug":"what-we-want-arent-bodies-on-the-ground-its-recognition-of-our-people-creating-solutions-penha-favelas-hold-composters-and-integrated-health-events-highlighti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=82568","title":{"rendered":"\u2018What We Want Aren\u2019t Bodies on the Ground… It\u2019s Recognition of [Our] People Creating Solutions\u2019: Penha Favelas Hold Composters and Integrated Health Events Highlighting Local Climate Memories"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Members<\/a>
Members of the Serra da Miseric\u00f3rdia Integration Center (CEM) and the Frente Penha Collective, who organized the Penha Climate Memory circle, present the exhibition. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/i><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

In December, Complexo da Penha<\/a>, in Rio de Janeiro\u2019s North Zone<\/a>, hosted a number of community-run events just weeks after Rio de Janeiro’s deadliest police massacre<\/a> took place in the same set of communities. On December 5 organizers held the 6th Annual Composters\u2019 Meet-Up<\/a> and the latest annual Favela Health Meet-Up<\/a>, at the municipal cultural center, Arena Dicr\u00f3<\/a>, where they also had the Favela Climate Memory exhibition<\/a> on display. Over several weeks, the exhibition, organized by Rio’s Sustainable Favela Network (SFN<\/a>)*, circulated across the favela complex, with a schedule of activities<\/a> that began on November 24 at the Brant Horta Municipal School<\/a>, featuring a discussion circle that engaged students. The closing took place on December 10, at Pra\u00e7a do Mineirinho, in Vila Cruzeiro<\/a>, with activities open to the public.<\/p>\n

At the December 5 event, Ana Santos, from the Serra da Miseric\u00f3rdia Integration Center (CEM<\/a>) and the Frente Penha<\/a> collective, responsible for organizing the Penha Climate Memory Circle featured in the exhibition<\/a>, explained how the day’s program was conceived.<\/p>\n

\u201cPenha is hosting this major exhibition for the first time. It was featured as part of our local school\u2019s educational content, which has been working on issues related to the river, the ‘val\u00e3o’ [river-turned-sewage ditch], climate issues and Ary Barroso Park. So we had to take the exhibition into the school, to youth and families, so that, beyond sharing with Penha residents broadly, we recognize youth who are building a territory of well-being. Today, we were at Arena Dicr\u00f3, which originally hosted our Climate Memory circle<\/a>. The arena is located inside Ary Barroso Park, a conservation unit. So why not have this exhibition alongside the annual Composters\u2019 and Favela Health Meet-Ups?<\/p>\n

In a single day, we managed to bring together groups from different favelas that work on environmental issues through composting. We know that waste\u2014what many people call trash\u2014is one of the major problems, and it came up repeatedly, including in our Penha Climate Memory circle. But today, we only spoke about solutions<\/a>, climate solutions in the favela. I’ve been part of the Sustainable Favela Network since the beginning, and I find it extremely satisfying to be engaged in this debate and, above all, in this entire visual experience, which not only places Penha at the center of things but also brings in all the other favelas. On December 10, Human Rights Day, this exhibition will be out there, in Vila Cruzeiro. And it’s also a matter of reparations, after the massacre that took place here. What we want to see in Vila Cruzeiro aren’t bodies taken from the ground: it’s our memories, our stories, recognition of the people here constantly creating solutions to live better and build well-being as a network.\u201d \u2014 Ana Santos<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"The<\/a>
Public visits the Favela Climate Memory exhibition at Arena Dicr\u00f3 in Penha. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 6th Composters\u2019 Meet-Up began in the morning with a discussion circle mediated by Paulo Monteiro, with Felipe and Davi Apolin\u00e1rio, from the Family Compost<\/a> collective, and Rose Trov\u00e3o, from CEM, who shared experiences of favela community composting. Rose Trov\u00e3o spoke about the composting project currently being carried out in Terra Prometida<\/a>, a relatively young favela where CEM is located.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started out a short time ago; it\u2019s been six months since the first compost was ready, and we used it in our own vegetable garden with the children. In the future, the next batches of compost will work like a currency: people bring their waste and take a certain amount of compost. [They can] bring [organic] waste, cooking oil too, so we can make soap, and get a kilo or two of compost.\u201d \u2014 Rose Trov\u00e3o<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

During the event’s second panel, city councilors William Siri<\/a> and Ma\u00edra do MST<\/a> discussed the importance of public policies for strengthening composting and detailed steps toward developing supportive legislation. According to William Siri, a report prepared by his office, focusing on the West Zone<\/a>, showed that over 40% of waste generated is organic. In this context, a Composting Program is being developed with the support of other councilors, including Ma\u00edra do MST.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s essential that we build collectively because we know that it’s the front lines in favelas that are taking concrete action, even stepping in for the state, which seldom\u2014or almost never\u2014provides opportunities for these public policies to be implemented\u2026 We are part of the City Council\u2019s Food Security Committee<\/a>, and I believe that it is from the perspective of food security<\/a> that we join this fight for composting. I think Rio de Janeiro has very interesting experiences: here we have partners from Composta\u00ea<\/a>, the Ang\u00e9lica Goulart Foundation<\/a> and our partners from CEM.\u201d \u2014 Ma\u00edra do MST<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"The<\/a>
6th Composters\u2019 Meet-Up at Arena Dicr\u00f3. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After lunch, participants from the morning event headed to Serra da Miseric\u00f3rdia, where they visited CEM and learned about its initiatives in composting and agroforestry<\/a>. Meanwhile, at Arena Dicr\u00f3, between the morning and afternoon, visitors explored the Favela Climate Memory exhibition, where they learned about residents’ memories of climate in the ten Rio favelas that created the exhibition.<\/p>\n

Vilson Luiz, from the Frente Penha collective, which also organized the Penha Climate Memory Circle on display in the exhibition, highlighted how positive it was to bring the installation back to the community. According to him, the exhibition \u201cgives a sense of satisfaction\u201d about the process that was built by residents<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re often in the favela and people take pictures of us, ask questions and then don\u2019t come back to show us what was developed from that. So it was great at the school because we were able to show this to the children: the power of the favela. Today we return here to Arena Dicr\u00f3 with another event to present the exhibition and let people grasp the entirety of what was collected\u2014everything that was produced and that is being presented. This is about Penha, it\u2019s about favelas and about imagining what we can also do in a favela\u2026 talking about memory and showing that favelas have a memory, that their communities have a memory. And we\u2019re not just talking about ours; we\u2019re talking about all favelas. And understanding that all favelas are connected in a network.\u201d \u2014 Vilson Luiz<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Favela Climate Memory exhibition in Complexo da Penha took place during the 6th Composters\u2019 Meet-Up and the Annual Favela Health Meet-Up. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Later in the afternoon, the Annual Meet-Up of Rio’s Integrated Favela Health Plan<\/a> took place, during which data on actions carried out in the state\u2019s favelas were presented. The choice of venue was symbolic, as the event united organizations operating across the state, including in Complexo da Penha, which will be facing the impacts of the recent massacre<\/a>\u2014in which 121 people perished\u2014for years to come.<\/p>\n

Legislators such as State Deputy Renata Souza<\/a> were there: she commented on initial results from the state’s health plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve seen very important results, with around one million people directly impacted by the Integrated Favela Health Plan: 176 favelas served across 33 municipalities in the state of Rio de Janeiro. It makes a difference when we ensure that public policies and budgets reach who they’re meant to. So, here we are in Complexo da Penha, where a massacre took place, which is the politics of death, necropolitics<\/a>. What we do with the Integrated Favela Health Plan is the politics of life, ensuring the possibility to dream, hope and overcome social inequities.\u201d \u2014 Renata Souza<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Annual Meet-Up of Rio’s Integrated Favela Health Plan took place at Arena Dicr\u00f3 on the same day as the Favela Climate Memory exhibition. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sidnei Fernandes, another member of the Frente Penha collective and participant in the Memory Circle that gave rise to the exhibition, stated that having it set up in the area reinforced residents\u2019 sense of belonging<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis place [Ary Barroso Park] is important to me, as a person with a disability: I couldn\u2019t walk or talk, so my friends used to carry me here\u2026 Participating in the Climate Memory circle here [in the park], being a resident and knowing the importance of this place\u2026 [And now having this exhibition back here,] it\u2019s affective memory: the memory of being here and seeing this exhibition here. For me, it\u2019s a memory of territoriality, of belonging, because [it\u2019s moving] when you\u2019re in a place where you grew up, that you frequented and you see all this. Going to the [exhibition launch<\/a>] in Mar\u00e9, participating there, seeing the whole project there as well, also [taking it there] to that favela, [we grasped] the importance of the land, of the environment, of this climate memory. Seeing [the exhibition] here is a joy, an achievement of belonging.\u201d \u2014 Sidnei Fernandes<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Favela Climate Memory exhibition, the 6th Composters\u2019 Meet-Up and the Annual Favela Health Meet-Up\u2014all held in Complexo da Penha\u2014reaffirm the importance of community organizing as a driving force that cares, transforms waste into potential, promotes health and builds memories about the favela. Favelas have memories and are capable of generating multiple solutions to everyday challenges, with creativity, self-management and solidarity.<\/p>\n

View the Full Photo Album<\/a> of the \u2018Favela Climate Memory\u2019 Exhibition in Penha:<\/h3>\n

\"Exposi\u00e7\u00e3o<\/a>