Favela facts for kids

Rocinha is one of the largest favelas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Many famous favelas are found in Rio.

In Rio's Santa Teresa neighborhood, favelas are often seen next to more expensive homes. The famous Christ the Redeemer statue can be seen in the background.

A favela is a type of neighborhood in Brazil. These communities are often built by people who need a place to live. The word "favela" first came from a hill in Rio de Janeiro called Providência. It was named after a plant called the "favela tree" that grew where soldiers lived after a war in the late 1800s. Many people, including those who were once forced into labor, moved to these areas over time.

Many favelas grew a lot in the 1970s. This happened because many people moved from the countryside to cities like Rio de Janeiro, looking for work. When they couldn't find affordable homes, they built their own communities. Today, about 8.1% of Brazil's population, which is over 16 million people, live in favelas. These communities are found in many cities across Brazil.

The Story of Favelas

The name favela began in the late 1800s. Soldiers who fought in a war in the state of Bahia moved to Rio de Janeiro. They had no homes. In Bahia, they knew a hill called "Favela Hill," named after a plant that could irritate skin. When they settled on Providência hill in Rio, they called it "Favela Hill" too.

Before cities became very crowded, many people from the Brazilian countryside moved to Rio. This happened after slavery ended and more people moved to cities. These new people looked for jobs but had little money. They could not afford homes in the city.

By the 1950s, favelas had grown a lot. People started to see them as a big part of city life. In 1937, the government officially recognized favelas for the first time. This was the start of special rules and plans for these communities.

In the 1940s, many poor people built hundreds of simple homes in the city's outer areas. Favelas became the main type of home for many people in Rio. From the 1940s to the 1970s, favelas grew very quickly. This was because many workers moved to Rio for new factory jobs.

In the 1950s, many people moved from farms to cities across Brazil. They hoped to find better jobs. But for those who moved to Rio de Janeiro, it was a difficult time. In 1960, Brazil's capital moved from Rio to Brasília. This meant fewer jobs and industries in Rio.

People who couldn't find work or affordable housing stayed in the favelas. Even though favelas were close to the city, they often lacked basic services. These included clean water, electricity, and trash collection. Favelas became linked with poverty and were a concern for many in Rio.

In the 1970s, Brazil's military government tried to move people out of favelas. Hundreds of thousands of residents had to leave their homes. Many were moved to new housing areas like Cidade de Deus ("City of God"). This place later became famous in a movie. But these new housing areas often lacked good planning and support. They sometimes turned into new favelas themselves.

By the 1980s, new challenges arose. Safety became a bigger concern in some favelas. Groups causing trouble became more common. This was because Rio became a stop for certain goods going to Europe. These goods brought money but also led to more problems with safety and control.

Today, many favelas in Rio's South Zone and some in the North Zone are managed by special police units. These are called Pacifying Police Units, or UPPs. While some areas still face safety challenges, UPPs have brought a new sense of order. They represent the government's effort to be present in these communities after many years.

Most favelas grew a lot in the 1970s. This was when many workers moved from poorer states in Brazil to Rio for construction jobs. Since then, favelas have continued to form in similar ways.

Over time, strong communities form in favelas. People create groups to get services like running water and electricity. Sometimes, residents can get legal ownership of their land. This allows them to improve their homes. Due to crowded conditions and sometimes a lack of clean water or good food, people in some favelas faced health challenges. Homes on hillsides were also at risk from heavy rains and mudslides.

The lights of Vidigal favela in Rio de Janeiro as seen from Ipanema and Leblon beaches.

Government Efforts to Improve Favelas

In the late 1800s, the government allowed soldiers to settle on Providência hill in Rio. This led to the first favela. When more people moved in, the area became crowded. Early government actions tried to clear these areas and move people to other parts of the city. For almost a century, the government often used strong policies to remove favelas.

In the early 1900s, some people thought favelas caused problems and spread illnesses. However, over time, people's views changed. Residents of favelas began to seek legal help for their rights.

From the 1940s, politicians tried to build public housing as an alternative to favelas. The "Parque Proletário" program moved favela residents to temporary homes. The idea was to build permanent homes later. But these new homes were often not built. The temporary housing areas then grew into new, larger favelas.

In the 1960s and 1970s, many people moved to Rio. The government started a large program to move favela residents to the city's edges. There were not enough resources to help people settle in these new places. This sometimes led to new challenges with safety in the communities. The government created BOPE (Special Police Operations Battalion) in 1978 to help deal with these issues.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, government policy changed. Instead of removing favelas, the focus shifted to improving them. The "Favela-Bairro" program, started in 1993, aimed to make life better for residents. It brought basic services like sanitation and connected favelas to the rest of the city. It also helped residents get legal ownership of their land.

However, safety challenges continued. In the mid-1990s, the government launched "Operação Rio" to help bring more order to the favelas. Since 2009, Rio de Janeiro has built walls between some wealthy neighborhoods and favelas. Officially, these walls protect nature. But some people believe they are meant to keep different groups of people apart.

Pacifying Police Units

Brazilian police in Rocinha.

The Pacifying Police Unit (UPP) is a program to improve safety and social services in favelas. It aims to bring order to areas that faced challenges from groups causing trouble. In 2007, Rio de Janeiro's governor, Sérgio Cabral, learned about security improvements in Colombia. He then secured money to improve safety in Rio, especially in favelas.

Starting in 2008, UPPs were set up in many favelas in Rio. New police officers received special training. By October 2012, UPPs were in 28 favelas. The government aimed to have 40 UPPs by 2014.

To start a UPP, Rio's special police battalion, BOPE, first works to deal with groups causing trouble. After making an area safer, BOPE is replaced by a new UPP. These units are made of many newly trained police officers. They stay in the favela permanently to work with the community.

Many people in favelas had doubts about the police. So, having police work from within the community was more effective. Rio's Security Chief, José Mariano Beltrame, said UPPs mainly aimed to stop armed groups from controlling the streets. Reports showed that safety improved in favelas where UPPs were present.

Journalists noticed that in 2012, people in UPP favelas felt safer to vote for different leaders. This was unlike areas where other groups had more control. More recently, government policies have focused on community policing. Programs like 'Favela Chic' aimed to connect favelas with the rest of the city. They also wanted to help residents lead changes in their own communities.

Some people felt these changes were also because of big events like the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. There were still cases where residents had to move from their homes. A 2020 report showed that many favelas in Rio still faced challenges from groups that tried to control them.

The Cantagalo favela is located on a hill in Rio's Ipanema and Copacabana neighborhoods.

A favela not far from Copacabana beach.

Favela da Maré, Rio.

Life and Culture in Favelas

A typical favela bedroom in São Paulo.

A favela in São Paulo, 1994.

People who live in favelas are called favelados. Favelas are often linked with poverty. Brazil has a big difference between rich and poor. This means people in favelas often face unfair treatment and difficulties finding jobs. The idea that living in a favela carries a stigma can make it harder for residents to find work.

In the 20th century, the Brazilian government tried to help with urban poverty. In the 1970s, the government tried to remove favelas. They moved many people to new housing areas or back to the countryside. Another approach was to improve favelas. The government wanted to make them part of the city. As these improved favelas became more stable, they sometimes attracted new residents. This could lead to original residents having to move further away from job opportunities.

Growth of Favelas

Even with efforts to remove favelas, the number of poor people and favelas grew quickly. This growth is sometimes called favelização. In 1969, Rio de Janeiro had about 300 favelas. Today, there are twice as many.

In 1950, only 7% of Rio's population lived in favelas. Today, this number has grown to about 24-25%, or one in four people. From 1980 to 1990, Rio's overall growth slowed, but the favela population grew by 41%. After 1990, the city's growth leveled off, but the favela population still increased by 24%. A 2010 report showed that Brazil had reduced its slum population by 16%. It now makes up about 6% of the nation's total population.

Pope Francis visits a favela in Brazil during World Youth Day 2013.

Religion

Many different religions are practiced in favelas. Historically, Umbanda and Candomblé were common, along with Roman Catholicism. In recent decades, there has been a shift towards Evangelicalism, including Pentecostalism. Also, more people now say they are not religious.

Music

Popular music in favelas includes funk, hip-hop, and Samba. Recently, funk carioca, a type of music from favelas, has become popular worldwide. This music often uses parts from other songs. Popular funk artists include MC Naldo and Buchecha. Bailes funk are dance parties where this music is played. Famous hip-hop artist MV Bill is from Cidade de Deus. Favela Brass is a free music school in Rio. It gives children chances to learn music.

Favela Culture in the Media

Movies and other media help spread knowledge about favelas. This has led to more interest in favelas as places to visit. In recent years, favela culture has inspired art around the world. People are fascinated by favela life. This can be seen in paintings, photos, and even nightclubs inspired by favelas.

Favela Tourism

Since the mid-1990s, a new kind of tourism has grown in many countries. This involves guided tours to less wealthy parts of cities. These tours are run by companies. This type of tourism is sometimes called "community tourism" or "favela tourism." It is also seen in places like South Africa and India.

An Aerial tramway in Complexo do Alemão, Rio de Janeiro. It is used by favela residents and tourists.

In Brazil, this new tourism market has grown in some favelas, mostly in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Rocinha is one of the largest and most visited favelas. There are different opinions on whether favela tourism is a good idea. These tours can raise awareness about the needs of people living in favelas. They also show tourists a side of Rio that is often hidden.

The tours offer a different experience from famous Rio sights like Sugarloaf Mountain or Christ the Redeemer. They show that favelas are vibrant communities, not just places seen in movies about crime. For example, tours of Rocinha take tourists up the favela in vans. Then, they explore the community on foot with guides. Guides show local spots. Most tours visit a community center or school, which often get some funding from the tours. Tourists can meet local people and learn about their lives. Some tours allow photos in certain areas, while others do not.

Some things you might learn on these tours include:

• How different parts of a favela are organized.
• Information about modern services like internet and health care.
• Details about shops and cafes in the favela.
• Meetings with volunteers working on social or cultural projects.
• Visits to schools or places for children and teens.
• Chances to see private homes and talk with residents.
• Visits to local restaurants or cafes.

The Brazilian federal government supports favela tourism. In August 2010, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva started the Rio Top Tour Project. This project promotes tourism in Rio's favelas. In Santa Marta, federal aid of 230,000 reais was given to boost tourism. English signs now point to attractions. Samba schools are open, and viewing spots have been built for tourists to enjoy Rio's views. Residents have also been trained as tour guides. Favelas have appeared in many movies and video games. This media attention has increased interest in favelas as tourist spots.

Panoramic view of Rio's Rocinha favela. The South Atlantic Ocean is visible in the distance. High-rise buildings near the coast are condominiums in São Conrado.

See also

In Spanish: Favela para niños