Despite many difficulties and challenges, women in Rio’s favelas continue to hope and dream of a better future. What binds these remarkable communities together is a sense of resilience, dignity, and pride in the place they call home. Nearly 12 million people, half of whom are women, live in favela communities in Brazil. These informal settlements are mainly concentrated in the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and often lack basic civic and municipal services, such as sanitation, electricity and education. Nevertheless, favelas are also characterized by a high rate of local pride: 80% of favela residents surveyed are proud of where they live, and 70% say they would continue to live there even if their income doubled. Women play a particularly large role in favela communities, heading 42% of homes. They also take care of children and the elderly, perform domestic duties such as collecting water where access is limited, and are frequently involved in efforts to improve their communities. There are efforts at every level - by those within favela communities, by the city and state of Rio, by the national government and by the UN - to improve favelas and integrate them into the city proper, and women are at the forefront of almost all of them.

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Music to this video: “Temporary” composed and played by Othon @OthonPanMuzik

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