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Green My Favela

Vital Stats

Zoe R

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

people helped50
People Doing It 2

The Problem

By 2030 2 billion people will live in slums; in Rio de Janeiro 1.39 million already do. Slum dwellers are more vulnerable to impacts of climate change and environmental disasters. Favela residents face financial and emotional burdens: most families earn between $139-488 a month (despite higher costs of living than New York) and live under military or criminal occupation. Environmental risk factors include open sewers, trash buildup, and lack of green space.

Plan of Action

Favela residents, local NGOs and government officials approach us for help creating gardens in abandoned lots, on rooftops and in public spaces. We provide expertise, start-up materials and labor to grow fruits, vegetables, seasonings and medicinal herbs. We evaluate the limitations of the space and build planters out of repurposed trash. Because most residents work full time (up to 6 days a week, 10 hours a day), we often bring in outside volunteers to help clear the space of trash and prepare the soil. Residents then maintain the spaces and harvest the plants. We monitor progress and provide seeds, tools, and worm bins to produce soil. We plan to build rainwater capture systems and solar water heaters at each site to reduce shortages (water is rationed in the favela, and electricity often goes out) and lower costs.