Squatter Settlement Redevelopment - Favela-Barrio Project, Brazil

Question 1

Where is Rio de Janeiro?

Answer 1

South east Brazil

Question 2

What is the word for a Brazilian shanty town?

Answer 2

Favela

Question 3

How many favelas are there in Rio de Janeiro?

Answer 3

600

Question 4

How many people live in favelas in Rio de Janeiro?

Answer 4

1 million (one fifth of the city’s population)

Question 5

When did the Favela-project start?

Answer 5

1995

Question 6

How many people did the project involve?

Answer 6

253,000 people in 73 favelas

Question 7

How much did the project cost?

Answer 7

$300 million

Question 8

How much of the funding came from local authority?

Answer 8

40%

Question 9

What international organisation provided the rest of the money?

Answer 9

The Inter-American Development Bank

Question 10

What were the social improvements?

Answer 10

• Day care centres and after school schemes to look after children while their parents work.
• Adult education classes to improve adult literacy
• Services to help people affected by drug addiction, alcohol addiction and domestic violence

Question 11

What were the economic improvements?

Answer 11

• Residents can now apply to legally own their properties

* Training schemes to help people learn new skills so they can find better jobs and earn more.

Question 12

What were the environmental improvements?

Answer 12

• Replacement of wooden buildings with brick buildings and the removal of homes on dangerously steep slopes
• Widening and paving of streets to allow easier access(especially for emergency services)
• Provision of basic services such as clean water, electricity and weekly rubbish collection

Question 13

Why is community involvement important in this project?

Answer 13

• Residents choose which improvements they want in their own favela, so they feel involved.
• Neighbourhood Associations are formed to communicate with the residents and make decisions
• The new services are staffed by residents, providing income and helping them to learn new skills.

Question 14

Has the Favela-Barrio Project been a success?

Answer 14

Yes, very successful:
• The standard of living and health of residents have improved
• The property values in favelas that are part of the programme have increased by 80-120%
• The number of local businesses within the favelas has almost doubled.