The Official Rocinha

8/16/2019 The Official Rocinha

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Rocinha: How to improve

Henry Bishop

Rocinha is the largest favela in Brazil, being located in the south zone of

Rio de Janeiro on a steep hillside overlooking the city. It takes up around355 acres (.!3k"#$ although is e%panding every day.

22.9880° S, 43.2480° W

Rocinha is

ho"e to

&','''

residents

according to

the census

done in #''.o)ever, the

uno*cial

esti"ate is

that there are

+',''' living

in Rocinha at this ti"e. he population density therefore is !+,'''k"# if

you take the census, but if you use the uno*cial esti"ate, it is "uch

higher at #-,'''k"#. If you co"pare this to the average density in Rio de

Janeiro )hich is 5,3&&k"#, there is a big dierence. his sho)s ho) little

space people have as the de"and for housing is so high. he lifee%pectancy of a citizen that lives in a favela in Rio is on average, 5- years,

)ith the govern"ent esti"ating there are a "ini"u" of -''' citizens of

Rocinha )ho suer fro" at least one health related disability.

/or the average person in Rocinha, it is very di*cult to get 0obs, "eaning

there are high une"ploy"ent rates. 1eople )ho do have 0obs tend to )ork

in the infor"al sector, e.g. labourers or cleaners. he pay is poor and

there is no guarantee of a steady inco"e2 his "eans children are usually

taken out of school very early to bring "oney into the fa"ily so the fa"ily

can support itself.

http44"undoreal.org4about4aboutrocinha

6 7nidade de 1ronto

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#. Biblioteca 1ar9ue da

Rocinha2 1ublic :ibrary

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Rocinha is very tightly

packed, )ith very little

space for one to have.

o)ever, there is a real

sense of co""unity,

)ith everyone kno)ing each other, and as a resident puts it. @Aou cannot be

lonely in Rocinha. he houses that the average Rocinian lives in are "ostly

"ade fro" brick and ce"ent, )ith around CCD having electricity. he favela hast)o ne)spapers of its o)n, a radio station, its o)n )aste disposal service, and

local doctors and dentists oer their services at lo)er charges. It used to even

have its o)n


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‘I think because we are a marginalized population of people. So to combat against this prejudice, we stick together and support the common good of our favela. People help each other here unlike many other places. friendof mine moved to !ocinha a few years ago from another state in "rasiland was welcomed. #is neighbors o$ered him clothing and furniture for

his small apartment that he moved into. %his is normal here.& '

?ne of the less positive things about being a resident in Rocinha is that it is hard

to Gnd )ork, as there are fe) per"anent 0obs. 8lso, there is little private space,

and everything is shared. here are operating drug gangs in Rocinha as)ell,

)hich have caused shootings. o)ever, apparently they try and help Rocinha, by

sponsoring athletes, parties and a gang funded a sports hall in Rocinha.

‘%hey do support certain activities in the favela by sponsoring athletes or parties.

%hey also built a football (eld for the kids.&

Proposal

Rubbish Collection ervice

hile there is a rubbish collection service that operates in Rocinha, it is di*cult

for it to reach the )hole favela, as the narro) lanes and street prohibit street

cleaners and rubbish trucks fro" reaching the )hole favela. here is only one

)ay to solve this, )hich is to )iden the street. he reason this hasnt happened

already is because peoples houses )ould have to be knocked do)n in order for

this street redevelop"ent process. o)ever, I believe that the govern"ent could

help relocate the citizens and "ake sure the s)itching house process does not

aect the inhibitors in any)ay. ?nce the houses are knocked do)n, there is "ore

space for access of vehicles but in order for there not to be a buildupof congestion, I )ould li"it the road to e"ergency vehicles and rubbish cleaners.

8lso, you could apply to be granted access if it )ould help your business have

easier i"ports4e%ports and if you needed to "ove house.

chooling and further education

here are so"e good schools in Rocinha, but the average length that a resident

spends in school is only !. years. his is no)here near the a"ount that is

desirable. here are a fe) reasons for this2

• :ack of funding

• Ko "andatory a"ount of schooling a child has to receive

• 1arents cannot aord to have their children at school as they

need the" to )ork and bring in an inco"e

# http44lifeinrocinha.blogspot.co.uk4 8ccessed ##4'54-

http://lifeinrocinha.blogspot.co.uk/http://lifeinrocinha.blogspot.co.uk/


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other)ise the convicts can Fee. 1olice involve"ent does put the police at

risk of corruption again, as Ke" pointed out that the police can be easily

bought o. here are only t)o )ays to stop this fro" happening. InGr"ing

better "oral beliefs )ithin the force to do the right thing, or to pay the"

better so they dont need to accept bribes. I believe the Grst option is the

best, as "oral beliefs help in every aspect, and the police force that

operates in Rocinha should have classes on ho) to avoid bribes. 8lso,

there should be serious punish"ents if a police"an4)o"an is found to

have accepted one. 8 to)n hall should be built to run the favela like Ke"

did, but "inus the drugs of course. his taps into the co""unity of

Rocinha, and helps to build trust bet)een the civilians, the police and the

Brazilian govern"ent.

o what needs to be done?

he citizens of Rocinha are not happy )ith the state. hey have been

neglected by the", and are only cared for in voting year as they "ake up

a large part of the voters for the president. In one of the citys "ayoral

elections, the residents of favelas voted for the Brazilian Banana 1arty,

)here their president )as a chi"panzee called iMo ("eaning big uncle$.

ith the slogan @Note "onkey, get "onkey, they ca"e third in the

election )ith "ore than !'',''' votes.! his sho)s )hat "ust be done to

i"prove relations as currently no "e"ber of any favela feels the

govern"ent has done enough. his can be done by2

! https44))).rgs.org4KR4rdonlyres4=;5'5=#B#3#!!3#+E-+'#E-=/E8/4'4E!1eople1o)er.pdf


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• aving "ore drains. here is

heavy rainfall often, )hich

causes large Foods. ?n chools need to be "andatory

for children to attend. eachers could be trained fro" the

co""unity to increase e"ploy"ent. Aou can leave at -, but cannotget a student loan unless you stay at school until +. Oood

education is necessary for a country to develop, as a country only

develops )hen its young develop )ith it. 8lso, there are setups of

independent organizations like http44spinrocinha.0i"do.co"4 )hich

is a @youth e"po)er"ent and "usic develop"ent progra". he

person )ho runs this also runs the blog, @:ife in Rocinha.

5 http44lifeinrocinha.blogspot.co.uk4#'-4'34heavyrainsFoodvariouspartsof.ht"l

http://spinrocinha.jimdo.com/http://spinrocinha.jimdo.com/


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• ealth services. hile there are hospitals in Rocinha, it is often too

e%pensive for the average citizen to aord. If you cannot aord

healthcare, it is free for you, ho)ever due to the a"ount of people

that cannot aord it, there are very long )aiting lists )hich is )hy

#'D of Brazils population is on private healthcare and you need to

have a very lo) inco"e to avoid paying.- here need to be "ore

doctors e"ployed, and cheaper hospital fees. hile this )ill be

e%pensive for the state, in the long run it )ill beneGt Brazil

"assively as people )ill thank the state, and )ill be able to not

have to )orry about rising hospital bills, increasing happiness.

• If e%pansion is needed, there is space

south of the favela. =urrently people are

"oving north but this is increasing

chances of landslides. If people "ovesouth, this is should not aect the

chance of landslides as it is at the

botto" of the slope. 8s long as eective

"easures are put in place to prevent

landslides such as i"ple"enting

"udslide blocks (see picture$ or having

nets over the earth, it should be safe.

his should be put into place in phases, starting )ith )idening the streets.

ider streets "ean redevelop"ent can occur)ith "ore ease.

o conclude, there are "any easy )ays to

i"prove Rocinha but also "any hard ones.

hey should all be approached, as Rocinha is

0ust )aiting for a big develop"ent, and if a big

develop"ent Is done no), I believe it )ould be

proGtable in the long run. If the state "akes a

strong contact and listens to the favela, I

believe "y proposition )ill )ork.

- https44internationalliving.co"4countries4brazil4healthcare4


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