Favelas of Brazil

Favelas of Brazil

FAVELAS OF BRAZIL

Be grateful for the home you have, knowing that at this moment, all you have is all you need.

Sarah Ban Breathnach has in these words very aptly communicated the spirit and philosophy of the people living in the poorest zone of any country. They are living without drinking water, no sanitation, leaking roofs, hanging wires amongst drug lords in a place they call “home “ but we call “shanty towns”, bustees or favelas.

Rio de Janeiro, known to Brazilians as the “Marvelous City,” is home to over 10 million people, of which nearly a third live in shantytowns or ghettos known as favelas.
A favela is a Brazilian shanty town, which is generally found on the edge of the city.


The first favela appeared about 100 years ago in Rio De Janiero. Today, there are more than 600 favelas in Rio De Janiero alone. Although many of these favelas are located in Rio de Janeiro, favelas have sprung in almost every large Brazilian town.
A favela is generally found on the edge or outskirts of the city.
Favelas are precariously built shacks constructed from a variety of materials, ranging from wood and corrugated cardboards to bricks.
They have about one or two rooms but lack basic amenities like fresh water, electricity and toilets.
Many favelas are very cramped and claustrophobic !
Infact they are extremely crowded with high population density which can reach a staggering figure of 150000 people/ square kilometer.


Favela sites are generally prone to flooding , landslips and exposed to industrial pollution and consequently plagued by sewage and hygiene problems.
Electricity is not officially available but the residents manage to get unauthorized connections from public areas.

It is the poorest residents who generally live in these favelas. These residents have no choice about where they live or have no other place to go. Life is a challenge at every corner and they live each day precariously surviving risks of natural hazards,...

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