Rocinha is not only the biggest favela in Brazil, but also on the entire South American continent. It has a lot of pubs, two radio stations, a separate cable channel, two schools, a church and a lot of houses…oh yes, there is a lot!

I still marvel at the creative adaptations of the built environment that favela residents have established over time. Seriously, it’s amazing!

Favelas are often translated into English as slums or ghetto, when in actuality today only a minority of Rio de Janeiro’s favela communities are considered that way. In Brazil, we call it communities – communities of life, art and people.

SOME AMAZING ART THEY SALE AT THE FAVELA

From that vantage point you could see the entire Rocinha, the swanky high-rises, the hill on which the slum was built on and you can get an idea of how huge the place is. It’s the perfect…