CAMINOSUDAMERICA went to Laboriaux to meet Favela Verde (FV): a development project operating in the favela of Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro. The community is considered a sub-neighbourhood of the favela, which is one of the biggest in Brazil, counting on a population of more than 70,000 residents. Recently, the favela made the front page of the main newspapers due to the war between traffickers and the police.

Henrique Nascimento, the co-founder and current coordinator of the project, explained that such tragic events created obstacles, although the group is now taking the opportunity to restructure their planning. “We are experiencing a static moment…. We probably need to reinvent some aspects (of the project).”

Despite this scenario of difficulties and uncertainties, since 2013 FV continues to thrive. Participants are encouraged to engage in different activites, including the community-based ecotourism programme Caminhos do Lagarto (Lizard’s Hike). The tourist appeal of Laboriaux is, in…