Rocinha

After we left the Cristo Redentor, we took a bus across town to go to lunch. Along the way, we passed the favela, or squatter town, Rocinha.

For me, it was particularly interesting to get to see Rocinha because during the school year at KU, I work with KU2Bros and BRASA, two student organizations, to raise money to send to the non-profit organization Dois Irmãos which provides children that live in favelas with educational opportunities.

Exposição das favelas

Just across the street from the Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Candelária was a small museum in which there was an exposition on the favelas in Rio de Janeiro.

Favelas

It was interesting to walk along the beach in both Copacabana and Ipanema because in between the huge beach-front resorts, you could see the favelas up the hillsides.

Favelas are often translated as "squatter towns" and internationally renowned for their poverty and violence. While these areas do tend to be the more violent in Rio de Janeiro, it is worthy to note that many of the people that live in the favelas are often hard-working citizens that commute down into the city each day to earn an honest day's living.