Why Rio?

Many have an image of Rio de Janeiro as a place with beautiful beaches, carefree residents and, of course, carnival. But many donīt know that Rio is one of the most violent cities in Latin America. They donīt know that about a quarter of the population lives in informal slum dwellings, or favelas. These favelas are plagued by violence, poverty, drug trafficking, poor infrastructure and a lack of basic services. Due to rapid urbanization and little space in the formal market, many favela dwellers are drawn into joining gangs and selling drugs. The violence in Rio de Janeiro has escalated to the point where there is an average of 17 homocides per day and the average life expectancy of a favela dweller is 13 years younger than that of a resident living in a more affluent community.

While few non-profit representatives, university professors or government officials in Rio express any hope for progress, I see hope in artisan cooperatives. In every favela something special is happening. Women who are unsatisfied with the state of their community are getting together to form artisan cooperatives. These cooperatives meet for emotional support, but also to discuss how to improve their communities. They set up social projects for their fellow residents and create crafts with recycled materials to generate income. The artisan cooperatives represent hope in these troubled communities, and Crafting Change can help make those hopes into realities.