Favela Fever!!!

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So we went on the Favela tour. Wicked!!!!! We learnt so much and we are now going to try and tell you it all.
We went to the biggest in Rio, Rochina, over 60, 000 people.

A favela is thousands of self built houses crammed together with tiny alleys between them on the hills where poor people live. These work in Rio as maids and stuff. They build them on the hills because if nowone claims the land you are on in 5 years it is yours.
There is over 600 in Rio alone! All run by different gangs and in charge of by drug lords.
You´re safer there than in the city itself as there are rules set by the drug lords that they all abide by. They don´t steal up there just in the city. The main danger is the police when they go in there searching for people. When the police go in the favela the drug dealers let off fire crackers to let the top people know where not to go. We heard these when we were there.

The police are that bent that they robbed bank in a favela and the drug dealers came and sorted it out!!
The favelas have 1 way in and out and they have look outs to know when the police are coming and they have phones or walkie talkies. We saw them watching, at this point we weren´t allowed to take photos. But we have got some wicked ones.
The people were really nice and we bought a painting done by one of the children there.
We went to a smaller favela where there is like a community project happening and they had a school to keep the kids from working for the dealers. This was good, and Andy showed them how to draw a dog with his thumb which there were all then doing.
We really found it interesting.

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Photos

Favela
Part of Rochina Favela

Comments

[Garry]

Rubbish
What a load of shit you wrote. People don't have look-outs for the police! What are you on about?!? And your spelling is awful!!!

[some1]

wow!
wow i'm really enjoying reading plz write on!

[Ouch]

learn to spell
Incredible. Someone with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of writing about some seriously interesting stuff, and the spelling and "Jamie-Oliveresque" abundance of "wicked" gives me the impresion that you just were another pom with pasty skin playind "bandido" in South America.

[Rocinhajj]

Rocinha
The traficantes (chefes) do have "olhoes" who look for policial and gangs rivals who try come for the favela. If some body who comes for trouble the "Fogos" make fireworks in the sky and let everbody in the favela know troubles come and we can get in the house. The police make most troubles in the favela. I live in Cachopa bairro in Rocinha. If you wanting know more of Rocinha, send for me e-mail [e-mail] Alex

[Denise]

Favela Tour
My son and I were recently escorted around Rochina by a local guide named Louisa. Initially we were both quite apprehensive but still very interested to learn about the people and their way of life. What an experience - Louisa was absoloutely marvellous. She explained the history and the struggles of the people. Louisa also told us about the social projects and was very positive about the help the people receive - though this is clearly no where near enough. We spent time walking through the streets and were fascinated by the buildings and the inivotive electrics and plumbing - though shocked that Rochina only has water 3 times per week! We passed a young man emptying bullets from a hand gun but saw no other references to guns/drugs. Everyone should see this place - it was a fascinating but very humbling experience. Louisa was a shining example of how someone can overcome social disadvantage - it was a priveledge to meet her.

[paul]

favela
ive been to the same favela and had a wicked time, and to that idiot who wrote the fist comment in this, why dont you actually go there and you'll find out you are full of shit

[Courtz]

Well done
well all i can say is wow! at least you have been honest about your experiance! i fink you have given us a realy good look to what it is reali like there! thanks xx

[Tom Slinn]

Gr8 MC
www.myspace.com/skeptik2k7

[Bobbie J]

bobbie = babe <3
Rocinha sounds pretty nasty, doesn't it! Well, you wouldn't know that from the load of rubbish this person has written, but anyway. Apparently, they have violent gun battles between police officers and rival gangs, drug trafficking, kidnapping, mass murder, gas bombs, and their own verson of Adolf Hitler!! This information is from a bit of an idiot, so the last two are probably vair vair wrong. Anyway, tatty bye for now!! X

[spencertheartist]

mmm favela - nice!
Bobbie j is right. Murder, gang law, NOISE NOISE NOISE and disease, and 24 a day horror. Great place to raise a family on, er, how much? two dollars a day? OH YEAH., never mind, just go and sell some drugs. INNIT!!