The Hub of Social Innovation in the Vidigal slum community will provide hundreds of current and aspiring social impact leaders and entrepreneurs in Rio's impoverished slums with access to technology, 250 m2 co-working space, and life-changing professional workshops and events.

Challenge

Around 30% of Rio's population lives in favelas: low-income areas with low-quality infrastructure and poor living conditions. The current crisis has hit them hard, accelerating pre-existing problems of widespread poverty and unemployment. Facing a near-absence of primary education or job-training and a lack of economic opportunity, local nonprofits are under-resourced. Local entrepreneurs face the nearly impossible task of competing without the skills or structure needed.

Long-Term Impact

When social projects and entrepreneurs are released from dependency on the government and low-paying jobs, they become the change-makers of their own lives. Thus, community morale is boosted. Locals become free to create new, innovative, long-term solutions that keep children from violent gangs and improve their quality of life. This ensures that vulnerable local families are being taken care of and that the local economy grows while creating more jobs and diminishing income disparities.

References

1. https://www.favelainc.com
2. https://favelainc.com/social-innovation-hub/

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