The Political, Economic and Social Crises and the Creative Sponsorship of Young People in the Carioca Slums – Rio De Janeiro/Brazil

This abstract rises from the extension of the research in Cultural Identity performed since 2004 by University of Rio de Janeiro State (UERJ) with teenagers and youngsters at the Cartola Cultural Center (CCC), in Mangueira’s Favela. The main results are published in the book “Pink and Green Territory: psychosocial constructions at the Cartola Cultural Center”. Alongside the worldwide economic crisis, which has also ravaged Brazil in the form of a lower growth rate than expected, unemployment and violence, the city of Rio de Janeiro is experiencing a housing crisis of devastating social consequences. In the turn of the 19th to 20th century the occupation of the hills of the city began, giving birth to the so-called favelas. Since the beginning the favelas draw the attention of the government, which tried to come up with a solution to put an end to those types of dwellings. Despite government investment, they survived and today have more than 100 years of history founded on cultural and political creativity, and identity coming from: the  time period of its founding, type of occupation, economy, origin of its inhabitants and their relationships, not to mention the intense social life fostered by the cooperation and collective effort of the residents’ associations, churches and NGOs. The most recent chapter in the story of the favelas has been about the return of the State to the territories theretofore dominated by drug trafficking. In 2010, the occupation operation of Complexo do Morro do Alemão*** was transmitted live by TV broadcasters from around the world with direct comments from residents using the internet. By using blogs and creating profiles and discussion forums, the young people of the carioca favelas put their stamp on, and build, creatively, a new perspective for facing economic, political and social crises.