Maré is the largest group of favelas in Rio de Janeiro, where more than 140,000 people live in 16 communities spread over 4km². It is greater than 96% of municipalities in Brazil (according to data from the Census Maré, 2013). Like many peripheral territories, Maré has challenges the size of a city, especially in regard to basic rights, such as access to water and sanitation, education, health, public security and culture.

In order to overcome inequalities and the various forms of violence present in the territory and guarantee a better quality of life for residents, Redes da Maré works on a social agenda focused on the structuring themes above, through axes of work and carrying out projects, actions and campaigns.

The work is always done through the mobilization, listening and participation of the population, producing knowledge and proposing actions that allow the systematic monitoring of changes in favor of significant and concrete improvements in the quality of life for residents.

METHODOLOGIE

• Mobilization of residents and strengthening of local actors, such as the 16 Residents' Associations and different leaders from historic struggles of Maré

• Networking and partnerships with different public and private organizations operating in the region

• Incidence on public policies, systematization and dissemination of knowledge produced in order to achieve, in the medium and long term, the realization of rights in all the favelas of Maré

• Diagnosis and production of knowledge about the region

The organization´s work is done from the direct service to the local population, which takes place in the following facilities within Maré: headquarters of Redes da Maré in Nova Holanda, Normal Space, Maré Arts Center, Lima Barreto Library, Black House and Technological Innovation Shed of Maré (Ritma), all located in Nova Holanda; Redes da Maré headquarters in Vila dos Pinheiros, Herbert Vianna Cultural Canvas, in Nova Maré, and the House of Women of Maré, in Parque União.

This set of facilities allows the development of actions that materialize projects and programs, creating spaces of opportunities to express potential and develop experiences of residents, realizing dreams in projects, paths and individual stories.

They are spaces for interaction, exchange of experiences, production of knowledge and where the daily work that sustains the project of a more just, solidary and equal society for all people is built.