We started by mapping one of the most inaccessible non-pacified favelas in Rio, Parada de Lucas, followed by its neighbor Vigario Geral. In the past both were engaged in the longest war in Rio for drug dealing control (30 years long).

Local teams were recruited, doing the ground level mapping in their communities, identifying business. They are now running and growing Ta no Mapa digital platform for local entrepreneurs.

Partnering with a local digital mapping platform we put the favelas on the map. Now partnering with Google, the solution will be scalable and replicable, making it available to favelas anywhere.

By showing how to resolve the invisibility of favelas, Afroreggae sent its message for digital inclusion worldwide. Earned media sums up to U$ 1,5 million so far, attracting supporters everywhere.

The local team working on the ground mapping built a digital platform for favela’s business on the top of the maps, developing communications for local entrepreneurs, revamping itself as a digital agency. Impact in participant businesses goes from jump in revenue to expansion.

Eventually, we attracted interest from tech giants. We are now partnering with Google Maps, multiplying the number of favelas covered, getting scale and visibility for greater impact.

Favelas (slums) are a huge social issue in urban Brazil. Statistics say that about 11 million Brazilians live in slums. Only in Rio de Janeiro they count more than 1000. Although actively participating in the economy those communities are invisible on digital maps, a problem of digital inclusion.

Afroreggae, along with local inhabitants, is mapping those favelas, areas many times inaccessible, controlled by drug cartels. On the top of the maps, local teams built a digital platform giving visibility to the emerging economy of their communities. Afroreggae has revealed this social problem by delivering a solution. No more excuses for the big voids in digital maps.

After the mapping of the first favela, we made to the international news, exposing the problem worldwide and attracting powerful partners - Google has just joined the project and will support efforts for mapping hundreds of favelas in Brazil. Favelas now are visible everywhere.