The Changing Face Of Rio’s Vidigal Favela

Two ubiquitous sights in the Vidigal favela are the Brazilian flag and satellite dishes. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

The daily life for residents of Vidigal is a mix of moto-taxis, meeting up with acquaintances and avoiding the mid-day heat. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

At the foot of the hill leading to Vidigal is an open-air amphitheater that gets more use as a gathering place than it does for performances. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Sidewalk space in the favela is rare, if it exists at all, and residents get creative about where to lounge. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Utility companies are starting to making inroads in the favelas to provide official service, but people in some areas still rely on pirated means of lighting their homes. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Lt. Carlos Martins da Veiga, the Vidigal commander of the Pacifying Police Unit (UPP, in its Portuguese acronym). (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Lt. Carlos Martins da Veiga surveying the area where his troops patrol. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

The homes of Vidigal stack up right onto the slopes of the Morro Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers Hill). (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

The drug gangs that used to control Vidigal were supporters of the Flamengo soccer clubs. Some things in Brazil never change, especially when it comes to soccer. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Many residents set-up shop wherever they can and sell whatever they can. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Some Vidigal citizens at a local market. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

As in the United States, the barbershop in Vidigal is an integral part of the community. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

A street sign urging residents to “Respect your community.” (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

The narrow, winding streets of the favelas are due to the makeshift nature of the construction of the neighborhoods as well as Rio's hilly terrain. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Even in the favelas, Brazilians pride themselves on the cleanliness of their homes. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

The street is a place to meet, socialize and reminisce. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Anew home grows in Vidigal, with one of the best views in the city. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

One of Vidigal's many stray dogs relaxes in the shade. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Many of the faces one sees in the favelas bear the marks of a lifetime of hard worrying. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Most clothes washing is done outside and by hand. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

A beautiful view of the controlled chaos that is the lower section of Vidigal. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

A call for peace in Alto Vidigal. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

“Very clean Vidigal” doesn’t seem to live up to its billing. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

In Alto Vidigal, officers for the UPP have their offices inside a recycled shipping container. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

A vendor selling refreshments at the base of Vidigal. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)