For over three years of full preparations for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, Rio de Janeiro developed an innovative safety program focused on so-called "UPP" - Pacification Police Units- which is a radical shift in how to deal with the problem of violence and drug trafficking in the “favelas”.

UPP's mission is to maintain control of these territories once the local drug trade has been expelled.

While many believe that UPPs have helped quell violence by opening the doors of the favelas to public services such as legal electricity supply, garbage collection, education, public works and social assistance program, others see the pacification program as a temporary cover-up to security problems in Rio de Janeiro.

When the Olympics end up in 2016, they say, everything will be what it was.

The ultimate goal of this work is to conduct an objective portrait of how the protagonists of this story (Military Police, inhabitants of the Favleas, drug dealers and ordinary citizens) deal with the effects of these pacification, aiming to bring light to questions such as:

- What will happen to the city after the Sport Events are done?

- Will the project have a long-term impact?

- How will it affect issues such as endemic violence, drug and gun trafficking or real state speculation after the Pacification?

I have covered since the beginning of 2012 the point of view of the inhabitants of the shantytowns and the Military police, spending over 6 months documenting the work of several UPP units, covering their daily routines, patrols in the communities and encounters with drug dealers, including shoot-outs.

My goal now is to complete the story with the view of the drug traffickers, so as to produce the Multimedia Documentary Piece that will summarize all of this work.

In addition, I think the main base to change the dynamics of endemic violence and inequality in the city, is through education.

That is why I have the intention to work with the NGO “Instituto Dois Irmaos” (i2i), a non-profit organization based in Brazil whose mission is to provide educational opportunities in the shantytown of Rocinha (the biggest favela of Rio de Janeiro) through local and international community service and cultural exchange. Web Page i2i: http://2irmaos.org/home_eng.html

Through the donation of photographs, the realization of a photo exhibition whose funds will go directly to the organization, and the joint collaboration to document the everyday life of the inhabitants of the Rocinha favela, the impact of this project on the community will be greater than through a purely journalistic approach.

In addition, all money that goes beyond my funding goal of $ 6,000 (which will cover the costs of the time spent on the project) will be dedicated entirely to “Instituto Dois Irmaos” to help them to continue providing educational opportunities in the shantytown of Rocinha.

The money that I raise will fund the Multimedia Piece, the continuation of this documentary project, as well as the cost of supplies, printing, travel, or image installation in the NGO “i2i”.

Thank you deeply for your attention and any help you can offer.