The Global Guardians: Saving the favelas of Rio de Janeiro
Global Stringer
South America;Brazil
04:19

Thiago Firmino de Oliveira is a tour guide and community leader in the Santa Marta Favela in the south of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's second largest city.

Inspired by the Chinese practice, he decided to gather a group of volunteers to disinfect the streets of the favela in March, in an attempt to help contain the spread of the COVID-19. 

The volunteers use donations made by the favela's residents to purchase necessary equipment and cleaning products. The disinfection is done twice a week. 

Favelas in Brazil are usually extremely poor neighborhoods left unattended.

Stringers: Luis Carballo, Carlos Fabal