Rio Residents Build Grassroots Programs to Counter Gangs Amid Election-Year Crime Debate

Crime dominates public concern in Brazil as the October presidential election approaches. Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, is campaigning on a promise to “loosen organized crime’s grip” on Rio de Janeiro. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva argues for a more prominent federal role and greater coordination among government agencies. Both positions arise after Rio’s deadliest police operation — the 2023 raid that killed more than 120 people — which has heightened public scrutiny of security policies.

Rio residents find their own way to tackle gangs as crime dominates Brazil's election

• “01 Sobreviventes” podcast – Launched in 2024 by former trafficker Fábio Santos, the weekly show reaches over 225,000 Instagram followers and presents former gang members discussing the costs of crime.

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• Abraco Campeão academy – Founded in 2014 by former favela resident Alan Duarte, the nonprofit offers free boxing, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and capoeira, plus educational talks. It serves 600 students and plans to expand to 1,000.

Rio residents find their own way to tackle gangs as crime dominates Brazil's election

• R3 therapeutic community – Established by former drug-trafficker Vanderson Rocha Silva, R3 provides psychological assistance, free electricity, refrigeration and English courses to former offenders.

Rio residents find their own way to tackle gangs as crime dominates Brazil's election

• Grieving-mothers projects – After her son was killed by police in 2022, Nadia dos Santos pivoted her charitable work to job-training for youth under 26.

Rio residents find their own way to tackle gangs as crime dominates Brazil's election

• Podcast Instagram following: > 225,000 users.

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• Police operation fatalities (2023): > 120 people.

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• Abraco Campeão capacity: 600 students (target 1,000).

Rio residents find their own way to tackle gangs as crime dominates Brazil's election

• Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro – Promises to loosen the grip of organized crime in Rio, positioning a hard-line approach as essential for public safety.

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• President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – Calls for a stronger federal presence and better inter-agency coordination, emphasizing a shift from purely armed confrontations.

Rio residents find their own way to tackle gangs as crime dominates Brazil's election

Community leaders and grieving mothers contend that armed police confrontations often result in indiscriminate loss of life. They argue that the lack of education, recreation and employment opportunities drives youth toward gangs, and that grassroots programs provide the missing alternatives.

Rio residents find their own way to tackle gangs as crime dominates Brazil's election

• Alan Duarte credits the martial-arts academy for steering him away from a perilous path and now runs his own school to offer the same refuge.

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• Danilo Gomes da Silva, a former cocaine-addicted gang member, now works in building maintenance after completing R3’s programs, describing his life as a “new start.”

Rio residents find their own way to tackle gangs as crime dominates Brazil's election

The sources present a consistent picture of the initiatives, the scale of the police operation and the political context; no substantive contradictions were identified.

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• “I often say that martial arts, Abraco Campeao, offers the same things that draw youngsters to gangs: identity, respect, attention, authority and a sense of belonging,” — Alan Duarte

Rio residents find their own way to tackle gangs as crime dominates Brazil's election

• “If they want to leave crime but they don’t have an employment opportunity, any hopes for life, what are they supposed to do? A project changes everything,” — Rocha Silva

Rio residents find their own way to tackle gangs as crime dominates Brazil's election

No specific future events, hearings or deadlines were detailed in the available reports.

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