Brazilian Favelas
A favela is a slum, an illegal settlement built on squatted lands. Brazil has one of the worst distributions of wealth in the world and the poor have got to live somewhere. The people who are considered favelas build their houses out of wood and garbage.
There is no government schools in the favelas and they have to supply their own water however they are able too. People who are born and die in the favelas are not recorded for the Brazilian government, it is differently a crime to be poor.
Naturally, the poor in Brazil do not take their fate lying down and scratch out whatever kind of life they can for themselves. With almost no education or opportunities the career options open to a Brazilians from the favelas are limited to selling on the street, cleaning houses, drug dealing or prostitution.
In Rio de Janeiro, however, favelas arose on the hills overlooking the rich neighbors and this gives the Brazilians that live there a distinct advantage with so much wealth nearby they are in the perfect position to deal drugs on a large scale. The drug lords rule the favelas and they established a strict regime within. No one may rob or kill anyone else within the favelas without facing severe punishment. The drug lords employ the children to deal drugs on the street corners, because minors can not be prosecuted in Brazil. The military police are also famous for raiding the favelas, robbing the dealers of their drugs and then selling it back to them.
The people in the favelas let off fireworks when the military police are making a raid and you soon learn to distinguish the sound of fire crackers from the gun shots that often follow soon afterwards. Unfortunately for the ones who inhabit in the favelas do not get a chance, the walls of their homes are often so thin that tray bullets pass easily through the walls of their homes.
Travelers should never attempt to enter the favelas unless they have a trusted guide with them. The favelas are full of drugs, guns and prostitutes, but the favelas are not safe places to go wandering around. Even if they did let you in, the police would probably catch you on the way back out. An exception to this in Rio de Jaeiro might be the favela funk parties that have become very trendy. Still, you should go with a Brazilian who knows his way around and only take what you are happy to lose.