Shining a light on Sun City

Heliópolis, which means Sun City, became Brazil’s largest favela after people flocked to São Paulo in the 1960s and 70s. Over 100,000 inhabitants came, mostly poor people looking for work, and built homes without the support of city planning or regulation.

The informal settlement sprang up on public land quite close to the city centre but instead of support to build homes and infrastructure the newcomers were treated with official hostility. People built their houses as well as they could without planning assistance but their efforts to build a better life were met with attempts to forcefully evict them and transport them back to a life of hopelessness. Eventually roads and other services began to be provided, as Heliópolis became officially recognised as a neighbourhood.

Eventually, after much resistance, Heliópolis became an undeniable permanent reality and was recognised as a neighbourhood of the city. Some services beginning to be provided. However, the scale and quality of basic infrastructure, health, education and housing was totally inadequate. Out of the struggle to resist eviction and demand basic services a community organisation, UNAS, was born in the 1980s with a particular focus on women’s rights. Campaigns were pursued to get reliable electricity supplies and running water and to provide a voice for citizens to influence decisions over their lives.