2023-09-11 13:28:00
The visitor leaves the international airport, takes a taxi and goes up the viaduct towards the most touristy part of the city. On the way, you are surprised by the sea of exposed brick houses and clothes on clotheslines that line the expressway. The setting is reminiscent of Brazilian favelas, but it is Villa 31, in Buenos Aires.
“About 20 years ago, here they only reached two stories high, now they are five or six,” says architect and community leader Cesar Sanabria, 39, pointing out a pile of colorful buildings.
One of Argentina’s best-known favelas, Villa 31 today joins 5,686 other so-called “popular neighborhoods” scattered across the country, half of which emerged in the last two decades.
With high poverty rates, the country consolidates its “favelization” process and reflects an old and growing phenomenon also in Brazil. Experienced in this field, Brazilians bring social entrepreneurship to the neighboring country.
“Brazilians are quite creative and more technological,” says Vinicius Mendes Lima, founder of the social development agency Besouro, which operates in both countries.
While in 2016 it was estimated that 3.5 million Argentines lived in these areas, today there are 5.2 million, according to the Ministry of Social Development. The country has 46 million inhabitants.
Translated by AZAHARA MARTÍN ORTEGA
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