Digital solutions for community-based entrepreneurship: Evidence from Brazilian favelas in Rio de Janeiro

• In Event: Educational technology and learning design

Proposal

Introduction
Entrepreneurship and appropriate uses of technology that are sustainable in the local context can have positive impacts for the empowerment and inclusion of marginalized communities. The Brazilian favela is best defined in Catalytic Communities, by Theresa Williamson, which are historically marginalized areas characterized by one, “neighborhoods that emerge from an unmet need for affordable housing; two, established and developed with no outside or governmental regulation; three, established and developed by individual residents (no centralized or outside ‘developers’); and four, continuously evolving based on culture and access to resources, jobs, knowledge, and the city (Williamson, 2019).
In the context of the Brazilian favela, entrepreneurship of the self, is the most “ethical” form of governance, which allows the individual the power to govern themselves and increase their own social and human capital (Rose, 2011 as cited in Tommasi, 2013). Through this “auto-direction” the entrepreneur can make their life a venture in becoming who they want to be (Rose, 2011 as cited in Tommasi, 2013). The literature shows that the appropriate use and access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can close the education, economic, and social gap in marginalized communities (Nemer, 2015). However, Nemer (2015) continues, in the context of the Brazilian favela, physical access alone cannot close the gap of the “digital divide” alluding to the failed example of the one laptop per child (OLPC) program (para. 8). There needs to be a creation of technologies that is informed by the favela, for the favela.

Context
Furthermore, after early fieldwork in 2010 and 2014 and prolong stays over the years in various favelas in the north and south zone of Rio de Janeiro, I found evidence of solutions to challenges experienced in the favela and the success of community-based organizations and the entrepreneur spirit in tackling social inequities. The Brazilian favela is the focus of this study for which I hope to add to the work carried out in “Digital Favela” by Nemer (2013) describing and understanding the relationship between technology and people living in favelas in Vitória in the State of Espírito Santo Brazil.

Methods
The aim of this study is to describe how local entrepreneurs in favelas can engage in entrepreneurship development, and how technology is supporting those efforts. The goal is to dialogue with local change agents: local entrepreneurs in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas with an observation focus in daily applications and interactions with ICTs in their community. Local entrepreneurs are defined in this study as those moradores (favela dwellers) that lead and/or participate in entrepreneurial ventures that develop human, social or financial capital within the favela. The parameters for this study include favelas in the north zone of Rio de Janeiro that are not near tourist areas or major roads, which have been more often neglected; as described from local community organizers testimonials in our fieldwork in 2014. An added layer of inquiry will be added by including a favela from the south zone, near tourist points in metropolitan Rio de Janiero for comparison. The method for selecting local entrepreneurs included purposive sampling, which were identified as gatekeepers from previous fieldwork and colleagues from the department of Social Services at PUC-Rio. Semi-structured interviews are planned via WhatsApp (online messaging application) and follow-up, in-person interview will follow. Once on site, fieldnotes and observations will be conducted.

Findings
There are initial findings in Acari and Costa Barros that will be further analyzed in upcoming visits and observations. This study will continue with a follow-up for further study. Local non-governmental organization stake holders (Catalytic Communities, Favela Observatory, and Central Unica das Favelas) will be consulted to collaborate efforts and ensure the findings are redistributed within the community.

References
Cullen, J., Cullen, C., Hamilton, E., Holloway, G., Paviotti, G., & Maes, V. (2015). Exploring
the Role of ICT-enabled Social Innovation for the Active Inclusion of Young People (No.
JRC95506). Joint Research Centre (Seville site).
De Tommasi, L. (2014). Juventude, projetos sociais, empreendedorismo e criatividade:
dispositivos, artefatos e agentes para o governo da população jovem. Passagens, 6(2), 287-311.
De Tommasi, L., & Velazco, D. (2013). A produção de um novo regime discursivo sobre as
favelas cariocas e as muitas faces do empreendedorismo de base comunitária. Revista do Instituto de Estudos Brasileiros, (56), 15-42.
Lone, S., Fávero, I., & Packiarajah, S. (2018, November 28). Ecommerce Report: Brazil 2018.
Retrieved September 28, 2019, from https://www.ecommercewiki.org/reports/765/brazil-ecommerce-report-2018-free.
Nemer, D. (2013). Favela Digital: The other side of technology/O outro lado da tecnologia. GSA
Grafica e Editora.
Nemer, D. (2015). From Digital Divide to Digital Inclusion and Beyond: A Positional Review. Journal of Community Informatics, 11(1).
Williamson, T. (2019). A City Planner Responds: What is a Favela? Retrieved 22, 2019, from
https://catcomm.org/planner-on-favela/.

Author

• Armando Jose Torres, University of Illinois