Favela dwellers more connected to technology than asphalt's
Favela dwellers are more connected with technology than asphalt dwellers.
A survey released Friday (Sep. 18) by Renato Meirelles, president of Popular Data and founder of Data-Favela, indicated that favela dwellers are more connected with technology than asphalt dwellers. "The number of internet users in favelas is larger than the asphalt's, because, to favelas, the internet has the primary function to generate income."
According to the survey, presented at the Green Gallery in New York during the Global Week of Unified Center for Favelas (Cufa), 89% of Internet users in favelas believe that the internet can help them make more money and 57% already boost their income thanks to internet.
"In a crisis [period], the internet is a great ally of the dwellelrs," said Meirelles in an interview to Agência Brasil. This means that with tighten financial conditions, favela dwellers count on the internet to get a job or even to sell something.
The president of Data Popular cited the initiative undertaken by Facebook in the community of Heliópolis, São Paulo, as an example of how technological innovation could be used. This pioneering project set up by the US company in the world teaches about 5,000 small businesses from that favela how to use digital marketing to foster economic development.
Renato Meirelles said that in Brazil, there is another country. "It's a country called Brazilian favelas, where 53% of dwellers have starved, where there is still racism and police prejudice."
According to him, the 12.3 million of favela residents in Brazil are responsible for the circulation of about $19.5 billion in 2015. For Meirelles, these communities are full of contrasts, due to the recent inclusion of their residents in the consumer market: "Favelas have 2.7 million air passengers, but at the same time, 2, 5 million people face difficulties to pay their bills," he declared.
Translated by Amarílis Anchieta
Fonte: Favela dwellers more connected to technology than asphalt's
