Instituto Favela da Paz

The Favela da Paz Institute is a non-profit based in Jardim Nakamura, on the southern periphery of São Paulo, Brazil, with nearly 40 years of history. Founded by members of the band Poesia Samba Soul — musicians born and raised in the community — we grew from a music collective into a hub for culture, education, sustainability, health, technology, and community care. Today we are an intergenerational team of artists, educators, organizers, and community leaders running more than a dozen projects: Favela Solar (community-owned clean energy), VegeArte (community kitchen and solar cooking), samba schools, youth art programs, a community care network, and more. More than an organization, we are a living relational space rooted in creativity, regeneration, and deep trust. Our vision: that urban peripheries can become examples of regenerative, community-based futures.