WFC began training programmes in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro in 2008, working with WFC Founder Member, Vanessa Goes. Made famous by Fernando Meirelles’ seminal film City Of God, the favelas of Rio remain some of the most dangerous and impoverished areas in the world. Since 2008, WFC has run four training programmes with young people, two in City of God favela itself. During a recent follow up visit to the centre in City of God, Vanessa was really pleased to discover that the students had continued making films on their cell phones, using WFC manuals in order to do so.
Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Vanessa Goes was teaching drama to kids from favelas when she became part of WFC. As a Founder Member, Vanessa helped shape WFC and, since 2008, she has overseen projects in Morro dos Prazeres favela and City of God (Cidade de Deus) made famous by the feature film of the same name. in 2009 Vanessa worked alongside Alice training tutors from Cinema Nosso film school to deliver WFC programmes. In 2014, WFC filmmakers from Cidade de Deus reported on the World Cup from the perspective of the favelas. The reports received over 800 views on Youtube and reached 7,743 people through Facebook. They were shared 35 times, which means people liked them so much they posted them on their own Facebook wall

2008
WFC launches first training programme in Rio de Janeiro – fictional shorts – Morro dos Prazeres favela in partnership with Casarão Cultural Centre

Students 10-14 years make their final film on violence against children

2009
WFC returns to Morro dos Prazeres favela – training in documentary shorts Partnership with celebrated digital inclusion organisation, CDI

Cidade de Deus favela – training programme in documentary shorts, again in partnership with CDI

17 tutors trained to deliver WFC programmes, all film graduates of Cinema Nosso film school, Rio

2010
WFC partners with the UFRJ (Rio’s Federal University) to offer WFC’s Cidade de Deus filmmakers an opportunity to make films with philosophy as their central theme. Film produced for UNESCO’s World Day of Philosophy

2014
WFC tutors, Jardel and Matheus, train a crew from Cidade de Deus to report on the World Cup from inside the favela communities