Transformational resilience, resistance and social change: the role of creative social legacy initiatives in Rio's favelas

This thesis explores how CriaAtivo Film School (CriaAtivo), a social mega-event legacy initiative, enabled marginalized young people to overcome the disruptions and socio-cultural challenges they were confronted with when Brazil recently hosted mega events, specifically the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Disruptions included forced and violent evictions and political strategies such as the Unidade de Polícia Pacificadora (UPP - Police Pacification Unit) intervention. These measures further exacerbated many existing social inequalities and exclusions that marginalized communities had been experiencing. Research to date has highlighted that it is these ‘invisible’ individuals and groups who are often forgotten and excluded in mega-event plans and developments. This research finds that creative social legacy initiatives are important for young marginalized individuals in facilitating social change at the micro, meso, and macro-levels. Such initiatives can assist young people in learning new creative skills, creating and developing new social network structures and increasing their social capital. Essentially, legacy initiatives can be a key factor in helping individuals develop personal resilience against future mega-event disruptions and assist them in strengthening their everyday resistance. By drawing on the theoretical concepts of resilience, resistance, and social capital to explore how they are mutually assistive, this study demonstrates how these aspects link together to bring about a process of ‘transformational resilience’. In-depth qualitative data was generated within a case study methodology (CriaAtivo) using multi-method techniques (focus group, semi-structured interviews and an online survey). Thematic network analysis was used to systematically interrogate and interpret the emergent data. Exploration into the transition stages of the CriaAtivo process found it had empowered marginalized young people to overcome adverse social conditions that affected them – socially, culturally, and economically. Furthermore, CriaAtivo clearly acted as a catalyst in generating social capital and fostering positive social change for marginalized young people living in Rio’s peripheral and favela communities. It is recommended that similar social legacy initiatives are adopted in International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) regulations for a wider impact on their effectiveness. This research highlights the invaluable role that social legacy initiatives play in marginalized communities affected by mega-events.