The ‘Carolinas of Jacutinga’ Promote Recycling, Women’s Dignity, Art, Environmental Education, Heritage and Sustainable Development Across Five Cities in Greater Rio

Marilza Reis Arariba, current president of Coopcampo, that gave origin to Carolinas of Jacutinga. Photo: Fabio Leon

After the 2026 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, RioOnWatch visited Mesquita, a city in Greater Rio’s Baixada Fluminense region, to learn about the Carolinas of Jacutinga project, created in honor of Carolina Maria de Jesus. De Jesus, one of the greatest authors in Brazilian history, was the inspiration behind one of Rio’s premier samba schools, Unidos da Tijuca’s 2026 carnival parade. Like the women of Jacutinga, she was a waste picker. Today, these residents transform their neighborhood’s history through a cooperative focused on recycling, art, environmental education and memory.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FULL REPORT

This article is part of a series created in partnership with the Behner Stiefel Center for Brazilian Studies at San Diego State University, to produce articles for the Digital Brazil Project on environmental justice in the favelas through RioOnWatch.