in 1983 President Leonel Brizola was elected, and he adopted an innovative policy of favela legitimacy which took into consideration many complaints and demands submitted by residential associations from the communities - As a result, a number of projects were implemented as part of a program to urbanize the favelas and improve infrastructure, and precarious wooden structures were widely replaced with brick homes.
this is when favelas started to take the characteristic orange look that became internationally famous and easily recognizable.
in 1984, an important seminar in rio de janeiro called 'Mutirăo rio' saw the participation of 150 favelas, or nearly 50% of all the favelas existing at the time - at the seminar it was decided that the best approach to urbanize the favelas would be by hiring local labor to participate in the projects and constructions - some of the projects included community centers, nurseries, infirmaries, paving and sanitation structures.
