the  colégio stella maris, centro popular de educação e de assistência social , a philanthropic college for the education of low-income community residents, is a well known institution and an important asset for the community of vidigal.

another is genos, núcleo de apoio familiar, a structure of support to the local families, that also allows and encourages volunteer work in the community.     

a major source of pride for the people of vidigal is nos do morro, ('we of the favela') a well established theater school that trained several actors who later starred in local tele-novelas and in the movie city of god.

one of the latest hits of nós do morro are the pearls negras, local residents and hit-singers that can be seen on their video 'pensando em você' (thinking of you) shot in vidigal.