Hi everyone, thanks for visiting my research page!

You might find it surprising, but sometimes, even when communities face big problems like not having enough money, violence, or other difficulties, people still stick together, trust each other, and work together. This interesting situation is sometimes called the “social cohesion paradox.” We’ve seen this happen in cities in Brazil and other places in Latin America.

Most studies that look at this just point out that it happens. They don’t really explain how or why people stay so connected when things are tough. Some researchers look at togetherness in poorer areas, or how togetherness affects things like crime. But not many studies ask: What really helps people stick together when they have SO MANY problems all at once?

That’s what my study is about!

To try and understand this better, I received a small grant (money for research) from Cornell University (QUIRI Small Grant). I am conducting research to learn about people’s thoughts and experiences with this “sticking together” in a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro called Pavuna. I’ll be doing interviews to understand how people feel about their community, who they trust, how safe they feel, and how they work together when facing problems like not enough money, violence, or floods that keep happening.

Information for People Interested in Participating in Pavuna:

If you found this page from one of my flyers or messages, here’s a bit more about who I’m looking to talk to:

• You are 18 years old or older.
• You have been living in Pavuna since January 2024 (this was when the last big flood happened in the neighborhood).

What would participating involve?

• I would ask you to answer some questions about your life and your experiences living in the Pavuna community.
• We would meet just one time, in a private place that you choose.
• Our chat would last about 1 hour to 1 hour and a half.
• Some things we might talk about are your connections to Pavuna, and your experiences with things like floods and safety in the neighborhood.
• I’ll also ask a few basic questions about you, like “Where were you born?” and “What’s the highest grade you finished in school?”

Important things to know:

• When we talk about some of these experiences, you might feel a little uncomfortable for a short time (maybe a bit anxious or sad) thinking about the past. These feelings should not last longer than our interview.
• There are no direct benefits (like money or health improvements) for you if you participate.
• However, you might find it interesting to talk about these topics. Thinking about your experiences might help you understand yourself and our community better.
• Also, the information from this study could help other people, now or in the future. When we learn more about how communities stick together, it can help people who make decisions create better ways to support communities so they can stay strong.

If you live in Pavuna, meet the points above, and are interested in sharing your experiences for this study, please get in touch!

Thanks for your interest!

Nathália Santos