After months of researching and refining the concept to ensure the initiative would be effective and sustainable, we opened the first Polygon Impact TechHouse at the favela of Complexo do Chapadão in Rio de Janeiro. With an estimated population of over 25,000 residents, it is considered one of the most dangerous areas in Rio. The Comando Vermelho, a drug trafficking organization, holds significant control over the favela, making it hard for foreigners to access the area and thus segregating the community and limiting its access to opportunities enjoyed by the rest of society. 
The Techhouse will provide a safe space for disenfranchised youth to access web3 in a neighborhood where opportunities are lacking. However, the real work starts now. We will work closely with the center to ensure that web3 community-led initiatives are systematically implemented and that the initiative is sustainable. Since the TechHouse opening ceremony, several organizations and institutions have expressed interest in supporting the initiative, including Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Ethereum Brasil, ChainLink, +1Code, and Women inTech. Coinbase coverage here.
Activity: Opening Ceremony
When: January 25th, 2023
Where: Morro dos Prazeres, Complexo do Chapadão, Brazil
