CUFA is recognized by the UN with the World Resilience Award.

The Central Union of Favelas (CUFA) was recognized with the UN SDG Action award.
Awards 2025 – “Heroes of Tomorrow”, promoted by the United Nations.
United Nations (UN). This recognition elevates CUFA's role as an organization.
committed to transforming adversity in contexts of social disadvantage
(slums, neighborhoods or communities) in opportunity. The award was given to
Marcus Vinícius Athayde, president of CUFA Global, at the ceremony held
by the UN on October 29th, in Rome, Italy.

CUFA was officially founded in 1999 in the Cidade de Deus favela in Rio de Janeiro.
January. The best-known founders are Celso Athayde, a social entrepreneur.
and activist who has been to Cape Verde (“There is no social change without being
"starring those who suffer the consequences of difference," he says.
founder of the Central Union of Favelas – Balai), and the rapper MV Bill, both
residents of Cidade de Deus.

The organization aims to use Education and training, Culture and art,
Sports and leisure, to promote the human rights of the public in
Social disadvantage through projects that restore self-esteem and social interaction.
collective. These groups frequently meet in living spaces.
more fragile and more vulnerable to crime.

The greatest symbols of transformation at CUFA have been initiatives such as the Cup.
of the Favelas, the biggest football championship between favelas in the world, bringing together
thousands of young people since 2011; Favela Holding, a group of companies created for
To foster social entrepreneurship and generate sustainable businesses; Expo Favela
Innovation, a business and innovation fair that connects entrepreneurs from the favela.
with investors, large companies and the government; and Mothers of the Favela, a program of
emergency assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, which distributed
Food, resources, and support for over 17 million people across Brazil.

The Central Union of Favelas has been operating in Cape Verde since the end of 2024.,
represented by national social entrepreneurs Susana Duarte and Leonardo
Cunha. On June 21st, the national edition of Kumunidadi Fest 2025 was celebrated.
from the Favela Cup, the Round Table for the World Forum of Favelas, which will take place
Taking place from December 12th to 14th in Rio de Janeiro, is the CUFA Music Festival.

Also in 2025, CUFA Cabo Verde will celebrate the Kumunidadi Summit, an event
dedicated to giving voice to civil society organizations to promote the
growth of the Third Sector and its capacity for impact on
National Human Development.

Currently, the Central Union of Favelas is present in more than 5,000 favelas in Brazil.
Brazil and has representation in nearly 80 countries.