Carlos works for a non-governmental organisation in Brazil called Viva Rio, on a project called Viva Favela. Favela means shanty-town in Portuguese. He himself has lived in the Rocinha shantytown on the outskirsts of Rio de Janeiro his whole life.

"I was born in Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro 44 years ago, and I've never left. I have five children and I've been married three times. I'm an activist for the Workers' Party and I advise on political communication and urban governmental conflicts for the NGO Viva Rio that works in the favelas. I publish my own journal about it, called Rocinha Notícias.