THE FAVELA FOUNDATION
The Favela Foundation is continuing as normal during the COVID-19 pandemic.
MEET THE TEAM
Board of Trustees
Patrick works as a Technology Commercial Specialist having graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2015. Patrick worked as a Volunteer Coordinator in Rocinha and later sat on the Board of Directors of a 501(c)3 that supports educational projects in Brazil's favelas.
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Moved by his experience, Patrick decided to bring together the Trustees of The Favela Foundation to continue working with inspirational projects and people in Rio.
Patrick Gibbs
Trustee
Rebecca is a professional fundraiser and has been involved with the UK charity sector since 2012, working with household names such as CRUK, Oxfam GB, and Marie Curie. Rebecca worked in Rocinha during the summer of 2016 supporting US based NGO, to develop a new fundraising strategy.
Moved and inspired by the people living in Rio’s largest favela, Rebecca brings her skill and experience to The Favela Foundation board to lead on fundraising activities.
Rebecca Wilson
Trustee
Kanav is a practicing architect and supporting the design of a school during his time as a volunteer in Rocinha in 2014. Kanav has worked for a charity in India, teaching Tibetan monks how to speak and write English. During this time he was given the opportunity of an audience with His Holiness The Dalai Lama.
Kanav's experiences in two differing cultures inspired him to found The Favela Foundation. He takes on the role of treasurer with the foundation.
Kanav Gupta
Trustee
Matt Smith
Trustee
Matt currently works in retail banking having graduated from the University of Nottingham 2017. He lived and worked in Rocinha as Volunteer Coordinator at a school in 2016, and was inspired by his experience to found The Favela Foundation.
Matt currents acts as Secretary within the foundation and leads on all social media activity, hoping to spread the message of The Favela Foundation to a wider audience.
Flavia Franco
Trustee
Flavia is a professional in the charity sector who currently works for WWF, having previously worked on social and environmental projects in the Amazon rainforest. She holds degrees in sociology and life sciences allied to medicine, and a master's in International Relations where she began dedicating her time to help provide opportunities to enable people and the environment to thrive together.
Having grown up in Brazil and experienced its challenging environment makes The Favela Foundation’s work a priority for her.