ABSTRACT:
The COVID-19 pandemic reignited the debate surrounding polycrises and social response capacity. This discussion is particularly vital in favelas, where impacts are magnified by social determination of health (Almeida-Filho, 2009) and where local mobilizations produce unique tackling strategies. To inform post-COVID recovery policies and strategies for future crises, the Panex-Youth project coordinated research in South Africa, Brazil, and the United Kingdom regarding pandemic impacts and adaptations for children and youth, emphasizing their rights to education, food, and leisure (Bizzotto et al., 2025). The study included a literature review and three field phases in Brazil: 1) 32 interviews with organizations in São Paulo; 2) 14 workshops with 44 youth (ages 9–29) from the Heliópolis and Paraisópolis favelas and USP equity programs students, utilizing World Café and Visual Web participatory methodologies; and 3) two intergenerational roundtables (national and international). The findings revealed a tension between spatial contraction and temporal disconnection caused by isolation, and an ambivalence between social acceleration and boredom. Key risks identified include misinformation, public policy gaps, housing precariousness, and food insecurity. Identified strategies centered on the formation of solidarity networks for community care. Finally, while adult-centrism approach and the prioritization of other high-risk groups limited youth participation in crisis management. After all, a significant local capacity for action was observed, particularly regarding communication challenges. Centralizing peripheral narratives is essential for developing post-COVID recovery policies and preparing for future polycrises (Henig & Knight, 2023). It is equally important to emphasize the specific conditions of children and youth; while risks can intensify insecurity and suffering, this group is also capable of developing sophisticated, creative, and democratic adaptive strategies.