Until recently, residents of poor neighborhoods in Brazil had little access to the digital world. But young people are now finding ways to earn money and recognition, while at the same time escaping their reality in the virtual world.
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Now, he makes a living as a gamer.
Augusto, 23, was working in construction as a stonemason’s apprentice three years ago when his life took a turn.
An avid gamer, he got involved with AfroGames, a charitable project to give young people in Rio de Janeiro’s impoverished favela neighborhoods access to the multi-billion-dollar gaming industry.
The project gave him training and a grant to launch his own channel online, where he posts gaming content under the moniker of “AFG Sr Madruga” and plays a mean game of “Grand Theft Auto” live for his fans.
“I used to spend a good part of my salary playing at a LAN house [a gaming center or cyber cafe] here in the favela,” he said.
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