AP TELEVISION

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 15 August 2015

1. Close of a paint roller

2. Volunteers painting walls in Santa Marta favela

3. Various of woman painting pillar/wall

4. Volunteers painting wall

5. Various of volunteers arriving at the favela

6. Brazilian tennis player, Gustavo Kuerten, walking in the favela

7. Various of Kuerten painting a wall with roller

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Gustavo Kuerten, retired Brazilian tennis player:

"Once you see more than 50 people together, like today, almost 500 people together in the same sense, it can be a huge difference and it can be also a big example for other communities to try to do the same."

9. Walber Bras, with children, resident of the favela whose home was painted by Kuerten

10. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Walber Bras, resident of Santa Marta who had his home painted by Gustavo Kuerten:

"Everybody deserves a beautiful home, a dignified one. I think it is important because not everyone can afford to pay for something like this."

11. Various of people painting a square in the favela

12. Various of man on this balcony in the favela

13. Wide of painted houses in the favela with the Brazilian flag on the top

14. Wide of favela entrance with parked police car

A task force of more than 400 volunteers armed with paintbrushes and buckets took to Rio de Janeiro's Santa Marta favela on Saturday in an effort to spruce up homes in the neighbourhood.

The event is part of celebrations for the 450th anniversary of Rio and was attended by retired Brazilian tennis player Gustavo Kuerten, a former top player.

Santa Marta favela became famous in 1996, when singer Michael Jackson filmed a video clip there.

In 2008, Santa Marta was the first favela in Rio de Janeiro to introduce the Police Pacifying Unit (UPP) system, meant to improve the security within the city.