. >> reporter: raising four young children alone in rocinha, rio's biggest favela, or slum, leslie has cause to worry. drug dealing is a daily reality, which leslie worries could derail her children from the right path. leslie's low income qualifies her for an innovative program called bolsa familia. it provides families with a monthly stipend as long as children stay in school. it's paid off for the country. 95% of brazilian children enter primary school, and it's paid off for jefferson too. >> ( translated ): what did you do in school today? >> ( translated ): a drawing. >> ( translated ): a drawing and what else? did you dance in school? no? i want them to try the things that i never did in life. have the freedom i didn't have. i want them to play because i couldn't play. i want them to enjoy, to play, to study. >> ( translated ): when i'm going to school, sometimes there are gunshots, so i hide in a shack or i stop in some other place. >> reporter: in rocinha, violence between gangs, police, and paramilitary groups has been escalating. >> ( translated ): when i see the police i get

reporter: they soon see the first buildings in rocinha. the shanty town extends all the way up the hill. richard: wow, quite amazing actually. you've got such a poor society living so close to a rich. its well worth a visit. i can't wait to walk it. reporter: tour guide marcos lelal leads the group into the heart of rocinha and one of the numerous shopping streets. eileen gerard from britain says not much here reminds her of a slum. eileen: i think the people are so resourceful, that they all find a living out of very, very poor conditions. and i mean it's like a very thriving busy town - which is poverty, but it's very, very busy. they're all working hard. it's amazing. reporter: just a few years ago, taking pictures here would have been life-threatening. armed drug dealers ruled the streets. now, for the past two and a half years the favela has been peaceful. the locals have got used to large numbers of tourists here. >> i think we're privileged to have them look at our favela. >> they have the opportunity to see a favela from the inside