Rei do Gado is a favela in Recife, Brazil that is considered a result of failed planning and upgrading processes. Rei do Gado is part of Recife's urban fabric and a typical favela where extremely degraded social, economic and environmental conditions impose on its residents a daily struggle to survive. This Master's Degree Project (MOP) uses Rei do Gado as a case study for an exploratory design exercise based on local residents' participation. The MDP's main goal is to contribute to planning processes that lead to the long-term improvement of living conditions in Brazil's favelas. Therefore, the main objective is to develop the conceptual design of a "Tool" that constructs a space of communication in order to enhance the ability of the community, specifically women, to be prepared for, and participate in, an internally driven favela upgrading process. This project takes a progressive approach with three major parts providing the structure for the design process: 'The Problem', 'Towards the Solution' and 'The Solution'. The multidimensional aspects of the problem are defined by first gaining a thorough understanding of the context. Moving towards the solution describes the in-situ design process which culminates in the presentation of a solution, the "Seeing a Favela Environment Handbook" as a "Tool" for replicable use in similar communities. A critical aspect of the "Tool" is its focus on visual methods which capture Rei do Gado's environment and define a way forward as seen through the eyes of local residents.