Title: Transformative Education through PLAY and Action: The Brincadas Project and Colina’S Response to Social and Environmental Vulnerabilities

This paper presents the Brincadas Project and its role in transforming education through play and collective action to address social and environmental vulnerabilities in São Paulo, Brazil. The project established Collectives of Investigation and Action (COLINA), which engage participants in community-based efforts to foster agency and resistance in marginalized groups, including Indigenous, Quilombola, and urban communities. Grounded in Vygotsky's (1933/1991) theories of play and Freire's (1970) concept of the inédito viável, the project emphasizes critical reflection and collective action as essential elements for creating viable futures. Informed by Critical Collaborative Research (Magalhães, 2011), the Brincadas Project integrates collaborative inquiry to empower participants and challenge social injustices. In 2023 and 2024, COLINA participants co-created sustainable solutions to local problems such as water scarcity and cultural exclusion. The concept of Good Living (Krenak, 2020) guided the project’s focus on ecological and social justice, fostering collective empowerment and engagement. The outcomes demonstrate the potential for educational interventions to contribute to lasting social transformation, particularly within marginalized communities. This presentation will explore how the Brincadas Project promotes engaged pedagogy, as advocated by Freire, through the use of play and collaborative inquiry, aligning with the conference's goals of advancing justice-driven educational practices.