From suffering to empowerment

This paper evaluates the impacts of the Brincadas Project/ COLINA (Collectives of Investigation and Action), with a particular focus on the COLINA Remo and COLINA Demétrio initiatives, through the lenses of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the cultural significance of Pretuguese. The project employed a variety of multimodal expressions — including text, image, sound, movement, and gesture — to effectively convey ethical-political suffering and the corresponding actions taken to address these issues. By harnessing these diverse modes of expression, the project empowered participants to articulate their experiences, confront social injustices, and engage with critical issues such as violence, environmental racism, and water scarcity. The innovative use of Brazilian Portuguese, expressed through the concept of Pretuguese, played a central role in enabling participants to challenge systemic oppression and assert their cultural identities in transformative ways. Methodologically, this paper draws on Engaged Multiliteracy to promote critical reflection and foster social change. The findings underscore the project’s alignment with key SDGs, particularly in its promotion of culturally resonant practices that contribute to sustainable and equitable development. Through this lens, the paper demonstrates how language and cultural expression, as embodied in Pretuguese, can serve as powerful tools for community empowerment and social transformation. The Brincadas Project, therefore, offers a compelling model for future educational initiatives aimed at achieving the SDGs, highlighting the critical intersection of language, culture, and social justice.