University outreach as an agent of women’s empowerment

Abstract

The extension project “We can: a FEMEC action for women’s independence” was developed to empower women to achieve independence and autonomy in vehicle maintenance. Therefore, this article sought to analyze the impact on the target audience and the role of university outreach project in the external and internal communities of the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), in the state of Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil. Ten free courses were offered on Saturdays at the university campus, combining theoretical and practical classes on basic vehicle maintenance. Designed exclusively for women and taught by female instructors, the program aimed to break gender stereotypes. Two questionnaires were administered for the participants and one for the students involved. The results showed that the project fulfilled its role as an agent of social transformation, providing practical training to students and meeting social demands for women’s empowerment, establishing a meaningful connection with the regional community.