Introduction:

The university is an instrument of social change, capable of bringing new thoughts and critical analyses to the community. With the expansion of the feminist movement in Brazil, the discussion about gender relations has increased, with demands for symmetrical relations, juxtaposing university spaces to such demands. In this context, in the university games between medical schools (Intermed), violence against women has become evident, with the need for a center able to provide protection to students and promote changes in the accomplishment of such events. Based on this reality, the idea of the “Count on Me” project has emerged.

Experience report:

At the organization of “Intermed” 2017, a group of women proposed to construct an environment where the participants could find safeguard in an oppressor context. A support tent was created, in which complaints of transgressions that occurred during the event would be heard. To optimize the approach to specific complaints, training was carried out together with the Special Police Force for Women’s Assistance for the project volunteers, in addition to the creation of a network of which function during the event was: to provide an emergency care shift in the tent; Minute Book for the recording of complaints and ornaments to identify the volunteers. In 2018, the participants of “Count on Me” project helped in the drafting of the statute that regulates the organization of “Intermed”, assigning punishments to some types of violence. Additionally, this document formalized the requirement for a physical space for the project in all editions.

Discussion:

In a few years, the “Count on Me” project established itself as an apparatus for the safety and well-being of the female participants. As violence against women is a public health problem, this innovative measure showed to be effective in confronting sexism.

Conclusion:

Even though the implementation of “Count on Me” project can be considered a success, multiple efforts are still necessary to make the university environment a fair one for all students, which depends on the volunteers’ engagement with frequent trainings, the education of male students regarding the cause, to the coordination of Medical Schools that have the obligation to provide the best possible environment for all students.

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