Abstract
OBJECTIVES: to describe the development and implementation of a project aimed at empowering entrepreneurial women in vulnerable communities. METHODS: this experience report details an extension project conducted in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, in 2021. The project was a collaboration among nursing faculty and students, community leaders, and public and private institutions. RESULTS: a mapping process gathered information to produce a situational diagnosis of the women entrepreneurs, who participated in workshops on economics, business management, and health. The collaborative network facilitated the legal establishment of a cooperative of seamstresses. The project demonstrated transformative potential by fostering engagement in vulnerable communities and exposing students to issues that significantly affect well-being and quality of life, particularly for women. CONCLUSIONS: the project's implementation provides a foundation for future health professionals to act critically and proactively, focusing on human and social dimensions and contributing to the effective achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.