"Plataforma de saberes": um relato de caso para repensar a produção de conhecimento, empoderamento comunitário e vulnerabilidade estrutural em iniciativas de promoção de saúde e educação

This article describes the development, implementation and evaluation of an international course dedicated to the involvement of the scientific community with society in the production of knowledge related to the processes of social determination of health / health promotion. The international course was carried out within the scope of the “Plataforma de Saberes” research project based at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, in partnership with the University of Coimbra and with the participation of members of community groups, civil society, several researchers and academic actors, including postgraduate students. Inspired by Paulo Freire's work on empowerment and using traditional participatory methodologies, we discuss strategies that promote greater community involvement in health promotion actions, questioning their role in the collaborative production of knowledge and in clinical research in infectious diseases. The course reinforced forms of collective sociability and strengthened the sharing of knowledge and experiences by the community participants, contributing to their action as community health promoters. This experience exposed the need for these types of meetings and interactions and the importance of initiatives dedicated to individual and collective empowerment, equity and solidarity, and active participation in the production of relevant knowledge for solving problems that affect health and well- being, through a greater community involvement in health science education.