AUTODECLARAÇÃO EM DEBATE: EXPERIÊNCIA DE CURRICULARIZAÇÃO DA EXTENSÃO NA FORMAÇÃO HUMANÍSTICA EM ODONTOLOGIA

Curricularization of university extension promotes integration between universities and society, contributing to critical and humanistic education. This study reports the experience of the extension activity “Self-Declaration in Debate: An Interdisciplinary Strategy,” developed at the School of Dentistry of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), addressing ethnic-racial relations, identity, and representation. From June 2024 to June 2026, 133 dental students conducted workshops with 219 children and adolescents attending the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic. Activities were organized into three stages—reflect, express, and share—and involved drawings, self-portraits, dialogue, and pencils representing different skin tones. Among the children, 60,7% had never heard about race or ethnicity, 33,3% were unable to identify their ethnic-racial identity, and 58,45% considered lighter skin tones more beautiful. Among students, 57,9% positively evaluated extension curricularization for their education, while 72,9% considered discussions of racism relevant to their training. Extension activities can foster antiracist education, humanistic training, equity, and social inclusion.