Usina da Paz celebrates 3 years of transformations in the Bengui neighborhood
The citizenship complex has over 1 million services provided and a historic reduction in crime rates
“Revolution!” This was the word chosen by housewife Teresa de Jesus Ferreira, a resident of the Bengui neighborhood in Belém for 45 years, to define the importance of the Usina da Paz Padre Bruno Sechi. The state citizenship complex celebrates its third anniversary this Sunday (4), established as a reference in service and opportunity generation for residents of the neighborhood and neighboring communities.
“The Usina da Paz allowed me to learn many new things that I didn’t know before. It is an important space that has revolutionized many lives here in the neighborhood, like mine and my family’s, because here we take courses, get consultations, and also have access to document issuance,” Teresa said.
Inaugurated on May 4, 2022, the UsiPaz Padre Bruno Sechi was the fourth unit delivered by the Government of the State of Pará and the second located in the capital. The structure is modern and spacious, featuring a multi-sport gym, a grass football field, a swimming pool, a sand court, audiovisual and digital inclusion rooms. There are also spaces equipped for health services, document issuance, legal consulting, technical and vocational training, as well as rooms for dance, theater, robotics, martial arts, music education, a library, and a multi-purpose space for events.
With over 70 services offered for free, the unit has surpassed 1.1 million services since its inauguration, covering areas such as health, education, sports, leisure, culture, and professional qualification.
Learning Place
Resident Cássia Moraes reports that, through the courses offered by UsiPaz, she was able to fulfill her dream of starting a business selling her crafts, increasing her family’s income.
“At the Usina, I made friends and fulfilled my desire to join a group of women entrepreneurs, where today I can work with crafts and participate in fairs to sell my products,” explained Cássia.
Student and athlete Felipe Oliveira, from the volleyball class, highlighted the importance of the Usina for local youth. “Here I learned to play volleyball and I am improving my skills. The Usina has provided many learnings, not just for me, but for many young people here in the neighborhood,” he said.
For housewife Márcia Freitas, the complex has provided unprecedented opportunities for residents. “The Usina brought several benefits that we, residents, did not have access to before. Previously, the neighborhood did not have a place like this for children and young people to play or practice other activities, and the Usina da Paz brought us that. It is a place that involves the whole community, regardless of age,” she stated.
Public Safety
In the field of public safety, the Usina da Paz has also proven effective in reducing crime rates in the Bengui neighborhood since its implementation.
Data from the State Secretariat for Public Security and Social Defense (Segup) indicate that, in the first quarter of this year, the neighborhood recorded a 100% reduction in Intentional Lethal Violent Crimes (CVLI), as well as a 23.5% decrease in robbery cases compared to the same period in 2024.
Throughout 2024, the CVLI rate fell by 90.47%, while robbery records decreased by 74.56%.
According to the State Secretary for Citizenship Coordination, the data proves the effectiveness of the Usinas da Paz in combating crime. “This is a moment to celebrate the three years of Usina da Paz here in the Bengui neighborhood, a project that proves that well-structured public policies can transform realities, ensuring dignity, opportunities, and hope for people.”
The Secretary of Public Security and Social Defense, Ualame Machado, reinforced the positive impact of the Territories for Peace (TerPaz) program, of which the Usinas da Paz are a part. According to him, crime has been significantly reduced in the neighborhoods where the project has been implemented.
He also highlighted the investments made in the area in recent years. “Alongside the Usina da Paz project and TerPaz, we have made investments in training our staff and acquiring equipment, so they can provide an increasingly better service, closer to the population and more effective in meeting demands,” he concluded.
