Sewing and Fashion Courses at Usinas da Paz Train Over 5,000 Students in the First Semester
Training offered by Sectet provides productive inclusion, sustainability, and income generation in Pará
In the first semester of 2025, over 5,000 students completed the free and open Sewing and Fashion courses offered at Usinas da Paz, in an initiative promoted by the Government of Pará, through the State Secretariat for Science, Technology, and Higher, Professional, and Technological Education (Sectet), as part of the Professional Qualification Axis. The training takes place in the Sewing & Fashion Laboratories, installed in various regions, expanding access to technical training and creative entrepreneurship.
More than 350 classes were completed during the period. The content included everything from basic sewing concepts to creative cutting and sewing, advanced modeling techniques, sustainable fashion, and entrepreneurship. The course caters to a diverse audience, prioritizing financial autonomy, productive inclusion, and strengthening the local economy through professionalization.
The head of Sectet, Victor Dias, emphasizes the social and economic reach of the Program. "The Sewing and Fashion course is more than technical qualification; it is a tool for transformation for those seeking to qualify. It brings dignity and real opportunities to those who need it most. When we talk about sewing and fashion, it's not just about learning a trade; it's about transforming people's lives, generating income, and strengthening local businesses," says the secretary.
Space for Everyone - The coordinator of the Sewing and Fashion Axis at Sectet, Julie de Lima, emphasizes that the course structure was designed to cater to different levels of knowledge and foster entrepreneurship.
“We have open courses that welcome everyone from those who have never picked up a needle to those who already sew and want to professionalize. Besides the technical part, we cover concepts of sustainable fashion, fabric reuse, and business models. It’s a complete cycle of empowerment and income generation,” guarantees Julie de Lima.
For many students, the training represents a turning point. This is the case of Darlene Santos, a nutritionist, who recently completed the Creative Cutting and Sewing course at the Usina da Paz in the Guamá neighborhood of Belém. “I have always liked to sew, but I didn’t know how to make patterns, calculate measurements, those things. The course opened a new world for me. I found the opportunity to learn to make with my own hands, to have the joy of seeing my work finished and my daughter wearing the clothes that her own mother made. I am preparing to start my own business,” informs Darlene.
Ancestry - In Bragança, in the Rio Caeté Integration Region (northeast Pará), journalist Brunno Favacho completed the Basic Modeling course and says he found in sewing a form of personal expression and emotional connection.
“I have always wanted to start sewing studies for several reasons. One of them is to produce my own clothes in a unique and authorial way. Another is to maintain the connection with my paternal grandmother, who passed away about 20 years ago and sewed for the whole family. Sewing is an ancestral practice that has been lost every day with technological advances. Therefore, I believe that the course has this unique importance of perpetuating knowledge and encouraging new practitioners, as well as making new sources of income possible for interested individuals, whether they are starting from scratch or seeking improvement,” he emphasizes.
Sectet's expectation is that the course will reach over 8,000 certified students by the end of the year, consolidating the Sewing & Fashion Laboratory as a reference in technical qualification and encouragement of entrepreneurship in Pará.
Service: Registrations for new courses are still open, according to the schedule of Usinas da Paz. To participate, just go in person to one of the Usinas and bring the necessary documents for registration: originals and copies of ID, CPF, and proof of residence.
Text: Carla Couto/Ascom Sectet
