Delivery of public daycare centers in Marabá and Igarapé-Açu transforms the lives of families in Pará
Mothers point to state investment as a strengthening of early childhood education, in addition to representing more tranquility and security for caregivers during working hours
The little Ana Melissa, 4 years old, is one of the children enrolled at the Professor Edivan Alves Pereira Daycare, a new unit of the 'Daycares All Over Pará' program, in Marabá, in the southeastern region of the State, delivered just over a month ago. For her mother, teacher Siléia Rodrigues, this opportunity for expansion and access to early childhood education is the realization of a dream for many families in Pará.
"Knowing that I can work and that my daughter is being cared for in a wonderful environment, with highly qualified professionals, brings us security and peace of mind. The new daycare has physical structure and pedagogical quality that is on par with any private unit. Just gratitude for this excellent initiative," she celebrates.
The program, according to Ricardo Sefer, Secretary of State for Education (Seduc), represents a milestone in the policy of valuing early childhood in Pará. "By expanding access to welcoming and learning spaces, we ensure that our children have comprehensive development from an early age, also strengthening the bond with families. We continue to work so that with each new daycare delivered, it is more than just a physical structure; it is a space of care, affection, and opportunities for the future of our children," he says.
Lucyenne Souza, mother of Luna, 5 years old, also enrolled in the Marabá unit, highlights the transformation in the structure of the unit, which has ceased to be inadequate and has become a dignified space. "Nowadays, my daughter says she won't miss school because it's wonderful, it's beautiful, it has a court, garden, park, multifunctional room, play areas, and that makes me very happy as a mother. The program is wonderful and should be expanded more and more," she points out.
Built, equipped by the State Government, and handed over to municipal administrations, the new daycare centers in Pará, in Marabá and Igarapé-Açu, have the capacity to serve up to 200 children aged 0 to 5 years. In total, more than R$ 7 million were invested in the new units, which especially benefit families in situations of social vulnerability, who need a safe and comfortable structure to leave their young children and reintegrate into the job market.
Delivered on August 29 of this year, the Municipal Daycare Professor Maria de Fátima dos Santos Tavares, in Igarapé-Açu, is the 12th unit built by the current State Government within the program. In addition to the two new units, daycare centers have also been delivered in Belém, Oriximiná, Ananindeua, Benevides, Redenção, Cumaru do Norte, Bannach, Almeirim, Melgaço, and Curuçá.
Nursing technician Jaqueline Naiara, mother of Jhully, 2 years old, enrolled in the Igarapé-Açu daycare, has already noticed advances in her daughter's development after a month of activities. "Many mothers stop working because of their children, and now, with this support, they will be able to go out to work and leave the children under the care of qualified and responsible people. My daughter already shows greater capacity for socialization with other children, and we are very happy to see each step in her development," she states.
Mother of Ana Flávia, 4 years old, administrative assistant Vilziane Santos, emphasizes her happiness with the delivery of the daycare in Igarapé-Açu. "Before, to be able to work, I had to pay someone to take care of my daughter. Today, I no longer need to, because she stays at the daycare, where she is well cared for, in a suitable place for her age, with more stimuli for speech development and interaction with other people. This program is a thousand points, because the children are privileged with learning," she concludes.
