Entrepreneurial opportunities for the inmates in Cavite, Philippines

Abstract

The Cavite Provincial Jail Management Office has a common objective of providing livelihood opportunities amongst its inmates. In support of this objective, a research was conducted to determine the socio-demographic and socio-economic profiles of the inmates, their willingness and readiness to become entrepreneurs and to recommend programmes for the development of their entrepreneurial capability. These programmes were based on the inmates' own preference for ventures and designed to enhance their livelihood. The entrepreneurial skills of inmates were measured in terms of the seminars and training attended, their creativity, innovativeness, business know how, knowledge in sourcing capital, product making, managing employees, recording financial transactions and selling products and services while their entrepreneurial traits was measured in terms of their self-awareness, self-motivation, industry and passion for business, persistence despite failure, strategist and their high determination to succeed (Gabor, 2005). The research utilized the causal/explanatory methodology to ascertain if the independent variables, socio-demographic characteristics of inmates and their entrepreneurial traits and skills could determine the entrepreneurial willingness and readiness of the inmates. Findings of the research conclude that the highest number of respondents were predominantly young male who believed that they were of above average, eager to learn and had passion for business. In terms of entrepreneurial traits identified, respondents scored highest in 'ability to sell products and services and followed by "business knowledge and product making. The research also recommended that the livelihood programme be enhanced by leveraging on the skills of business executives by connecting them to the inmates, and sustained financially by business organisations which are willing to hire programme participants upon their release, or assist them with job leads or serve as a mentor or teach them entrepreneurship and the like.