Developing character and entrepreneurship among young men in a fishing community in West Sumatra, Indonesia

摘要

The causes of poverty in fishing communities are frequently multidimensional. Poverty alleviation interventions, however, are often monodimensional, mainly providing physical assets such as fishing equipment. Such interventions fail to address human, social and institutional weaknesses and, perversely, may increase fishing effort and exacerbate poverty. To address one gap in current poverty alleviation efforts, human capacity potential and weaknesses among young men in an Indonesian fishing village were explored, by interviewing youth and elders. A teaching curriculum was developed, which includes practical skills on developing a business, financial management, marketing and material addressing character issues such as honesty, integrity and self-esteem.