Strengthening Digital Business Literacy and Economic Empowerment of Female Inmates Through the BERDIKARI Program

Sherly Ernawaty Susanto, Zerah Elisa Derek, Rosary Patricia Mekel, Najwa Amalia Bachdar

Abstract


Female inmates at Rumah Tahanan Kelas II A Manado often have limited access to learning resources to improve digital business knowledge and productive skills that can support employment opportunities after release. This condition highlights the gap between the need for sustainable economic empowerment programs and the availability of practical training that prepares female inmates for post release independence. This community service activity was conducted through the BERDIKARI program with the objectives to improve marketing knowledge for operating digital businesses, improve business communication skills, develop marketable handicraft skills, and maintain long term entrepreneurial interest among female inmates. The novelty of this program lies in the integration of digital business seminars, hands on handicraft training, and participatory empowerment through a PAR based intensive intervention model in a correctional setting. This program used a Participatory Action Research (PAR) design with three cycles consisting of needs assessment, program implementation, and evaluation. Information was collected from 22 female inmates through pre and post activity Likert scale questionnaires and observation. The results showed significant improvements in marketing knowledge, communication skills, handicraft skills, and entrepreneurial interest, with an overall mean increase of 50.85 percentage points. Participant satisfaction reached 87.4%, indicating that the program was relevant to participants’ needs and future livelihood preparation. This activity demonstrates that a participatory digital business empowerment model combined with practical skills training can strengthen economic readiness and support social reintegration among female inmates. The program contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 5 on Gender Equality by improving entrepreneurial capacity and digital skills among vulnerable women.


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33474/penadimas.v4i2.30775

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