1. The document discusses entrepreneurship in Belize, noting that it has become a popular way for individuals to create self-employment opportunities given Belize's high unemployment rate of around 20%. 2. It summarizes an article that discusses how Belizean women's involvement in entrepreneurship has grown due to support from the government and other organizations, and how some female entrepreneurs have achieved international success. 3. While praising support for female entrepreneurs, the reflection argues that programs should also support unemployed Belizean men to promote greater economic equity and sustainability.

1. JOURNAL REPORT ON ENTREPRENEURIAL ENTERPRISE IN BELIZE
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1.0 BACKGROUND
Entrepreneurial enterprise is generally, defined as the creation of economic opportunities and
self-employment by creative and innovative individuals as opposed to seeking regular public or
private sector employment. Entrepreneurship thus, is characterized by self-motivated ambition,
risk taking and the drive to succeed against all odds. Belize as a small emerging Central
American, Caribbean and Latin American country, continues to grow and evolve economically in
the 21st century global economy and entrepreneurial enterprise has become a widely popular
alternative means of employment and poverty alleviation especially among women and youth:
rural and urban alike. This has resulted in the gradual rise of self-employment due to a high
unemployment rate pegged roughly at 20%.
2.0 SUMMARY OF ARTICLE: “THE WOMAN IN BUSINESS”- FEATURED IN BELIZEINVEST
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE: SEPTEMBER 2014
THE WOMAN IN BUSINESS
An entrepreneurcanbe definedasanindividual withcreative andinnovative businessideaswhichthey
develop,create employment with,empowerthemselves,andcontribute tothe country’seconomic
development.The role andeconomiccontributionsof Belizeanwomenentrepreneurs,continuesto
evolve andsteadilygrow due tothe Governmentof Belize,SBDC-BELTRAIDE,andotherdevelopmental
organizations’supportandfunding,ismeanttopromote,enhance andencourage women’seconomic
contributionsthroughentrepreneurial ventures.The Governmentof Belize’s regional participationand
promotionof economicProjectsandProgramsgearedtoempowerwomenentrepreneurs,hascreated
more opportunitiesforlocal women to developandshow case theirbusinessideasto meetregional
and internationalstandards.InnovationamongBelizeanwomenentrepreneurshasbeendemonstrated
inthe meteoricrise of local brandscreatedbywomen:like,MarieSharpandWOW soysauce on the
international andglobal marketscene.Non-governmentaland regional economicdevelopmental
ProjectsandPrograms, is creatingmore opportunitiesforBelizeanwomenentrepreneurs’involvement
ineconomicactivitiesasself-employedindividuals. There however,isneedformore local communities’
supportfor female entrepreneurswhose social roleasmothers andwives,stillpresentssome challenges
to theireconomicparticipation. Measuresandsuggestionshave beenputinplace throughregional co-
operationinMicro enterprise developmentplanswhichpromotewomen’sengaging inentrepreneurial
enterpriseswiththeirDominicanRepublicand Guatemalancounterpartsonthe Westernborderof the
country. Belizeanwomenentrepreneursare graduallygettingrecognitionfortheirdeterminationwhich
continuestosee theireconomiccontributionstoBelizeancommunitiesincrease steadily.

2. JOURNAL REPORT ON ENTREPRENEURIAL ENTERPRISE IN BELIZE
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3.0 OBSERVATIONS
a) The article primarily, discusses how Belizean women’s entrepreneurial role and
participation in economic development of the country, has developed and steadily
grown over the years.
b) Belizean women’s involvement in entrepreneurial enterprise is in line with global
economic trends as 33% of the world, are female entrepreneurs.
c) Women’s involvement and participation in economic development has always been as a
part time, a second profession or a last option to avoid poverty.
d) Current global entrepreneurial involvement of women in economic development has
however, seen a gradual social, economic and cultural shift in Belizean women’s
involvement in the country’s economic growth.
e) The Government of Belize, SBDC-BELTRAIDE, regional and international development
organizations have promoted, funded, facilitated and encouraged more involvement of
Belizean women in entrepreneurial activities to foster and promote national economic
growth.
f) The Corozal Cooperative Productive Women’s Project and Marie Sharp are local
examples of women entrepreneurs who through hard work and determination, have
proved to other Belizean women and the rest of the world, that women entrepreneurs
call become successful business people and become international household brands.
g) Belizean women entrepreneurs, are already making a strong economic contribution to
the country as a whole, and have built stronger families and communities.
h) Belizean women entrepreneurs like women elsewhere in the world, face the challenges
of their social roles as wives, mothers and business people.
i) Measures have been put in place through regional cooperation projects to involve
Belizean’s emerging women entrepreneurs in needs- based Training programs to meet
international standards.

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4.0 REFLECTION
The need to involve and encourage Belizean women in entrepreneurial enterprises has been
necessitated by a growing global trend in the rise of poverty and unemployment. Belizean
women as elsewhere in the world, have for long suffered social and economic marginalization
due to social norms and values of a male dominated society. Notably, has been the
Government of Belize, SBDC-BELTRAIDE and other non-governmental development
organizations’ promoting Projects and Programs to encourage Women’s participation in
economic activities. This is a normal, natural and economically prudent move which in the long
run, will create wealthy through women empowerment. Women entrepreneurs have been
noted to boost economic growth better than men. In keeping with this widely true economic
fact, the Government of Belize in my opinion, are sadly missing the overall objective of
entrepreneurial enterprise through their calculated and obvious neglect and non-involvement
of the hundreds of hungry and unemployed Belizean young men in this very important
economic development process.
In my opinion, given how small the Belizean population is, it is necessary and important to
promote, encourage and involve Belizean men in entrepreneurial ventures. I believe it is equally
meaningful to have the current economic Projects and Programs reviewed and involve young
Belizean men in particular for equity and sustainability. It is necessary to conduct extensive
community outreach and involvement Training for these economic Programs to benefit more
Belizeans. There is a lot of economic potential in young and middle aged unemployed Belizean
men; creating their side by side involvement with women entrepreneurs, in economic Projects
and Programs will see Belize benefit more and grow economically. Belize’s promotion of
regional economic cooperation is laudable as the global economy continues to change rapidly.
Economic cooperation between Belizean and Guatemalan women entrepreneurs, definitely, is
a move in the right direction to encourage, enhance and improve political relationships
between our two countries as these has been too much political tension and wrangling over the
Belize- Guatemala border for over two hundred years now.

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5.0 CONCLUSION
Entrepreneurial enterprise in Belize and the world over continues to grow and expand due to
global economic trends. High unemployment rates and poverty have seen the emerging of
determined, highly motivated innovative entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship should not and can
no longer be considered as secondary as it is essential in creating alternative employment,
stronger communities and opportunities for economic participation. The rise of Belizean
women entrepreneurs due to government and non-governmental organizations’ support is
highly commendable. However, it is imperative that these Programs and Projects be made
available and promoted vigorously among unemployed Belizean men for economic equity and
sustainability.
6.0 REFERENCES
1. “The Woman in Business” by Jamil Loskot, Belizeinvest magazine, September 2014,
Volume 3, page 54. www.BELIZEINVEST.ORG.BZ
2. Belizeinvest.net/tag/entrepreneurial
3. www.internationalentrepreneurship.com/americas/belize
4. admin.globaltrade.net/f/business/Belize/Business