New Entrepreneurship Education Programs Empower Prisoners and Local Businesses in Brazil
Brazil advances entrepreneurship education through a prison business program in Minas Gerais and a local business strengthening event in São Cristóvão, empowering inmates and entrepreneurs alike.
- • The 'Introdução ao Mundo dos Negócios' program educates around 505 inmates across 43 prisons in Minas Gerais about entrepreneurship and ethics.
- • The program includes a five-hour course with practical training for prison staff, highlighting education's role in inmate reintegration.
- • São Cristóvão hosted its 3rd Entrepreneurship Week featuring workshops on legal compliance and emotional intelligence for business owners.
- • The event promoted female entrepreneurship through Sebrae Delas and emphasized micro-entrepreneur support as key to job creation.
Key details
Recent initiatives in Brazil are making significant strides in promoting entrepreneurship education and strengthening local business development. In Minas Gerais, the 'Introdução ao Mundo dos Negócios' program is being implemented in 43 prisons as part of a partnership between the Secretaria de Estado da Justiça e Segurança Pública de Minas Gerais (Sejusp MG) and Junior Achievement Minas Gerais (JAMG). This program educates around 505 inmates on entrepreneurship, ethics, and innovation through a five-hour educational course, also training prison staff to facilitate these sessions. An online event held on September 30 featured testimonials from participants who highlighted the program's positive impact on creating opportunities post-incarceration. Miriam Célia dos Santos, director of Teaching and Professionalization at Depen-MG, emphasized education as the most effective means of transforming inmates, while Secretary Rogério Greco noted the partnership's importance in providing practical tools for a better future (Source 95794).
Simultaneously, the 3rd Entrepreneurship Week in São Cristóvão showcased the municipality’s commitment to local business development over two days of workshops and lectures. Topics included legal compliance under the updated NR1 regulation and the significance of emotional intelligence in business management. Josenito Oliveira, municipal secretary, stressed supporting micro-entrepreneurs as vital for job creation. Sebrae representatives highlighted the need for companies to comply with psychosocial risk assessments starting in 2026 to avoid penalties. The event also promoted female entrepreneurship through the Sebrae Delas program, introduced by Mariana Araújo. Participants like Tereza Rachel credited the program with helping transform her business from micro-entrepreneurship to owning a Temporary Work Company (Source 95798).
Together, these initiatives reinforce the role of entrepreneurship education as a transformative tool both within prison systems and community economic development, illustrating diverse approaches to empowering individuals and boosting local economies in Brazil.