The second intern to come to the Institute of Island Studies is Kim D'ambrogi. While in PEI, Kim conducted research into individuals and community groups who have started their own business and microenterprise.
“Expanding the Scope of Micro enterprise: Analysis of micro enterprises and small businesses in the context of insularity and marginalization” aimed to research micro enterprise as a vessel for empowerment and inclusion of marginalized people with regard to economic development and cultural survival. Micro enterprise, is increasingly important, especially for those who are of low income or who inhabit marginalized sectors of society. The research aims to develop an information base that improves understanding of micro enterprise as a strategy to empower certain people in society, for example, people who live on an Island or who reside in rural areas. The research however, will also seek to make information pertinent to more specific groups of marginalized people in society, such as aboriginal people, e.g. the Williche and Mik’maq, landed immigrants, and women.
The goals of this research are to contribute to the programs
of partnering social economy organizations in PEI and Chiloe whose goals
include economic diversification and cultural survival of marginalized and
indigenous communities. The means are through: 1) documentation of
opportunities for community development via further research of potential
product development based on indigenous knowledge of marine plants 2) research into the benefits and
challenges of various micro enterprise models to identify those most suited for
marginalized people in rural and island contexts. 3) To provide inspiration and
practical advice to Social Economy organizations that support CED (community
economic development) to marginalized people on small islands.
Institute of Island Studies