Social Entrepreneurship as a Space for Empowerment and Agency Among Youth With Disabilities in Cameroon: A Capability-Oriented Qualitative Study

Abstract

In low-income countries, young persons with disabilities face persistent structural, social, and symbolic barriers that limit their access to economic participation and social recognition. While entrepreneurship is increasingly promoted as a pathway to inclusion, little is known about its potential as a space for empowerment and agency beyond economic outcomes. Drawing on empowerment theory and the capability approach, this qualitative study explores how social entrepreneurship contributes to the development of agency, perceived freedoms, and social inclusion among young persons with disabilities participating in Cameroon’s Plan Triennal Spécial-Jeunes (PTS-Jeunes). Based on semi-structured interviews conducted in the Centre Region of Cameroon, the findings reveal that social entrepreneurship functions as a multidimensional process of empowerment, enabling participants to redefine their social roles, expand their capabilities, and negotiate structural constraints. However, empowerment remains fragile and uneven, highly dependent on collective support structures, institutional arrangements, and social recognition. The study highlights the importance of moving beyond individualistic models of entrepreneurship toward inclusive and capability-enhancing ecosystems.