Understanding Empowerment Through Women-Led Organization Members in Cotabato City, Southern Philippines

Abstract

This study was conducted to describe and verify women led-organization members engagement in empowerment process in Cotabato City. Focus group discussion and individual interviews were used to gather data and were translated and analyzed using qualitative method. Data revealed that women faced powerlessness, financially dependence, and condescension from their husband. However, their engagement in the women-led organization brought changes in their lives. They acquired different program interventions rendered by the different humanitarian agencies. They were exposed to several trainings inside and outside the city, attended extensive education on women’s rights and gender development and received support in micro-finance and skills training.  As a result, these women were capacitated and had realized their potentials. They have demonstrated self-confidence, healthy family relationship, peaceful assertion, positive independence and deeper consciousness. They were appreciative to the Government and Non- Government Organizations for the aid they had provided.