Women Empowerment Through Learning and Livelihood Project (LLP) in Southern Philippines

Abstract

The predominance of men in socioeconomic and political spheres of patriarchal societies creates inertia in the achievement of one of the third Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that relates to the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment. In the Philippines, gender inequality has been a stumbling block in development work involving women and also aggravates transparency. Theory on the vicious circle of poverty posits that individuals and households may fall into the deprivation trap and remain there due to the interweaving operations of isolation (spatial or informational), vulnerability, physical weakness, powerlessness, and poverty itself. Learning and livelihood project (LLP) chose to use informational isolation and powerlessness as entry points for development intervention to help women and to lessen gender inequality. With the idea that women could be empowered via literacy and numeracy trainings, LLP promotes women in project planning and implementation for better transparency in community development works. This chapter examines this empowerment experience of the women involved in the LLP project. In addition, this chapter also argues for encouraging the activities that promote social capital among the women and can be made the launching pad of a cooperative.