SAMAKANA Samahan ng Maralitang Kababaihang Nagkakaisa and its Effectiveness in Empowering Women and Addressing Issues of the Urban Poor Community

Abstract

This thesis entitled "SAMAKANA: Samahan ng Maralitang Kababaihang Nagkakaisa and its Effectiveness in Empowering Women and Addressing Issues of the Urban Poor Community is a descriptive and analytical study about a women5 s organization in Brgy.101 Vitas, Tondo, Manila. It is an assessment of the effectiveness of an urban poor women's organization in empowering its members and reducing problems of an urban poor community. This study looks into the history of the Brgy. 101 Vitas, Tondo and the conditions of women in the area. It then discusses the programs launched by SAMAKANA which aim to help these women and the community. Finally, it tackles the participation of the members of the organization and their responses to its programs. This study uses qualitative data gathering techniques through focus group discussions, informal interviews, and participant observation. Hence, it employs an interpretive approach in data analysis. The main participants of this study are members of SAMAKANA. The purpose of this study is to understand the living conditions of urban poor women in Vitas, Tondo, and to assess the role of SAMAKANA in uplifting their conditions. This study will provide recommendations for the improvement of the organization based on the data gathered during the course of research.