Self Help Approach Promotion

Self Help Approach (SHA) is a right based approach people’s institution building that are responsive in alleviating poverty situation and any forms of abuses, violence and displacement of women and children.  SHA is based on the two basic principles first; every human being has tremendous, God-given potential; that this hidden potential in the poor can be unleashed if a conducive environment is provided. Second; as individual, the poor are voiceless, powerless and vulnerable; by bringing them together as a homogenous collective that is aware of their rights, they gain tremendous strength and can claim their rights.

SHA focuses on the poorest of the poor communities by bringing people together and empowers them by organizing them into Self Help Groups (SHG) and eventually into Cluster Level Associations (CLA) and Federation. Mutual help are developed to every member and self-worth and trust were built. Their collective and shared power increases, enabling them to access better services as well as claim their right of entitlements. Empowering people’s institution is a process that involves both individuals and communities.  People’s institution of empowerment supported by three solid pillars the Social, Economic and Political empowerment.

Tribal Leaders Development Foundation Incorporated (TLDFI) started the SHA Promotion last September 2009 in the municipalities of Tboli and Lake Sebu with funding and technical support from Kindernothilfe (KNH), an international organization based in Germany that focuses in children. KNH had been promoting SHA both in Asia and Africa. Currently, TLDFI had organized hundreds of SHG and 5 CLA. These organizations had mobilized hundreds of thousands of savings and provided millions of loans to its members, initiated social actions projects and community action projects such as day-care centers, water system, rural electrification, community sanitation, and championing for women’s and children’s rights. To know the SHA experience of Tboli women and the SHG’s and CLA’s, please see them in the Human Interest and Success Stories.