Author

Tara J. Vette

Date of Award

12-1996

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Political Science

First Advisor

Dr. Sushi Datta-Sandhu

Second Advisor

Dr. James Butterfield

Third Advisor

Dr. Ken Dahlberg

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

This study is an evaluation of a project conducted by a non-government organization working with single women in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The focus of the evaluation was how Solitas, a non-government organization project approached gender-specific needs of the women. More specifically this study will ascertain if the skills learned by the women were sustainable, the amount of participation in decision making for the project and if the skills taught by the organization led to the participants organizing independently.

This evaluation was conducted by examining the organization's own reports concerning the progress of the project and the organization's gender policy. In addition, a questionnaire was used to survey some of the administrators and volunteer workers who work with the organization on this project.

The findings of this study were that this project needed to continue to have a more lasting impact on the participants, the participants did have a role in making decisions for the project in both formal and informal ways, many basic needs are met such as income earning and health and sanitation through training sessions, while an improvement in literacy was needed among the participants. Finally, the women have organized around some of these practical needs, but have not organized around any political or social issues.

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