Establishing self-help groups of women headed household in zone 17 of Tehran city, a step towards empowering women

Unemployment as a social problem is the priority for the residents of zone17 of Tehran. The aim of this intervention was to empower breadwinner women, to organize self-help groups and to support them as a short-term strategy for vulnerable women in the community of zone 17 of Tehran city. Community based participatory method was used. Target population consisted of 30 breadwinner women and women headed household in zone 17. They were identified by Emdad Committee, Social Services and Social Welfare organizations. Women headed household and related governmental and non-governmental organizations as providers of opportunities for target group were identified. Continuing participation and encouragement of stakeholders in empowering process were ensured. Engaging and collaborating among self-help groups and supportive organizations could solve the social problems.