Thesis (D. Min.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2001. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-191).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2001. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-191).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2001. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-191).

Urban poverty in the Philippines is strikingly manifested with the problem of street children. The labour of children is significant because of marginal household incomes. This thesis is an assessment of the credit program of one community based Non-Government Organization in Manila. The Family and Children for Empowerment (FCED), attempts to augment household incomes through the provision of low interest loans to women for informal micro-enterprises. The study is exploratory. The results reveal that most beneficiaries have achieved an income high enough to prevent their children from working and give families the opportunity to improve their standards of living. However, limitations exist in the informal sector which hinder the expansion and stability of the enterprises. Also, the cooperative credit program itself is at a critical stage. The study finds an urgent need for the cooperative to implement measures for capital build-up if it wants to continue to subsidize and provide its low interest credit loans to urban poor petty traders and products.

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