From Immobilized to Empowered: Beneficiary Mobilization in PAH

This chapter analyzes the processes through which PAH empowers passively recruited newcomers from immobilized individuals into active participants. It conceptualizes empowerment as both a personal and organizational phenomenon, emerging from the relational dynamics of care embedded in PAH’s practices. On a personal level, the chapter explores how emotional, identity, and participatory care enable individuals to overcome feelings of shame, isolation, and helplessness, rebuilding their self-esteem and fostering agency. On an organizational level, it highlights how PAH’s collective practices—such as assemblies, eviction blockades, and training sessions—create an environment that supports participation, facilitates skill-building, and cultivates leadership. The chapter explores how emotional, identity, and participatory care interact to address the biographical, structural and personal barriers that hinder mobilization. By detailing the journey from passive beneficiary to empowered activist, the chapter highlights the relational dynamics of care that foster personal transformation and collective commitment. It further examines how PAH’s practices enable members to navigate barriers to participation and take ownership of their struggles, ultimately contributing to the organization’s capacity to sustain contentious collective action.