Jean Pruitt (17 October 1939 – 10 September 2017) was an
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
Maryknoll Sister
__NOTOC__
The Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic, or simply Maryknoll Sisters, are a group of Roman Catholic religious women founded in the village of Ossining, Westchester County, New York, in 1912, six months after the 1911 creation of the Marykno ...
operating in
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam (; from ar, دَار السَّلَام, Dâr es-Selâm, lit=Abode of Peace) or commonly known as Dar, is the largest city and financial hub of Tanzania. It is also the capital of Dar es Salaam Region. With a population of over s ...
,
Tanzania
Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...
. She was best known for her activism in promoting Tanzanian art and defending Tanzanian
children's rights
Children's rights are a subset of human rights with particular attention to the rights of special protection and care afforded to minors. . She worked with the Maryknoll
Sisters and the
Roman Catholic Church of Tanzania from 1969, and she received several awards for her contributions to Tanzanian society and culture.
Early life
Pruitt completed her studies at the Nativity School in Los Angeles in 1953 and at the
Bishop Conaty High School in 1957. In 1958, she joined the Maryknoll Sisters in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
, and by 1967 she graduated from Mary Rogers University (
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
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Film and television
* '' ...
) with a bachelor's degree in Education. The following year, she completed her studies in Social Works at the
University at Buffalo in New York City.
In Tanzania
In 1969, Pruitt was sent to Tanzania by the Maryknoll Sisters to work with the local Roman Catholic Church. She began her activity in Tanzania in the
Catholic Relief Services, operating in favor of the healthy development of Tanzanian youth and children. Since her very early years in Tanzania, she founded a number of organizations intended to support young Tanzanian artists. The best known such organization is the
Nyumba ya Sanaa (founded in 1972), an art workshop in Dar es Salaam. The same year she also founded the Tanzanian branch of
Caritas, and in 1988 she was cofounder of the Tanzania Mozambique Friendship Association (TAMOFA). In 1992 she founded the Dogodogo Centre, an organization specifically established to support the increasing number of
street children in Dar es Salaam city.
In 2000, Pruitt became Governor of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC-Africa). In this organization she started several programs, including a successful "Education for Peace Program" for educating children and youth about diversity, tolerance and conflict resolution.
Pruitt is also one of the founding members of the Stepping Stone Trust Fund that supports vulnerable children and youth in Tanzania.
Recognized artists she discovered
Through her many activities in support of Tanzanian art, and especially so after opening the
Nyumba ya Sanaa, Pruitt discovered a number of talents that later received national and international acclaim. The most notable such artist is the painter and sculptor
George Lilanga
George Lilanga (1934 – 27 June 2005) was a Tanzanian painter and sculptor, active from the late 1970s and until the early 21st century. He belonged to the Makonde people and lived most of his life in Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanza ...
. Patrick Francis Imanjama is another recognized artist, well known for his paintings, book drawing and etching abilities. Like Lilanga, Patrick Imanjama was supported by Pruitt and with her help was able to hold exhibitions abroad (in Germany, Austria and New York City). Other artists discovered by Pruitt include Augustino Malaba, Henry Likonde and Edward Kiiza.
Awards
As an acknowledgement of her many contributions to the Tanzanian community, Pruitt has received several awards. In 1983 she was awarded the Tanzanian National Award by President
Julius Nyerere for her contribution to the development of the Tanzanian Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO). On 17 December 2005 she also received the National ZEZE Award for her work in supporting Tanzanian artists and culture.
External links
Maryknoll SistersBrief comments about Jean PruittJean Pruitt on Stepping Stones Trust FundJean Pruitt on Maryknoll Sisters' siteAugustino Malaba from Nyumba ya Sanaa, and artist promoted by Jean Pruitt
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pruitt, Jean
1939 births
2017 deaths
Maryknoll Sisters
Activists from Los Angeles
University at Buffalo alumni
American expatriates in Tanzania
20th-century American Roman Catholic nuns
21st-century American Roman Catholic nuns
Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School alumni