The Pittek Group of Beaders in Jinja

Background, Purpose and Programs
The Pittek group of beaders is located in Jinja Uganda and has over 80 members. Most of the women are Acholi women from northern Uganda, and have been living in the Jinja area for ten to twenty years after fleeing their ancestral villages in the north because of the internal war that has been going on there for the past twenty years. Pittek was founded by the women in 1995 as a support group for each other and also to enable members to obtain micro-credit loans. Many of the women have lost husbands, children and family members to the war, as a result of HIV/AIDS, and due to diseases that are all too common for those living in poverty. As a reflection of this, the women chose “Pittek” which is a Luo word meaning “upbringing is difficult” as their group name.

The Pittek women unite and empower each other, provide a means where the women’s voices can be heard, promote each individual member’s talents, and undertake group projects to generate income and help the community. The group meets weekly and offers its members a variety of programs including:

•  Adult literacy classes in both English and Luo

•  HIV/AIDS education and testing

•  Computer and internet training

•  Tailoring classes –beginner, intermediate and advanced

•  Tutoring instruction and Saturday activities for their children

•  Forum to sell members’ beaded jewelry and tailored products (visit our online store to buy some of their products)

The Pittek group has also offered help to other women’s groups in Jinja, and has also been a resource, and provided training to the Rwot-tek group in Kitgum.