Wangari Maathai

1940 - 2011
Resilience and Teamwork

“You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people, you inform them, and you help them understand that these resources are their own, that they must protect them.”

Who Am I?

Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan social, environmental and political activist and the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. She was also the first woman in East Africa to earn a doctorate and gain a PhD from the University of Nairobi in 1971. In 1977, she founded the Green Belt Movement, a group that planted trees to prevent deforestation in Kenya.

What Am I Known For?

Since then, more than 40 million trees have been planted across Kenya. Wangari was arrested and even attacked for being against developments that would harm the environment, but she never gave up the fight to save her country’s landscape. She believed in the ‘Power of One’, and her resilience proved that while every person can make a difference, we are a force when we work together.

She travelled the world campaigning for action to be taken on climate change and environmental justice. Wangari was also extremely passionate about advocating for good governance and women’s rights, and her legacy has empowered many to do the same and make a difference regardless of their circumstances.

How About You?

Do just one thing! How can you be a climate communicator? Use your character strengths to find one thing that you can do to spread the word about taking positive action for the environment.

Other Amazing People (you can find them on the website)

Rachel Carson is another inspiring environmentalist worth exploring. She was a scientist who helped to bring awareness and urgency to the environmental movement through her writing.

You could also talk about another amazing African woman, Queen Anna Nzinga Mbande. She was an African warrior queen who fought to protect her people from being taken into slavery.

Other Useful Resources (available on the website)

Find out about some other Amazing Africans in our free resource. Subscribers can find this helpful resource by logging in and going to the ‘search’ page. If you are not a subscriber, you can access this resource, and many more, by starting a free trial.

Photo: Nobel Committee, CC BY-SA 4.0