wangari maathai accomplishments
Angela Davis is an activist, scholar and writer who advocates for the oppressed. Maathai sought to end the devastation of Kenya's forests and lands caused by development and remedy the negative impact that this development had on the country's environment. https://www.biography.com/activist/wangari-maathai. Writer, feminist and women's rights activist Betty Friedan wrote 'The Feminine Mystique' (1963) and co-founded the National Organization for Women. Dorothy Height was a civil rights and women's rights activist focused primarily on improving the circumstances of and opportunities for African American women. She died on September 25, 2011 in Nairobi, Kenya. She won a scholarship in 1960 to go to college in the United States. Maathai was given the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize for "her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace," according to the Nobel Foundation website. delivered at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in 1851. In 1971 she received a Ph.D. at the University of Nairobi, effectively becoming the first woman in either East or Central Africa to earn a doctorate. Maathai continues to be recognized worldwide for her achievements, although she is … Her mother, Wangari Maathai, was a social, environmental and political activist and the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, in 2004. "Nobody would have bothered me if all I did was to encourage women to plant trees," she later said, according to The Economist. 2003), detailed the history of the organization. Most of Wangari Maathai’s accomplishments are because of her involvement in the philanthropic sector. Maathai continues to be recognized worldwide for her achievements, although she is … Ecologist Wangari Maathai won the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize for her years of work with women to reverse African deforestation. ", Proving to be very successful, the movement is responsible for the planting of more than 30 million trees in Kenya and providing roughly 30,000 women with new skills and opportunities. She was elected to Kenya's National Assembly in 2002 and has written several books and scholarly articles. This forced the family to relocate with him but later returned in 1947, so that her siblings could be able to attain education in th… An outspoken critic of dictator Daniel arap Moi, she was beaten and arrested numerous times. After several failed attempts, she finally earned a seat in the country's parliament that same year. ed. Wangari Maathai (1940–2011), the first woman to obtain a PhD in East and Central Africa, was a scholar, and an environmental and human rights activist. She died on September 25, 2011, at the age of 71 years old. Her campaign drew international attention, and the project was eventually dropped. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Meet extraordinary women who dared to bring gender equality and other issues to the forefront. Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women’s Social and Political Union, whose members — known as suffragettes — fought to enfranchise women in the United Kingdom. Lucy Stone was a leading activist and pioneer of the abolitionist and women's rights movements. The place in the park where she demonstrated became known as "Freedom Corner. Mathai was born and raised in Kenya. All these things weave together. Wangari Maathai was active in the National Council of Women of Kenya in … The legacy of Wangari Maathai, however, remains incomplete. READ MORE. About Wangari Maathai . In both cases, she was the first woman to attain those positions in the region. She was also the first female scholar from East and Central Africa to take a doctorate (in biology), and the first female professor ever in her home country of Kenya. Wangari Maathai obtained a degree in Biological Sciences from Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas (1964). When she was still young at around 1943, he father found some work in a white settlement a town called Nakuru. She founded the Green Belt Movement in the 1970s seeking to promote environmental conservation in Kenya and Africa. An environmentalist works to protect the environment. She was an actress, known for Religion & Ethics Newsweekly(1997), The Challenge for Africa(2009) and The 11th Hour(2007). Avisionary environmentalist, Wangari Maathai created a successful reforestation program that began in Kenya and was adopted in other African nations and the United States. Name: Wangarĩ Muta Maathai Date of Birth: 1 April 1940 Place of Birth: Ihithe village, Tetu division, Nyeri District, Kenya (then known as Nyeri, Kenya Colony) Date of Death: 25 September 2011 (aged 71) Place of Death: The Nairobi Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya Wangari Maathai went to college in the United States, earning degrees from Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas (1964) and the University of … She was an environmentalist but also worked on civil rights, democracy, education and poverty. Maathai was a frequent contributor to international publications such as the Los Angeles Times and the Guardian. Wangari Maathai remains a potent example of how one person can be a force for change. She started at a local primary school when she was 8 years old. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Human rights activist, environmentalist In 2004 Wangari Maathai became an internationally recognized figure by becoming the first black woman and the first environ-mentalist to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Wangari did so much more than create environmental and educational systems. Her work was often considered both unwelcome and subversive in her own country, where her outspokenness constituted stepping far outside traditional gender roles. Wangari Maathai, in full Wangari Muta Maathai, (born April 1, 1940, Nyeri, Kenya—died September 25, 2011, Nairobi), Kenyan politician and environmental activist who was awarded the 2004 Nobel Prize for Peace, becoming the first black African woman to win a Nobel Prize. While working with the National Council of Women of Kenya, Maathai developed the idea that village women could improve the environment by planting trees to provide a fuel source and to slow the processes of deforestation and desertification. 18 Aug. Mary, the hummingbird. Avisionary environmentalist, Wangari Maathai created a successful reforestation program that began in Kenya and was adopted in other African nations and the United States. She made history in 1971, becoming the first woman in East Africa to earn a doctorate degree. Date of Birth: April 1, 1940 Deceased: September 25, 2011 Place of Birth: Nyeri, Kenya Nationality: Kenyan Family: Three children (Waweru, Wanjira, and Muta) and two grandchildren (Ruth Wangari and Elsa Wanjiru) Coretta Scott King was an American civil rights activist and the wife of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Maathai was the first black African woman to win a Nobel prize. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. The first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree. "Wangari overcame incredible obstacles to devote her life to service—service to her children, to her constituents, to the women, and indeed all the people of Kenya—and to the world as a whole,'' according to The New York Times. She began teaching in the Department of Veterinary Anatomy at the University of Nairobi after graduation, and in 1977 she became chair of the department. Leaders of the Green Belt Movement established the Pan African Green Belt Network in 1986 in order to educate world leaders about conservation and environmental improvement. As a result of the movement’s activism, similar initiatives were begun in other African countries, including Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe. Wangari Muta Maathai was born on 1st April 1940. Maathai was educated in the United States at Mount St. Scholastica College (now Benedictine College; B.S. Wangari Muta Maathai is one of Africa’s most celebrated female activists. Biography of Wangari Maathai. In 1971, Wangari Maathai received a Ph.D., effectively becoming the first woman in either East or Central Africa to earn a doctorate. She was calling for the release of political prisoners. This organization helped spread the GBM’s organizational framework and agenda to environmentalists in other sub-saharan countries, under the guidance of Wangari Maathai. Dr. Wangari Muta Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her actions to promote sustainable development, democracy and peace and was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. David Brancaccio interviews environmentalist and women's rights advocate Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win the … In addition to her conservation work, Maathai was also an advocate for human rights, AIDS prevention, and women’s issues, and she frequently represented these concerns at meetings of the United Nations General Assembly. Maathai was recognized world-wide for her achievements, although she … Born on April 1, 1940, in Nyeri, Kenya, environmental activist Wangari Maathai grew up in a small village. In later years Wangari Maathai’s own work had focused on the human rights situation in Kenya. Returning to Kenya, Maathai studied veterinary anatomy at the University of Nairobi. Another volume, The Challenge for Africa (2009), criticized Africa’s leadership as ineffectual and urged Africans to try to solve their problems without Western assistance. Maathai’s involvement in the philanthropic sector reaches … “Wangari Maathai’s memoir is direct, honest, and beautifully written—a gripping account of modern Africa’s trials and triumphs, a universal story of courage, persistence, and success against great odds in a noble cause.” —President Bill Clinton "Wangari Maathai is the rare leader who knows how to create independence, not dependence. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Maathai joined the university's faculty and became the first woman to chair a university department in the region in 1976. Wangari Maathai was a renowned environmentalist activist who spent the better half of her life fighting for environmental issues. Former U.S. vice president and fellow environmentalist Al Gore was among those who offered remembrances of Maathai. Originally trained as a scientist in Kenya and abroad, Professor Maathai returned to her … At this time, Kenya was still a British colony. Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize and founder of the Green Belt Movement, grew up in the highlands of Kenya, where fig trees cloaked the hills, fish filled the streams, and the people tended their bountiful gardens. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wangari-Maathai, The Right Livelihood Award - Biography of Wangari Maathai, Nobel Women's Initiative - Biography of Wangari Maathai, The Nobel Prize - Biography of Wangari Maathai, Wangari Muta Maathai - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Wangari Maathai - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Wangari Muta Maathai was a Kenyan politician and an environmentalist. Wangari Maathai was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. When she won the Nobel Prize in 2004, the committee commended her “holistic approach to sustainable development that embraces democracy, human rights, and women’s rights in particular.” Her first book, The Green Belt Movement: Sharing the Approach and the Experience (1988; rev. Wangari Maathai Biography. Maathai attended Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas, where she earned a bachelor's degree in biology in 1964. An excellent student, Maathai was able to continue her education at the Loreto Girls' High School. She became chair of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy and an associate professor in 1976 and 1977 respectively. Maathai would later draw inspiration by the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements in the United States. “In trying to explain this linkage, I was inspired by a traditional African tool that has three legs and a … While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. In 1977, she launched the Green Belt Movement to reforest her beloved country while helping the nation's women. She was married to Mwangi Mathai. Her husband campaigned again for a seat in Parliament, hoping to represent the Lang’ata constituency, and won. She was born in a village named Ihithe, in Nyeri district; located in Central Kenya. She passed away in September of 2011. Wangari Muta Maathai was born on April 1, 1940, in Nyeri, Kenya. She attended college in the United States, receiving a bachelor’s degree in biology from Mount St. Scholastica College (now Benedictine College) in 1964 and a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1966. Maathai is known for the holistic nature of her work. In 2004 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She subsequently earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh (1966). And one of those root causes was misgovernance.". Wangari Maathai’s significant literary impact is evidenced in books that summarize her legacy and remarkable accomplishments. She published an autobiography, Unbowed, in 2007. As Maathai once wrote in her memoir, "What people see as fearlessness is really persistence.". She embodied values and character traits to which people aspire. "Women needed income and they needed resources because theirs were being depleted," Maathai explained to People magazine. Standing up for a democratic, multi-ethnic Kenya, she was subjected to defamation, persecution, detention and physical attacks. Maathai was survived by her three children: Waweru, Wanjira and Muta. Early life and education. Wangari Maathai, in full Wangari Muta Maathai, (born April 1, 1940, Nyeri, Kenya—died September 25, 2011, Nairobi), Kenyan politician and environmental activist who was awarded the 2004 Nobel Prize for Peace, becoming the first black African woman to win a Nobel Prize. Wangari Maathai, unlike most women from her region, was able to travel outside of Africa and obtain a college education. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Wangari Maathai Biography. From overcoming oppression, to breaking rules, to reimagining the world or waging a rebellion, these women of history have a story to tell. She received the Nobel prize for peace in 2004. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Dolores Huerta is an activist and labor leader who co-founded what would become the United Farm Workers. During his campaign, he had promised to find jobs to limit the rising unemployment in Kenya. Geraldine A. Ferraro was a member of Congress and the first woman to run for the U.S. vice presidency on a major party platform. Wangari Maathai : biography 1 April 1940 – 25 September 2011 In 1974, Maathai’s family expanded to include her third child, Muta. Wangari Maathai – Kenyan environmental political activist and Nobel laureate. Wangari Muta Maathai was born in Nyeri, Kenya (Africa) in 1940. Wangari Maathai Founding Member - Kenya, 2004. Wangari Maathai received numerous awards and honorary degrees. Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt movement in Kenya in 1977, which has planted more than 10 million trees to prevent soil erosion and provide firewood for cooking fires. In our next segment of the wangari@80 campaign, we will share with you how through her life and accomplishments, she inspired different individuals and leaders around the world. In 1992 GBM established the Pan-African Green Belt Movement after the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. "So we decided to solve both problems together. She was elected to Kenya’s National Assembly in 2002 with 98 percent of the vote, and in 2003 she was appointed assistant minister of environment, natural resources, and wildlife. But over many years, as more and more land was cleared, Kenya was transformed. What had started out as an environmental movement quickly became a political effort as well. Wangari Maathai Biography. She authored four books: The Green Belt Movement; Unbowed: A Memoir; The Challenge for Africa; and Replenishing the Earth. Maathai also challenged the government on its development plans and its handling of the country's land. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Mount St. Scholastica College in Kansas in 1964, and then went on to earn a Master's degree in Science from the University of …