Wangari MAATHAI

Biography

Born in Kenya in 1940, Wangari Maathai was raised in a farm family of six children by progressive-thinking parents. Even in the face of heavy family responsibilities, she was encouraged to pursue her education in the United States and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biology in 1964, becoming the first East African woman to receive the distinction.

With the personality of a fighter, Wangari Maathai has always been a militant for the causes she takes to heart, such as the environment and women's rights. In 1977, she founded the Green Belt Movement, a tree-planting project creating jobs for Kenyan women. In 2004, the one known as "The Tree Woman", was awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize for her many achievements.