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The roots of the trees held the rich topsoil, preventing it from washing away into creeks and rivers. The rich soil helped the women raise food to eat and to sell. The trees were an important part of the health of the community.
n 2004, a woman from Kenya, Wangari Maathai (wan-GAH-ree mah-DHEYE) was the first environmentalist and the first African woman to win the Nobel Prize for Peace.
When Wangari was a little girl, her native land of Kenya was covered with forests. Women in her village didn’t have to walk far to find firewood.
Wangari did not set out to win the Nobel Prize for Peace, or any of the other many awards she has received over the years. She simply worked to replant trees that had been torn down for development. Today, through her efforts, more than 50 million trees have been planted in more than 30 countries.
As Wangari grew up, she watched as more and more forests were removed to make way for buildings and roads. This deforestation forced women to walk further to find wood to make cooking fires.
Because the rich topsoil was being washed away in rainstorms, their gardens were not growing well. Without the trees, many rural communities were driven into poverty.
Wangari realized that by bringing back trees, she could also bring back better health and prosperity for her people.
Wangari was the first woman from Central or Eastern Africa to receive a Ph.D. or doctorate , the highest educational degree that a person can earn.
Standards Link: Civics: Students understand why civic responsibility is important and know examples (e.g., protecting the environment; working for the good of all).
© Vicki Whiting April 2025
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