Women Warriors
Honoring Women Who Fought Their Way to Greatness

Wangari Maathai - Founder of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya
Wangari recieving an award
Wangari Maathai was born on April 1, 1940. She is best known for founding the Green Belt movement of Kenya. This movement has planted more than 10 million trees to prevent soil erosion and to provide firewood for cooking fires. Planting trees has many other benefits for the environment. The extraordinary program that Wangari promotes is a group of devoted people who all want end erosion and the lack of firewood. Because sadly, only nine trees were being replanted for every one hundred that were being cut down in 1989. If this program continues to be successful, its members will be helping all generations to come.
Maatai planting a tree
Maatai is also known also known for being involved in organizing work for poor people and for working for environmental and women’s causes. She has also served as the national chairperson of the National of Women of Kenya. Currently, she serves as a member of parliament.
If you would like to see a video clip of Wangari Maathai click here:

http://www.bigpicture.tv/index.php?id=40&cat=&a=78
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"...women in general need to know that it's OK for them to be the way they are -- to see the way they are as a strength, and to be liberated from fear and from silence."
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