WANGARI MUTA MAATHAI
Wangari Muta Maathai (01.04.1940 – 25.09.2011) was Kenyan internationally known for being an environmental political activist and Nobel prize. She studied in the University of Pittsburgh in USA and at the University of Nairobi in Kenya.
In 1977, Maathai founded an environmental non-governmental organization which concentrated on tress planting,environmental conservation and on the rights of the women: it is called the Green Belt Movement.
In 2004 she was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize for "her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace", becoming the first African woman to receive such a reward. This recognition lead Maathai to be elected as a member of the Parliament as assistant minister for Environment and Natural Resouces untill November 2005.
In 2011 Maathai died.
In 1977, Maathai founded an environmental non-governmental organization which concentrated on tress planting,environmental conservation and on the rights of the women: it is called the Green Belt Movement.In 2004 she was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize for "her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace", becoming the first African woman to receive such a reward. This recognition lead Maathai to be elected as a member of the Parliament as assistant minister for Environment and Natural Resouces untill November 2005.
In 2011 Maathai died.
THE GREEN BELT MOVEMENT
The Green Belt Movement (GBM) was founded by Professor Wangari Maathai in 1977 in order to recover a situation of decadency that was affecting the women of the rural areas of the Kenya. Women were encouraged to work together and their were taught how to grow seeds, plant trees on soil, store rainwater and provide food and firewood and get money from it, in order to overcome the lack of food supply and poverty.
This institution educated the population about protecting the environment, the issues of the deforestation and climate change.
Currently, communities come together to plant trees and as consequence the reforestation is taking place.
Currently, communities come together to plant trees and as consequence the reforestation is taking place.
The GBM operates in four areas such as: Trees Planting and Water Harvesting,Climate Change, Mainstream Advocacy, Gender Livelihood and Advocacy.
Trees Planting and Water Harvesting: the aim of this operation is to preserve the biodiversity of the natural environment and re-balance the ecosystem.
Climate Change: the objective is to educate the local communities about the important role that the conservation of the natural environment plays to contrast the climate change.
Mainstream Advocacy: it is meant to contrast the corruption in Kenya but mainly the deforestation which is taking place without any control.
Gender Livelihood and Advocacy: the reforestation of some area already empowered
local communities to grown their own food and shed their families.
Nowadays, the Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement legacy continue and anyone interested can get involved through work opportunities, internships or volunteering.
Jobs in these areas are aimed to support the local communities and guests are invited to take part in Safaris and experience culture and heritage of the residents.
I believe this is a great opportunity to explore a new culture and lifestyle first hand, especially for students or anyone interested to have a gap from their routine.
Please let me know your thoughts and your experiences if you decide to move over there.
For further and complete information please visit the below websites:
http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/wangari-maathai/biography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wangari_Maathai
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wangari_Maathai
