Wangari Maathai (Reading level 5-8 years)

Wangari Maathai Guinevere D from Henrietta, NY

Click on the picture below to watch a video of Wangari Maathai

Wikimedia CommonsWangari Muta Maathai

Wangari Maathai was born in Kenya, a country in Africa, in 1940. Her family were farmers, and they worked very hard, but they did not have much money. When Wangari was eight years old, she started going to school. Back then, most girls in Kenya were not allowed to go to school, but Wangari tried her best and was very clever.

She did so well in school that she got to go to school in America! She learned about science and plants. She got three special awards called degrees, which a person can do after they finish high school.

When Wangari went back home to Kenya, she saw a problem. Too many trees were being cut down. The land was dry, and it was hard for farmers to grow food. So Wangari had an idea: plant more trees!

Linda GallagherTribute to a Hero - Wangari Maathai - Kenya

Wangari started a group called the Green Belt Movement. The Green Belt Movement helped women to plant trees. Planting trees made the land healthy. It also helped the women because they were given money which helped their families.

The Art Miles Mural ProjectWangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement

Wangari was a very brave lady. When people wanted to cut down trees in a park, she said, “No!” She led peaceful marches to protect the trees. Some people did not like the marches and even tried to stop them, but Wangari kept going.

She also wanted Kenya to be a fair country, where people could vote and choose their leaders. She made sure people got to choose. Wangari was even voted into the government herself to help take care of the land!

Ragd Habib from Muscat in OmanWangari Maathai

In 2004, Wangari won a very special award called the Nobel Peace Prize because of her hard work. She passed away in 2011, but we still remember her today.

Wangari showed us that one person can change the world by doing something small like planting a tree. She cared about other people and worked hard to do what was right.

This story was adapted from high school student Guinevere Devlin’s story. Find her story and other MY HERO resources on Wangari Maathai here.

Read this story for a reading level of 8-11 years old here.