Wangari Maathai
(1940-2001)

Kenyan Environmental & Political Activist
Winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize
1991 Winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize

birthdate: April 1
birthplace:
Nyeri, Kenya, East Africa

QUOTES

"We can work together for a better world with men and women of goodwill, those who radiate the intrinsic goodness of humankind."

"Every one of us can make a contribution. And quite often we are looking for the big things and forget that, wherever we are, we can make a contribution. Sometimes I tell myself, I may only be planting a tree here, but just imagine what's happening if there are billions of people out there doing something. Just imagine the power of what we can do."

Despite continuing and constant opposition, the movement grows and expands. It shows that something can be done. Sometimes I marvel at the work we've done, despite the fact that maybe half of our time is spent just trying to survive. I wonder what we would have achieved if the government was supporting us instead of intimidating us.

The earth was naked. For me the mission was to try to cover it up with green.

The leaders don't know what they are doing. They are so blinded by greed they genuinely believe they should control all resources. They don't understand why we are willing to be abused, willing to put ourselves in danger.

 

Kids | Youth | Adults | Calendar | Quotes | Heroes | Stories | The EMILY Fund | Scholarships
DO ONE THING and BetterWorld Kids Clubs are projects of The EMILY Fund (The Emily Silverstein Fund, Inc.)
Hero portraits are included for illustration purposes only - no celebrity endorsement implied

The Emily Fund
Education, Mentorship, Inspiration, Leadership, Youth
- for a Better
World

PO Box 430
Roosevelt, NJ 08555-0430
info@EmilyFund.org