3 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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 ).
Official Kids Mag www . kidscoop . com © Vicki Whiting April 2025