Wangari Maathai
A Kenyan environmental and political activist who was the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree, and the 1st woman in Africa to receive a Nobel Peace Prize. Wangari is credited with planting, directly and indirectly, 20 million trees through her Green Belt Movement organisation on schools, farms and church compounds. Maathai is internationally recognized for her persistent struggle for democracy, human rights and environmental conservation. She and her Green Belt Movement have won numerous awards, over 20, including the Nobel Prize (2004), Woman of the World (1989), The Sophie Prize (2004), The WANGO Environment Award (2003), The Woman of the Year Award (1983) and many more. Sadly, she passed away in 2011; but her legacy lives on through her work. 2012 birthed The Wangari Mathaai Award and The Wangari Maathai stamp all created in her honour.
