The Challenge for Africa (40 page)

My life's work has evolved into much more than planting trees. Two organizations that I founded, the Green Belt Movement and its sister group, the Green Belt Movement International, demonstrate that evolution. By planting trees, my colleagues in this grassroots movement and I planted ideas. The ideas, like the trees, grew. By providing education, access to water, and equity, GBM empowers people—most of them poor and most of them women—to take action, directly improving the lives of individuals and families.

Our experience of thirty years has also shown that simple acts can lead to great change and to respect for the environment, good governance, and cultures of peace. Such change is not limited to Kenya or Africa. The challenges facing Africa, particularly the degradation of the environment, are facing the entire world. This is why the Green Belt Movement International was founded. Only by working together can we hope to solve some of the problems of this precious planet. It's my fervent hope that you will seek to learn more about the work of the Green Belt Movement and the Green Belt Movement International by visiting our website,
www.greenbeltmovement.org
. Please share in our message of hope.

Wangari Maathai

Wangari Muta Maathai was born in Nyeri, Kenya, in 1940. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 2004, she has three grown children and lives and works in Nairobi.

Copyright © 2009 by Wangari Muta Maathai

All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Pantheon Books,
a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and in Canada by
Random House of Canda Limited, Toronto.

Pantheon Books and colophon are registered trademarks of
Random House, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Maathai, Wangari.
The challenge for Africa / Wangari Maathai.
p. cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
eISBN: 978-0-307-37809-5
1. Political leadership—Africa.  2. Africa—Economic conditions—1960-
3. Africa—Social conditions—1960-  I. Title.
JQ1875.M33 2009 320.6096—dc22 2008043017

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