Wangari’s Trees of Peace

by Ms. Looker and Mrs. Michiels’ First Grade Class

Wangari was born in a small village in Kenya in 1940. She grew up among the many beautiful trees near Mount Kenya.

George

She grows up watching birds in the forest as she helps her mother gather firewood for cooking.

Manoli

She is very smart and shines in school. She wins a scholarship to study in America.

Blake

In America she earns a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in biology.

Teryn

After her studies, she returns to Kenya. She looks around and wonders. Where are all the trees? She sees bare land where no crops grow.

Matt

She returns to Kenya and becomes the first woman from East Africa to earn a PhD.

Laila

She sees mothers walking for miles to gather firewood for their families. And there are no birds!

Reece

Thousands of trees had been cut down to make room for buildings, but no one had planted new trees. She began to cry.

Leana

Wangari begins to replace the lost trees. She starts by planting 9 seedlings.

Abby

She then decides to start a farm for baby trees. She plants row after row of tiny trees.

Alex

She asks the village women to help her. These women plant trees all through their village.

Pete

The government laughed at Wangari and the other women. They don’t believe she knows what she is doing. J.T.

Wangari pays each woman a small amount of money if their seedlings are still living after 3 months. This is the first time these women have ever earned money.

John Battle

Word travels and soon other women in other villages and towns in Kenya are planting long rows of seedlings too.

Makenzy

When some men tried to cut down some of the old trees that were still standing, Wangari blocked the way.

Alex

She was put in jail. She felt alone, but she said, “Right is right, even if you’re alone.”

Mason

But Wangari was not alone. Word spread through Kenya and women began to plant even more trees until over 30 million trees were growing.

Ann

Soon Kenya was green again. Crops are growing and the earth is rich. Other countries in Africa also began to plant trees.

Sophia

In 2004 Wangari is awarded the Noble Peace prize for her work.

Oliver

In Africa, the tree is a symbol of peace. When Wangari learned of her award, she planted a Nandi Flame tree at the base of Mount Kenya.

Daniel

In her acceptance speech she said: “We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own--indeed, to embrace the whole creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder.”

Hannah

Resources

http://www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/portuguese/Statements/Wangari.asp