In this guest post, author Jen Cullerton Johnson celebrates 20 years of Wangari Maathai winning the Nobel Peace Prize and shares the environmental conservation work that still needs to be done.
December 2024 marked 20 years since Wangari Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, a moment that celebrated her groundbreaking work to protect the environment and empower communities through the Green Belt Movement. Wangari’s efforts were transformative—she and the women of her movement planted more than 30 million trees, revitalizing ecosystems, creating jobs, and giving women the tools to take charge of their land and their futures. Her work showed us all that environmental conservation and social justice are inseparable.
Writing Seeds of Change and now seeing it published in Spanish as Semillas de cambio has been a meaningful journey for me. Sharing Wangari’s story with teachers, students, and families has shown me how powerful stories can be in creating real change for our planet. When we read and learn together, we start to see what’s possible. When we act together, we make those possibilities a reality and help not just ourselves, but everyone.
⭐ "Richer than other treatments of Maathai for children and more grounded in her work's implicit feminism. . . . Maathai always wears a colorful headscarf or fabric bow, and the community spirit she resuscitates is joyfully celebrated on every spread. Vibrant and accomplished." —Kirkus Reviews
This inspiring entry in the “Story of” line of chapter-book biographies features Wangari Maathai, the first African woman, and environmentalist, to win a Nobel Peace Prize.
The work is not over. Today, the very forests Wangari fought to protect are under threat again. In Kenya, young people are stepping forward to challenge illegal deforestation, and the destruction of public nature spaces. They are following in Wangari’s footsteps, but their efforts often come at a cost—they are being silenced, intimidated, or even endangered. This is a moment when they need allies, and Wangari’s words still guide us: “You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people, you inform them, and you help them understand that these resources are their own, that they must protect them.”
Healthy forests hold trees; they provide clean air, wildlife habitats, and livelihoods for millions. Protecting forests and trees is essential, no matter if we live in Nairobi or in Chicago. Nature teaches us that everything is connected. So, when forests are destroyed in Kenya, it has a larger effect on the world. So, what can we do to carry forward Wangari’s legacy and stand with the young people fighting for their future?
Steps We Can Take
- Share Wangari’s Story Teachers, parents, and community leaders can bring Wangari’s life into classrooms and conversations. Books like Seeds of Change and Semillas de Cambio
are a great starting point to spark discussions about courage, activism, and the connection between people and the planet. - Take Local Action
Encourage students to plant trees, start a school garden, or clean up a local park. These actions may seem small, but they connect young people to the environment in meaningful ways. Just like Wangari’s first tree, each step matters. - Empower Student Voices
Create opportunities for students to explore environmental challenges and imagine solutions. Whether through writing letters, creating art, or leading community projects, their ideas and voices matter—and they should feel that. - Support Global Efforts
Look for ways to amplify the work of organizations continuing the fight for Kenya’s forests. Supporting these efforts, whether through donations, awareness, or partnerships, extends our impact beyond our own communities.
In every classroom I’ve visited and every conversation I’ve had with educators, one thing is clear: young people are ready to lead. They just need the tools, the stories, and the encouragement to take that first step. Wangari’s story teaches us that change happens when ordinary people come together with an extraordinary purpose.
Wangari Maathai’s 20th Nobel anniversary is a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come and how far we still need to go. I invite you to join me as we honor Wangari’s legacy by continuing to plant the seeds of change—through education, action, and connection. Together, we can help the next generation grow into the environmental leaders our world so desperately needs.
Additional Resources
Green Belt Movement
Wangari Maathai Biography (Nobel Prize)
Jen Cullerton Johnson is a writer, an educator, and an environmentalist with master's degrees in nonfiction writing and curriculum development. She teaches at both the elementary and college levels in Chicago, where she also conducts writing workshops. Johnson can be found online at jencullertonjohnson.com
