1. She was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Prize

In 2004, she was singled out for her “holistic approach to sustainable development that embraces democracy, human rights, and women’s rights in particular.” Wangari earned what no African women before her could — the Nobel Peace Prize. She went on to win multiple awards for her environmental work.

Source: http://www.biography.com/people/wangari-maathai-13704918

2. She received no schooling until age 8

Because of family’s rural location, there was no school available to Wangari until her family relocated when her father took a new job. Wangari entered St. Cecilia, a Catholic school in Kenya. Being bright, she scored the highest in her classes and was quickly recognized for her potential. 

3. Her family had to flee during the Mau Mau uprising

Luckily, Wangari’s placement in a Catholic school protected her from Mau Mau gangs. Her family back home had to escape and go into hiding.

4. She campaigned for equal benefits for women

Once married, Wangari obtained a job at the University of Nairobi as an assistant lecturer. She noticed that women employees received less benefits than their male co-workers. She challenged the school board for this unequal treatment. She staged multiple protests and formed a union until the school board offered better benefits for women.

5. She studied in the U.S.

Because Wangari scored so well in her courses, she was able to enroll into an overseas program to study in the U.S. While attending Benedictine College in Atchinson, Kansas, she decided to embark on a career to protect the environment.

6. She tried to start a tree-planting program to create jobs

Her husband landed a seat in the parliament and promised to create more jobs. This inspired Wangari to create a program to compensate women for planting trees. Unfortunately, this attempt failed.

7. She later started the Green Belt Movement

After her failed project, Wangari tried again, this time in partnership with a Norwegian environmentalist. They created the Green Belt Movement, paying women a stipend to plant seeds. Wangari wanted to help employ women in a Kenyan society that sometimes frowned upon women working. The Green Belt Movement is an indigenous grassroots organisation based in Nairobi that takes a holistic approach to development by focusing on environmental conservation, community development and capacity building.

Source: Wiki

8. She was jailed for six months

In the midst of a nasty divorce in 1979, Wangari’s husband said his wife was out of control and disobedient. In divorce court, the male judge sided with the husband, saying Wangari needed to fit into her feminine role. Wangari responded by calling the judge a name, and was arrested. She spent six months in jail.

9. She was jailed again

As her Green Belt Movement expanded, government officials were concerned about women becoming more and more independent. They stepped in and fined the organization for operating without a license. Wangari and her supporters protested against the government. She was arrested in 1992 and jailed for two days.

10. Kenyan officials tried to shut down the Green Belt Movement

After Wangari’s release from jail, she went back to coordinating the Green Belt Movement. This infuriated Kenyan’s officials who sought every possible way to criminalize her movements. This included buying off and privatizing land that Wangari and her women worked hard to protect and making it illegal for her to be on the premises. Fortunately, the government backed off from trying to take down the Green Belt Movement after Vice President Al Gore and other western officials put pressure on Kenyan officials.

11. She and her fellow contributors were targeted and threatened with assassination

Wangari and her women women workers were attacked on numerous occasions for planting trees on private property. Many death threats were sent to Wangari anonymously. Some believe that her influence was dangerous to society. This forced her to go into hiding for a while.

12. She earned herself a seat in the Parliament

After gaining popularity among women and western countries, Wangari ran for Parliament in 1992 and won an incredible 98 percent of the vote. She continued being a staunch advocate for women’s rights and protecting the environment.

13. She wrote a memoir, “Unbowed”

Wangari wrote a moving memoir in 2006 to share how one woman could break free from oppression and stand up for what she believed. No matter how many obstacles and death threats she endured, they didn’t stop her from achieving her dreams. 

14. She died of ovarian cancer

Suffering from ovarian cancer, Wangari died Sept. 25, 2011 at a Nairobi Hospital.

15. Trees were planted in her memory

Millions of people mourned the death of this feminist and activist. Two maples trees were planted in Pittsburgh and several in Kenya to pay respect to Wangari and her legacy. Today, the Green Belt Movement lives on and pays women to plant trees.