people biographies · Ages 6-8

Wangari Maathai Planted a Forest One Seedling at a Time

Wangari Maathai helped people plant millions of trees, showing that small seedlings could protect land, water, and communities.

The whole story

1. Wangari grew up in the green hills of Kenya. She played under fig trees and drank cool water from clear streams.

2. But soon the trees began to disappear. People cut them down for firewood and to make room for farms.

3. The rains washed the soil away. The streams dried up. Wangari saw that the land was hurting.

4. Wangari said, 'We can plant trees. One seedling at a time.' The women nodded and picked up their hoes.

5. They dug small holes and set the seedlings in. They watered them and protected them from goats.

6. The seedlings grew into trees. More women joined. They planted trees in schoolyards and along roads.

7. Some people said, 'It is too much work.' Wangari said, 'We are not just planting trees. We are planting hope.'

8. Years passed. The seedlings became a forest. The streams flowed again, and the birds came back.

9. Wangari helped plant millions of trees. 'When we plant a tree,' she said, 'we plant the future.'

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