Enduring Legacy

We need hope, we need action, we need change. Here we celebrate and honor Wangari’s achievements by highlighting her work, as well as current and previous projects from artists, activists, and ordinary citizens. We hope you can derive inspiration from her passion for justice and the impact she made on the lives of people internationally through this content.

Our Enduring Legacy initiative was launched with an interactive social media campaign called “Be a Hummingbird” to celebrate Wangari’s 80th birthday.   Wangari would have celebrated her 80th birthday in 2020.  

Be A Hummingbird is an online space where we share the projects and undertakings that have been inspired by the realm of Prof Wangari Maathai's work. No matter the scale of your project, we want to include you in our celebration. Prof believed in the Power of One—that each of us can make a difference while collectively, we are a force.

In 2020, Professor Wangari Maathai, the late Kenyan environmentalist and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, would have turned 80 years old. Her vision and commitment to people and the planet inspired millions and positively influenced many aspects of public life. Fighting for a wide swath of issues, advocating for women’s rights and democratic space, against land-grabbing and misogyny, she was an international force - spreading passion, peace, and equality.