The Green Belt Movement – founded by Professor Wangari Maathai in 1977 as a response to the needs of women in Kenya whose streams were drying up, food supply was incredibly low, and their walk to get firewood was becoming increasing in distance. GBM became an organization that taught the benefits of working together to better communities by building trees, storing rainwater, and gaining better access to food and firewood.
However, more than providing necessary essentials for women and families, Maathai saw that the GBM could do more to raise awareness to the issues of disempowerment, disenfranchisement, and loss of traditional values revolved around working together unselfishly through trust and accountability. Because of this, GBM instituted seminars called “Community Empowerment and Education” to encourage individuals to acknowledge the role one plays in politics, economics, and environmental issues. CEE provided education on both civic and environmental problems.