Elizabeth Wathuti
{{short description|Kenyan environmental activist (born 1995)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti
| image = Elizabeth Wathuti, 2022 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Elizabeth Wathuti in 2022
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1995|08|01}}
| birth_place = Kiandu village, Tetu Constituency, Nyeri County Kenya
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = Kenyatta University
| years_active = 2015–present
| known_for = Environment and Climate activism since childhood
}}
Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti (born August 1, 1995) is a Kenyan environment and climate activist and founder of the Green Generation Initiative,{{Cite web |title=Green Generation Initiative |url=https://greengenerationinitiative.org/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=Green Generation Initiative |language=en-US}} which nurtures young people to love nature and be environmentally conscious at a young age and has now planted 30,000 tree seedlings in Kenya.{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190925-perspective-elizabeth-wathuti-green-generation-initiative-kenya-climate-activist-trees|title=Perspective - Elizabeth Wathuti, the 23-year-old environmental activist planting trees in Kenya|date=2019-09-25|website=France 24|language=en|access-date=2020-02-02}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.unenvironment.org/youngchampions/bio/2019/africa/elizabeth-wathuti|title=Elizabeth Wathuti|last=Environment|first=U. N.|website=Young Champions of the Earth - UN Environment Program|language=en|access-date=2020-02-02}}
In 2019, she was awarded the Africa Green Person of the Year Award by the Eleven Eleven Twelve Foundation{{Cite web|url=https://eetfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Newsletter-Vol.-2C.pdf |title=Green Award Categories – EETFoundation|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-04}} and named as one of the 100 Most Influential Young Africans by the Africa Youth Awards.{{Cite web|url=http://apanews.net/en/pays/kenya/news/nine-kenyans-among-2019-most-influential-young-africans|title=Nine Kenyans among 2019 most influential young Africans|last=APANEWS|website=apanews.net|language=en|access-date=2020-01-31}}
Education
Wathuti graduated from Kenyatta University with a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies and Community Development.{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2019-05-24-meet-elizabeth-wathuti-kenyas-unep-champion/|title=Meet Elizabeth Wathuti, Kenya's environment champion|website=The Star|language=en-KE|access-date=2020-02-02}}
Early childhood and environmental activism
Wathuti grew up in Nyeri County, which is renowned for having the highest forest cover in Kenya.{{Cite web|url=https://mobile.nation.co.ke/news/Kenya-lakeside-counties-with-no-forests/1950946-3071560-format-xhtml-ujtx/index.html|title=Lakeside counties with 'no forests'|last=App|first=Daily Nation|website=mobile.nation.co.ke|language=en|access-date=2020-02-04}} She planted her first tree at the age of seven and she established an environmental club in her high school with the help of her geography teacher.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kenyans.co.ke/personality/elizabeth-wanjiru-wathuti|title=Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti {{!}} Kenyans.co.ke|website=www.kenyans.co.ke|access-date=2020-02-04}} She was part of the leadership of Kenyatta University Environmental Club (KUNEC), where she was able to conduct numerous activities such as tree planting, clean ups and environmental education, all while increasing awareness of global environmental challenges like climate change.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tiredearth.com/experts/elizabeth-wanjiru-wathuti|title=Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti|website=www.tiredearth.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-31}}
In 2016, she founded Green Generation Initiative, to encourage young environmental enthusiasts, environmental and climate education, building climate resilience and greening schools. Her video, "The Forest is a Part of Me",{{Citation|title=The forest is a part of me, Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti, Kenya|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFEZk81IIf8|language=en|access-date=2020-02-01}} was featured by the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) as part of a series on Youth Voices in Landscapes. She has attended the UN's Conferences of the Parties on several occasions and has commented that the language used, especially the multitude of acronyms associated with climate change, can act as a barrier to young people's participation.Oxfam UK, "In Conversation", Voices, Spring/Summer 2024, p. 6
She is a recipient of a Wangari Maathai Scholarship award for her commitment to environmental conservation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.greenbeltmovement.org/node/805|title=Recipients of the fourth Wangari Maathai Scholarship Award {{!}} The Green Belt Movement|website=www.greenbeltmovement.org|language=en|access-date=2020-02-01}} Wathuti is also a member of the Green Belt Movement, which was founded by her role model Professor Wangari Maathai.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kcdf.or.ke/index.php/component/content/article?id=175:20-year-old-following-in-wangari-maathai-s-footsteps|title=KCDF|website=www.kcdf.or.ke|access-date=2020-02-01}}
file:Conference on Loss and Damage Vanessa Nakate, Nicola Sturgeon and Elizabeth Wathyti.jpg, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Wathyti]]
Awards
In 2019 on International Youth Day, she was recognized by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their Instagram feed{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/kenyarising/posts/2451806485076816|title=Kenya rising|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-01}} for her work in environmental conservation. She featured on the Queen's Commonwealth Trust website.{{Cite web|url=https://www.queenscommonwealthtrust.org/inspiration/green-generation-initiative-ggi-kenya-environment-conservation/|title=Green Generation Initiative: working towards a green future|website=www.queenscommonwealthtrust.org|language=en|access-date=2020-02-01}}{{Cite journal|last=Wealth Trust|first=Queen's Common|title=Queen's Common Wealth Trust Annual Report|url=https://assets.ctfassets.net/2udv7y0pnkpk/55VZsbzragdJ1UdOWe2p7I/85cfaf872e72e768ed9334e98987853f/F1819_Annual_Report_FINAL_SIGNED.pdf|journal=Annual Report|volume=year ended 31st March, 2019|pages=17}} In the same year she was named alongside Vanessa Nakate and Oladuso Adenike by Greenpeace as one of three young black climate activists in Africa trying to save the world.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-28 |title=3 young black climate activists in Africa trying to save the world |url=https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/black-history-month-young-climate-activists-in-africa/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Greenpeace UK |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-01-12 |title=Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti Is At The Forefront Of Kenya's Climate Activism |url=https://climateaction.africa/elizabeth-wanjiru-wathuti-kenyas-activism/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |language=en-US}}
Awards and recognitions
- 2016 fourth Wangari Maathai Scholarship Award{{Cite web|url=https://www.greenbeltmovement.org/node/805|title=Recipients of the fourth Wangari Maathai Scholarship Award {{!}} The Green Belt Movement|website=www.greenbeltmovement.org|language=en|access-date=2020-02-01}}
- Green Climate Fund Climate Youth Champion Award 2019{{Cite web|url=https://sdg.iisd.org:443/news/first-ever-gcf-green-champion-awards-recognizes-efforts-to-combat-climate-change/|title=First-ever GCF Green Champion Awards Recognizes Efforts to Combat Climate Change {{!}} News {{!}} SDG Knowledge Hub {{!}} IISD|last=Hub|first=IISD's SDG Knowledge|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-30}}
- Africa Green Person of the Year 2019 Award by the Eleven Eleven Twelve Foundation.{{Cite web|url=https://eetfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Newsletter-Vol.-2C.pdf |title=Green Award Categories – EETFoundation|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-01}}
- 100 Most Influential Young African by the Africa Youth Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://apanews.net/en/news/nine-kenyans-among-2019-most-influential-young-africans|title=Nine Kenyans among 2019 most influential young Africans|website=apanews.net|language=fr|access-date=2020-02-04}}
- The Diana International Award (2019){{Cite web|url=https://diana-award.org.uk/roll-of-honour-2019/|title=Roll of Honour 2019|website=The Diana Award|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-14}}
- UN Young Champions of the Earth Regional finalist for Africa (2019)
- International Youth Day 2019 Recognition by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/42734-meghan-markle-praises-kenyan-conservationist-liz-wathuti|title=British Royals Praise Kenyan Girl Who's Inspired Them|last=Musyoka|first=Michael|access-date=2020-02-14}}
- Bloggers Association of Kenya - BAKE Awards (2018) for the best environmental blog.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bakeawards.co.ke/2018/05/19/here-are-the-bake-awards-2018-winners/|title=Here are the BAKE Awards 2018 winners|last=Wamathai|first=James|date=2018-05-19|website=BAKE Awards|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-14|archive-date=2021-11-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117204230/https://www.bakeawards.co.ke/2018/05/19/here-are-the-bake-awards-2018-winners/|url-status=dead}}
References
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External links
- {{Twitter|lizwathuti}}
- {{instagram|lizwathuti}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons}}
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Category:21st-century Kenyan women
Category:Kenyan climate activists
Category:Kenyan women environmentalists
Category:Youth climate activists
Category:Kenyatta University alumni