“What began as a few women planting trees is now a network of 600 community groups that care for 6,000 tree nurseries. They have together planted at least 30m trees on degraded private and public land, in reserves, and in cities all over Kenya. – Wangari Maathai (The Guardian)”
Improving Female’s Image
Imgsrc: http://kenokoto.jp/10555
One of the most important goals of the GBM was to promote a positive image of women.
Wangari Maathai believed that females are very important green agents of change of the environment. As they are directly involved with the environment, they play an important role in environmental stewardship.
Through the years, she believed that there is an underlying linkage between environmental problems and sexism. Hence, it was important that women were involved as equal participants and developers in the program and this will provide a positive image for the women and consequently a model of female achievement in a Kenya that was severely imbalanced in terms of gender rights.
Women’s groups
Imgsrc: http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/speeches/2016/07/18/helen-clark-statement-on-africa-and-the-2030-sustainable-development-agenda-mobilizing-the-means-of-implementation-at-high-level-side-event-on-the-margins-of-the-2016-un-high-level-political-forum.html
Many women groups readily agreed and embraced the idea of setting up their own nurseries in their own farms or in public land. This is because tree-planting was the answer to the felt needs of the communities.
Through word-of mouth, members of these women groups also came forward to ensure that the necessary extension work was done to make sure trees were planted and the seedlings will survive. When other women saw what their own fellow members could do, they are motivated by the success example to make a difference themselves.
This has inevitably raised the internal barriers of women towards environmental conservation as they were empowered by the community effort and success in restoring the environment. In addition, the income that they can obtain from planting trees also served as financial incentives for them, removing external barriers to engage in conservation efforts.
Modeling the success of women
Imgsrc: http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/node/755
Males were inspired by the success of females and followed their examples to set up the own nurseries. There was a improvement in the image of females. The positive change in females’ images resulted in:
- Removed patriarchal barriers that pitted genders against each other
- Allowed males to have higher respect and regard for women
- Promoted empowerment in homes and public sphere
Imparting nursery management to women
Imgsrc: https://sistersofresistance.wordpress.com/2011/10/16/women-we-admire-wangari-maathai-1940-2011/
Foresters were also engaged to teach the women, who were illiterate, the techniques for tree plantings. They were unable to implement and comprehend the technical approach taught. The women were also mocked by the foresters and were being deemed as “illiterate village women.
Imgsrc: http://blog.usenatureza.com/2015/11/arvore-da-mulher-movimento-pelo-meio-ambiente-no-quenia/
“We told the women: ‘Use the methods you know, and if you don’t know, invent.’ They would use broken pots. They would put the soil and seeds there and watch as they germinate. If they germinate, well and good; if not, try again.” – Wangari Maathai to Huffington Post
Wangari Maathai believed that diplomas in forestry were not needed for planting tree. She encouraged women to use common sense, traditional skills and wisdom to manage the nurseries. They were labelled, “Foresters without diplomas”, using their own experiences to select, plant and maintain nurseries, developing green belts around the village. They learned as they managed the nurseries and the skills and techniques they obtained are still used today. They became self-reliant in tree planting.
Imgsrc: https://thecenterforglobalawareness.wordpress.com/2016/04/05/a-tribute-to-kenyan-environmentalist-wangari-maathai/
Since they are equipped with the relevant skills, they are now given a choice whether to put in effort to sustain and restore the environment or destroy it since now they have the power to make a difference.
Civic Education
Imgsrc: https://bethechange2012.com/2011/09/26/wangari-maathai-warrior-woman-for-the-planet-role-model-for-us-all/
Seminars conducted center around women and community empowerment to take over leadership in their own situations. This is in line with the aim of Wangari Maathai and Green Belt Movement to involve women in decision-making.
She believed that education was important to empower women and also the community. Education is necessary to raise internal barriers towards participating in tree-planting and fighting for their own rights.
They were given information on how the environment is linked to their livelihood. They were educated on their basic humans rights – the rights for food, the rights for clean water, the right for healthy land – and to not fear the oppressive government. Information was important for people to know understand their rights to take action, with information, they are empowered to demand what was theirs and not get taken advantage of.
Participatory Decision Making
Imgsrc: http://www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/gallery/Africa/index.php
Wangari Maathai believed that this is the initiative by the community, instead of an initiative for the community, where the people take charge of the project
In the Green Belt Movement community, women are no longer a subordinate to males. They are encourage to take on leadership roles, running nurseries, planning and implementing community-based projects. Being able to play a lead role in the project makes them internalise the values and importance of tree-planting to meet their needs and to conserve the environment. They gained confidence through this and to autonomy over their own lives.