Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Elizabeth Wathuti in 2022 | |
| Born | 1 August 1995 Kiandu village, Tetu Constituency, Nyeri County Kenya |
| 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,[1] 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.[2][3]
In 2019, she was awarded the Africa Green Person of the Year Award by the Eleven Eleven Twelve Foundation[4] and named as one of the 100 Most Influential Young Africans by the Africa Youth Awards.[5]
Wathuti graduated from Kenyatta University with a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies and Community Development.[6]
Wathuti grew up in Nyeri County, which is renowned for having the highest forest cover in Kenya.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]
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[10]" was featured by the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) as part of a series on Youth Voices in Landscapes.
She is a recipient of a Wangari Maathai Scholarship award for her commitment to environmental conservation.[11] Wathuti is also a member of the Green Belt Movement, which was founded by her role model Professor Wangari Maathai[12]
In 2019 on International Youth Day, she was recognized by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their Instagram feed[13] for her work in environmental conservation. She featured on the Queen's Commonwealth Trust website.[14][15] 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.[16][17]
