Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her campaigns to save Kenyan forests, died in hospital on Sunday after a long struggle with ovarian cancer. Maathai, 71, founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977 to plant trees to prevent environmental and social conditions deteriorating and hurting poor people, especially women, living in rural Kenya.  A woman who stood up for woman when others was afraid. She will be remembered by many and stories of her will be told for generation to come.

This a video of some of the struggles she faced:

Fans are pouring in with messages of support form all over the world.

“Wangari Maathai: May you be as blessed as you have been a blessing not only to your community and country, but to the world over. May the Great Spirit receive You in abundant joy and love”. -RIP

Mandela Nelson and Wangari Maathai

“RIP Wangari Maathai. Truly a great leader and visionary. Her life is forever celebrated through her work and the everlasting impact to her country and in educating the world about the power to voice out opinions, even when opinions are not allowed”.

Environmental activist, human rights activist, first woman in Africa to get a PhD, first woman in Africa to win a Nobel peace prize, politician, first female professor in East Africa and Founder of an Organisation that has planted over 40 million trees.

Some people are born once in a generation.  May her legacy be felt by all future generations to come. Its a worthy cause.

Join Newspitter in our effort to bring more awareness to cancer. Click Here to learn more.