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Founding President of the Mujeres por África (Women for Africa) Foundation, María Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, pays homage to Professor Wangari Maathai

February 4, 2015

 

Wanjira Mathai, Chair of GBM’s Board welcomes President De La VegaIt was a wonderful and energizing day yesterday, 3rd February 2015, when María Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, Founding President of the Mujeres por África (Women for Africa) Foundation and former Deputy Prime Minister of Spain visited the Green Belt Movement (GBM) office in Nairobi.  Hers was no ordinary courtesy call.  It was homage to her friend and sister, Professor Wangari Maathai, whom she was last in touch with in July 2011, just three months before her passing.

 

Friends for eight years, the President reflected on her fond memories of Professor Maathai – “She was a light like no other, she was always smiling, and her smile was contagious”.  Praising Wangari Maathai’s wisdom in connecting development, women, environment and peace, President De La Vega shared that she founded Mujeres por Africa having been so inspired by Professor Maathai.

President De La Vega, Wanjira Mathai, Chair of GBM’s Board and Aisha Karanja Executive Director GBM share a wordSpeaking with Wanjira Mathai, Chair of GBM’s Board, she highlighted her commitment to continued partnership with GBM - “we must keep working together”. 

 

 

 

 

 

We look forward to forging a partnership with Mujeres for Africa and continuing the deep friendship that was started when De la Vega met Professor Maathai in March 2006 during a trip to Kenya – incidentally, photos of that trip dot the walls of GBM office so it was lovely for the GBM family to finally meet and host a woman they knew was closely connected to Professor Maathai. 

President De La Vega & Wanjira Mathai water the tree Professor Maathai planted in October 2004 when she got the news that she had been awarded the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize

María Teresa Fernandez de la Vega watered two special trees on the grounds of the Green Belt Movement  - the tree that Professor Maathai planted in October 2004 when she got the news that she had been awarded the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize and the last tree Professor Maathai planted - to mark her 71st birthday.

Thank you Madam De La Vega for honouring us with your presence. We look forward to working with you and Mujeres of Africa for many years to come!

President De La Vega, her colleagues, Wanjira Mathai, Chair of GBM’s Board, Aisha Karanja, Executive Director GBM and GBM staff pose for a photo