Events

On Friday, 9th November 2012, Miss Universe 2011, Leila Lopes, will visit Green Belt Movement (GBM) Kilimani offices at 8:15 a.m. to plant a tree in honour of Professor Maathai.

Leila Lopes, who made history as the first Angolan and second black African woman to win the Miss Universe crown, has championed education and HIV & AIDS prevention in Africa, among other issues. The United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) named her a “Drylands Ambassador” in an effort to increase awareness on the importance of combating desertification and land degradation. Her visit to GBM is part of a campaign designed to raise further awareness on various issues including sustainable tourism and poverty alleviation.

Leila Lopes  hopes to walk in Professor Maathai’s footsteps. Professor Maathai is world renowned for her tireless campaigning  to halt land degradation and desertification through planting trees. She has inspired hundreds of thousands of women in Africa to become prime agents of change in the sustainable management of natural resources. The Green Belt Movement which she founded in 1977 promotes the active roles women play in poverty alleviation, protecting the natural environment and sustainable development.

During her visit to the Green Belt Movement, Miss Lopes will launch a book by Simon Nyagah, titled ‘The Story of Jungle Momma’. The book aims to encourage school children to participate in tree planting and environmental conservation activities.

For more information please contact; Edward Wageni, Deputy Executive Director on ewageni@greenbeltmovement.org or 0721747683.