Hope Academy Students: Painting a story of Peace, Equality, and Teamwork with Tenacity on 48”' canvas

By Catherine Tong

Students from Hope Academy are sharing a story, but this story will contain few written words. It is the story of a Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan woman and is told with paint on a 48”' long stretch of canvases. It is the story of a woman who planted hope for her people, and it”'s told by 60 students who are beginning to paint their own life stories. Listen in.

Wangari”'s story: Wangari Maathai was born in Kenya in 1940. After attending university in the U.S., Wangari returned to Kenya only to find her homeland ravaged by deforestation and her people suffering the consequences. One seedling at a time, Wangari began a movement of tree planting, known as The Greenbelt Movement, in her village, surrounding cities, and eventually across Kenya. Although she faced much opposition, Wangari persevered in order to help her people provide themselves with firewood, clean drinking water, balanced diets, shelter, and income. While she led the way, Maathai said, “I”'m very conscious of the fact that you can”'t do it alone.… Read the rest “Hope Academy Students: Painting a story of Peace, Equality, and Teamwork with Tenacity on 48”' canvas”