Wangari Maathai's personal experiences, particularly her connection to the land and her struggles as a woman in Kenya, fueled her environmental activism. Witnessing the degradation of her homeland and the impacts on her community motivated her to establish the Green Belt Movement. Her challenges with systemic oppression and gender inequality deepened her commitment to social and environmental justice, driving her pursuit of sustainability and women's rights, ultimately earning her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.