Maathai describes her Kenyan childhood in detail. What do you think are some aspects of her childhood that led her to her adult work? 

Maathai grew up in a Kenya that was still under colonialist rule. What were some of Maathai’s personal experiences with colonialism and cultural imperialism? Do you believe that all of these experiences were wholly negative? 

Maathai went to Catholic schools as a young girl, and then to a Catholic university in the United States. What about these schools do you think influenced her and formed her point of view? What about the schools was difficult for her?