Karl Kübel Prize goes to Wanjira Mathai

The Karl Kübel Stiftung für Kind und Familie, a German foundation based in Bensheim, is awarding the Karl Kübel Prize, endowed with 25,000 euros, to Wanjira Mathai from Kenya. The environmental and social activist is being honoured for her exceptional commitment to children and families in conjunction with environmental responsibility. The award ceremony will take place on 11 September 2026 in Bensheim.

Wanjira Mathai currently holds an international leadership role at the World Resources Institute (WRI) and serves as Chair of the Wangari Maathai Foundation (WMF) in Kenya. Through the foundation she established in 2015, she is continuing and further developing the work of her mother, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai: Wanjira Mathai translates these approaches into climate and development economics strategies. The foundation supports children, young people, and families, standing for the transmission of values such as sustainability and the promotion of democracy, as well as personal development and the cultivation of leadership skills starting in childhood and adolescence.

Furthermore, Wanjira Mathai is committed to supporting indigenous communities so that they can manage their natural resources sustainably and build their own sources of income. The central role of women in education, democracy, and sustainable development in Africa is a guiding principle of her work.

Reason for the award

These values and approaches are also central to the Karl Kübel Stiftung. With the Karl Kübel Prize, the foundation honours individuals who have made outstanding contributions to children and families, thereby promoting equal opportunities, sustainable development, and social cohesion. This year, the renowned award is being presented for the 26th time.

"Wanjira Mathai pursues a holistic approach and is a role model: in her in her work, she combines the empowerment of children, women and families guided by the principle of helping people help themselves with intergenerational responsibility for environmental and nature conservation,” explained board member Margot Refle in describing the foundation’s decision. Like the founder Karl Kübel, Wanjira Mathai places a strong emphasis on social entrepreneurship approaches that strengthen people’s sense of agency and responsibility.

For Wanjira Mathai, the award is an honour: "I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive the Karl Kübel Award this year. This recognition celebrates not only personal effort, but the collective power of compassion, partnership, and purpose in building a world where every child and every family can thrive."

This year, the Karl Kübel Prize will be presented in combination with the FAIRWANDLER Award, which honours social entrepreneurial commitment by young people who are driving social change – in Germany and worldwide. The patron is Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali-Radovan. Ten initiatives have been nominated for the FAIRWANDLER Prize. The winners will be announced on 11 September at the Musiktheater Rex in Bensheim.

Dialogue forum with the laureate

On the eve of the two award ceremonies, the GLS Bank Foundation and the Karl Kübel Stiftung are inviting the public to a dialogue forum with Karl Kübel Prize laureate Wanjira Mathai at the Protestant Academy in Frankfurt. The theme is “Habitats of the Future –Inspiring examples of ecological and social transformation from Kenya and Germany.” Other panellists include Prof. Dr. Volker Mosbrugger (President of the Polytechnische Gesellschaft Frankfurt), Dr. Annette Massmann (Executive Director of the GLS Zukunftsstifung Entwicklung) and Ilonka Boltze (Executive Director of the Karl Kübel Stiftung).