William Kamkwamba was an enthusiastic electronics tinkerer when he was a young school student in Malawi. However, he had to leave school because his parents were no longer able to pay his tuition due to the effects of a famine.
He continued his studies on his own because he had free time and a desire to learn. He visited the library to read school textbooks because he was very interested in science and how things worked. During one of such library visits, he noticed a picture of a windmill that was being used to pump water. At that time, he said, “We haven’t even heard of one; we’ve never seen one,” according to The Call to Lead.
Though he was fascinated by the windmill, he lacked the components needed to build a water-pump windmill. As a substitute, Kamkwamba constructed a windmill at the age of 14, using leftover parts and scraps.
The teen saw firsthand how his invention changed his village, as residents started using it to charge their phones and expressed interest in learning how to construct a windmill for their own homes.
The 2009 book, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope,” written by Kamkwamba, was inspired by a true story.
Since his invention and his book, the young entrepreneur has engaged in a series of Ted Talks. He co-founded the Moving Windmills Project in 2008 after becoming involved with the TED community.
The project has so far renovated neighborhood schools with new facilities and educational resources, installed solar pumps and energy systems, built low-cost community water wells, and supported development programs in numerous communities.
The organization aims to provide young people with the chance to develop their creative design concepts with the help of mentoring. In addition, Kamkwamba and his group are constructing a Malawian children’s innovation center.
“We want to build this space where we are [going to] be able to bring in young people from all over the country to build a community of changemakers,” he said. He explained that “Solutions sometimes don’t have to come from somewhere else, but [the] solution is within us.” According to him, the most effective solution to address challenges can be identified if there is community cooperation, according to AfroTech.
On Kamkwamba’s list of initiatives, he is collaborating with the youth to develop electric motorcycles that will be used to transport people from various locations to his organization, so they can receive instruction and guidance.
“It’s changing the way we are doing our work…And we are hoping by continuing to do that, we are [going to] also be involved a lot in designing farming tools,” Kamkwamba said.
The inventions will be powered by electricity, which can be recharged using solar energy, making everything renewable.
“There are so many talented young people all over the world,” Kamkwamba noted. “But to realize their talent, they need a space to work and mentors to help them. It’s the difference between having an idea and being able to actually build it. I know the work I’m doing will not only bring clean water or green electricity where there was once only streams or darkness, but the work will also teach people who can themselves teach others.”
