This is the story of William Kamkwama, a young boy who built a windmill to provide his house with electricity when he was only 14 years old. William lives in the impoverished African nation of Malawi.
Seven years ago his native Malawi was in the midst of a severe drought. Thousands died as others survived on just one meal a day.
Unable to earn any income, William's father, a farmer could not pay $80 in school fees, so William was kicked out of school. But that didn't deter him. He spent his days at the library, where a book with photographs of windmills caught his eye.
"I thought, this thing exists in this book, it means someone else managed to build this machine," he said.
"I was very interested when I saw the windmill could make electricity and pump water. "
"I thought: 'That could be a defense against hunger. Maybe I should build one for myself".
"Many, including my mother, thought I was going crazy. They had never seen a windmill before."
"People thought I was smoking marijuana, so I told them I was only making something for JuJu (magic). 'Then they said: 'Ah, I see."
William soon began building his windmill. He knocked together a turbine from spare bicycle parts, a tractor fan blade and an old shock absorber, and fashioned blades for plastic pipes, flattened by being held over a fire. The finished product was a 16 foot wood tower that swayed in the wind.
His neighbor's skepticism turned to amazement as William climbed up the windmill and connected a light bulb to the turbine. As the blades began to spin in the breeze, the light bulb flickered and the crowd of astonished onlookers went wild. Soon William was pumping power into his family's mud brick home. And soon the locals were lining up to charge their mobile phones.
In my opinion, William is a "hero", an extraordinary individual who has worked against all odds to raise the standard of living for not only his immediate family but that of his entire community.
His story shows how important it is to provide learning materials to all of God's children. Just one book can make a difference in the lives of many. As we, here in America, bicker over the many issues that face us, take a minute and think about how how blessed we really are.
I could go on and on and on with this story, but I want you to see and listen to William's inspirational story and tell me what you think.
William Kamkwama's Biography:
http://williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/williamkamkwamba/2007/06/welcome_to_my_b.html
Republic of Malawi:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malawi
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Comments: 85
Rock on brother...rock on!
~M
His against-all-odds achievements are all the more remarkable considering he was forced to quit school aged 14 because his family could no longer afford the $80-a-year fees.
"What the mind can conceive, and believe, it can achieve." Napoleon Hill
Our children are dumbed down in schools and taught to be followers instead of using their own mind to be creative.
As we see many children, here in the United States, drop out of school and regulate themselves to a nearly certainty of living near or under the poverty rate, it makes you wonder what they and their parents are thinking and if they are taking the opportunity for obtaining a good education for granted.
Just imagine what the how much of an asset William would be to our country if he had the opportunity to attend any public school here in America.
I only hope that William's story will be told to the children here in the United States.
Then hopefully, so many won't take so many things for granted, including the exceptional educational opportunities they have access to.
Some of the greatest ideas/inventions were created during the last Great Depression because people HAD to fend for themselves, and think of ways to accomplish.
You make a valid point. I only hope that you are wrong.
Have you ever heard the old saying, 'necessity is the mother of invention'.
Because his family could no longer afford his school fees, he went to his local library, read up on his science, found a DIY guide to making a wind generator and set about trying to build it.
Kudos to William. In the age in which we live, it's nice to know that there are people like William in this world.
Using a tractor fan, shock absorbers, PVC pipes, a bicycle frame and anything else he could lay his hands on, he then built a rudimentary wooden tower, plonked his home-made generator on the top, and eventually got one, and then four bulbs to light up.
You are so right. This is an incredible story of an unselfish 14 year old wanting to make the lives of his family and community a little better.
He is an inspiration. Many would have given up as villagers would surround him to snicker and point. Ignoring them, he would quietly bolt pieces using a screwdriver made of a heated nail attached to a corncob. The heat -- from both the crowd and the melted, flattened pipes he used as blades -- did not deter him.
Three months later, his first windmill churned to life as relief swept over him. As the blades whirled, a bulb attached to the windmill flickered on.
"I wanted to finish it just to prove them wrong," he said. "I knew people would then stop thinking I was crazy."
Fascinated by science, his life changed one day when he picked up a tattered textbook and saw a picture of a windmill.
This is a story of perseverance.
African Leadership Academy (ALA) seeks to transform Africa by developing and supporting future generations of African leaders.
Opened in September 2008, African Leadership Academy brings together the most promising 16-19 year old leaders from all 54 African nations for an innovative two-year program designed to prepare each student for a lifetime of leadership on the continent.
Students are selected to attend the Academy based on merit alone and complete an innovative curriculum with a unique focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, and African studies. ALA graduates will attend the world’s finest universities and will lead Africa toward a peaceful and prosperous future.
The Academy is a nonprofit institution located in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Sounds as if this school was built especially for William. I'd say he is qualified to attend.
He has a resume that anyone would take notice of. And it's not a resume of scholastic achievement. It's a resume of perseverance, compassion, innovation and determination.
A resume that should resonate in anyone's book.
William is self-taught, and learned how to build windmills after having looked at a photograph and explanation of one in a library book called Using Energy.
His mind was allowed function freely.
"I thought, this thing exists in this book, it means someone else managed to build this machine," he said.
It was this book that jump-started his quest to bring electricity to his community along with using the resources available to him and his mind.
Books For Africa is the world’s largest shipper of donated books to the African continent. Since 1988, Books For Africa has shipped over 20 million high-quality text and library books to 45 African countries. Millions more are needed.
It costs $9,800 to send a sea container to most major sea ports of books and computers to Africa. Your donation will enable Books For Africa to send even more books to children in Africa who are hungry to read, hungry to learn.
http://www.booksforafrica.org/
A remarkable achievement against such terrible odds.
I found that story in William Kamkwama, "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind."
If we only see what we expect to see and only hear what we expect to hear we are almost blind and deaf.
Many people are always sketical and afraid of change, even if it means that change will benefit them personally.
I can think of no one more in need of William's efforts than those who sneered at him.
However, William had the determination to continue on and the whole community is better off for his efforts.
Yes there are many Williams among us being riduculed and told what they cannot do as opposed to telling them that the sky is the limit.
Let's hope that William's story opens the ears and eyes of those who only see and hear what they expect.
That is a sad picture of what drives this Nation when the World is moving forward in the smallest home in Africa to the larger Cities and nations.
What is causing all of this that we cannot and do not scour the World for great stories like this?
Thanks Lloyd!
I feel that even the most powerful nation on the planet, the United States, can learn from William's drive, determination and compassion.
Guess what his family will now pay for electricity? NOTHING!
And yet there are those here in the United States whom mock every effort at developing alternative sources of energy.
In the end it will be those in the undeveloped world whom get the last laugh. They'll be mocking us as they take advantage of the power of wind and the sun at very little or no cost at all.
It's time we put our priorities in the proper perspective.
I can't believe that every new home constructed in American doesn't come with solar panels attached.
Could it be that the Capitalist in corporate American want us to continue to depend on air polluting fossil fuels that we purchase from those who don't have the best interest of the American people in mine?
Wind power and solar power is such a no-brainer. For the life of me, I don't understand any opposition to it.
I urge anyone to tell me why we shouldn't support these alternative forms of energy. Please give me your reasoning.
Not much building new homes right now, and silly stupid Americans want cute and panels are "ugly". So, now they have solar shingles and very attractive nebulous solar collectors which become part of the facade of the home, but still the cost is high and folks want what they can afford now and will chance paying latter when the price comes down without thought to the savings. That instant gratification thought process drives me urg!
I think the solar panels look pretty cool. I only wish I was in a position to install them on my home.
Hopefully, as more Americans install solar panels, the prices will start to come down.
This is a great story. I was moved by it. I'd like to thank you for FEATURING it at your group, Jamaicans on Gather. I urge everyone to stop by and join Mr. Gilman's group.
Remember, you don't have to be a native to enjoy Jamaican food, Reggae music or say, Hey Mon!. Besides that, Dennis has some very interesting posts that makes of all do a little thinking. Very good post, if I may say.
Now onto your ping to me.
"Morning Lloyd. Sometimes a mischievous imp infects me and I do idle searches an come up with weird stuff. This morning's catch is:
http://www.exposeobama.com/
I thought of you immediately :-D)"
Dennis I am saddened that an American institution like that of the Wall Street Journal has lowered itself to promoting fear in an attempt to sway such an important issue.
As of today, they've lost all credibility as far as I'm concerned and anything they publish from this day on will be taken with a grain of salt and a mound of skepticism.
Wall Street Journal. I welcome you to the world of "I hope he fails and just say NO."
I just checked out Newsvine and it's very interesting site. Never heard of it before though.
Once again,
Thanks.
There's something about this young man that leads me to believe he has the best interest of his country in mind as opposed to someone who is on a mission of self promotion.
He's kind, compassionate and a true visionary. Something we rarely see in even our most seasoned leaders.
There's something very special about this young man. The rest of the world better latch onto him and learn from him.
He is a future World Leader in the making.
So do I. It would be a real life learning experience. Something that would motivate many students to do their parts in making our world a better place.
Malawi, Africa and the world are better off due to William's efforts.
However, you are right, no one told him what he didn't know. His mind was allowed to expand all on it's own.
And Malawi, Africa and the rest of the world are better off for that.
I will repeat my reply to Libramoon's post.
"Even though he didn't finish what we consider a formal education, the library was his school. He learned about windmills and electricity from reading books in that library.
However, you are right, no one told him what he didn't know. His mind was allowed to expand all on it's own.
And Malawi, Africa and the rest of the world are better off for that."
Thank you very much. It was a wonderful interview. Everyone, please check it out.
You'll love it.
The Daily Show won't allow me to use a video of the interview here on Gather. However here is a link to the show featuring William Kamkwama.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-october-7-2009/william-kamkwamba
Thanks for stopping by. He is a special individual. And his compassion for others is now being rewarded. Maybe being kicked out of school was a blessing in disguise.
Hopefully his story will convince the powers that be, in every nation, that a "Mind is a Terrible thing to Waste."
On behalf of the people of Malawi and all the compassionate people of the world, tell your daughter and her partner, that we thank her.
It's nice to know that the human spirit is alive and well.
OMG! I can't believe this article has been viewed over 1000 times. This is a first for me. Thanks everyone. Thank you very much.
Thanks.
Lloyd
What amazing perseverance this young man exhibited. Many, including his mother, thought he was going crazy. People thought he was smoking marijuana. LOL
Thanks for stopping by.
Lloyd
I'm happy to report that William is now on a scholarship at the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg,
African Leadership Academy (ALA) seeks to transform Africa by developing and supporting future generations of African leaders.
Opened in September 2008, African Leadership Academy brings together the most promising 16-19 year old leaders from all 54 African nations for an innovative two-year program designed to prepare each student for a lifetime of leadership on the continent.
Students are selected to attend the Academy based on merit alone and complete an innovative curriculum with a unique focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, and African studies. ALA graduates will attend the world’s finest universities and will lead Africa toward a peaceful and prosperous future.
The Academy is a nonprofit institution located in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Most US cell phone companies now have worldwide service and quite a few even have agreements with Malawi's two cell phone companies; Telcom and Celtel.
Marilyn I've traveled to some undeveloped countries in the past. The one thing I noticed was the amount of people whom had cell phones hanging from their waists.
Because there isn't the basic infrastructure available in developed nations, many people use mobile phones as their primary source of telephone communications.
This is not a new phenomena at all.
Absolutely terrific!
Thanks for posting this!