Skip to content
  • About
  • Partner with Us
  • Press Release Guidelines
  • Op-ed Guidelines
  • Indonesia
Primary Menu
  • Home
  • Latest
  • News
  • Brief
  • Interview
  • Opinion
  • Figure
  • Youth
  • SDGs
  • Topics
  • #LetterfromtheFounder
  • Figure

William Kamkwamba, the African Youth Who Seizes the Wind

When William Kamkwamba was 13, his East African country, Malawi, was in a famine. His parents could not pay for school because drought attacked their fields. William Kamkwamba had to leave school and drop out. 
by Zia Ul Haq August 13, 2021
William Kamkwamba and his windmill made of recycled bike wheels

William Kamkwamba with his windmill

Even though he left school, William Kamkwamba never stopped learning. He started cultivating new knowledge through books at the local library. At 14, William spent most of his time there. He was not familiar with computers, let alone search engines like Google to help him learn. However, he read many books, especially in the science category.

One day, William came upon a book in English titled “Using Energy”. He was not familiar with English either, so mostly, he looked at the pictures. The book cover had a windmill, and it illustrated how wind power could generate electricity.

William Kamkwamba squatting in front of a hand-crafted machine
William and his first windmill | Photo: Klikunic

Wiliam then realized that his village needed water and electricity. Farming was in critical condition because of drought. There was no water pump. Even electricity was scarce, with only 2% of the villagers enjoying the luxury.

From his books, William learned the simple idea of building wind power electricity generators. He then started to build his first windmill from used goods. He used leftover woods from construction, a secondhand mill from a tractor, and old bicycle wheels.

“People said I was crazy. They thought I was doing drugs. They crowded around me, curious about what I was making,” said William. “But once the windmill started spinning, kids cheered.”

Once the lights came on, the villagers were confused. “How could electricity come from the wind?” William recounted his story at TED-Talk.

 

A windmill made of wood between two houses with banana trees
The first windmill at William’s village

William’s first windmill powered four lamps and recharged his neighbor’s phone. He then made three more windmills. Thanks to his innovation, William’s village could feel how electricity benefits their daily lives. Houses in his village received enough power for lights at night.

William started making bigger windmills. He also built a solar-powered pump to irrigate the village’s fields.

Wind-powered electricity generators were not a new finding. However, the way William created a solution for his village’s problems with windmills was a feat on its own. An appreciation came in the form of a full-ride scholarship from Dartmouth College in Hanover, USA, for William to study at their environmental studies program. William graduated in 2014.

After graduation, William started working. He also kept working for the villagers in his hometown. He initiated the Moving Windmills Innovation Center project in Kasungu, Malawi. The project nurtures initiatives on applied technology to solve social problems.

William Kamkwamba after finishing the electrical circuit of his first windmill

“Challenges are not made for me to stop dreaming. They exist to make me stronger in reaching for my dreams,” said William.

His inspiring story is documented in an autobiography published by the New York Times, titled “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind”. It is now also adapted to a movie with the same title, produced by Netflix. William Kamkwamba’s story, as a book and a movie, is a success story that inspires youth all over the world to keep learning no matter what. 

William’s autobiography

Translator and Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

To read the original version of this article in Indonesian, click here.

Thank you for reading!
If you find this article insightful, subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter to stay up-to-date with sustainable development news and stories from multistakeholder communities in the Asia Pacific and beyond.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Zia Ul Haq
Website | + posts

Zia is a Contributing Author for Green Network ID. He is a Learning Companion at Qaryah Thayyibah Learning Community (KBQT).

  • Zia Ul Haq
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/ziatuwel/
    Green Action of Planting Trees by Sakola Wanno, Layanibumi, and Green Network
  • Zia Ul Haq
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/ziatuwel/
    'You Are What You Eat', FOLO Farm Takes Healthy Food Seriously
  • Zia Ul Haq
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/ziatuwel/
    Sakola Wanno in Conserving the Nature and Culture of Sumba Island
  • Zia Ul Haq
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/ziatuwel/
    Maggha Karaneya Spreads Love for Abandoned Infants

Continue Reading

Previous: Zhang Junping’s Sisyphean Task: from Abandoned Mines to Green Paradise
Next: Ramveer Tanwar ‘Resurrects’ the Dead Lakes of India

Related Stories

Picture of Ruhanna Kuddus Ruhana Kuddus Fought for the Emancipation of Indonesian Women through Journalism and Education
  • Featured
  • Figure

Ruhana Kuddus Fought for the Emancipation of Indonesian Women through Journalism and Education

by Abul Muamar January 5, 2023
Muhammad Kasim Arifin | Source: ngelmu.co Kasim Arifin’s 15 Years of Service in Waimital as a University Student
  • Featured
  • Figure

Kasim Arifin’s 15 Years of Service in Waimital as a University Student

by Nazalea Kusuma December 7, 2021
Ramveer Tanwar cleaning the lake with his team. | Photo: Facebook Ramveer Tanwar ‘Resurrects’ the Dead Lakes of India
  • Figure

Ramveer Tanwar ‘Resurrects’ the Dead Lakes of India

by Zia Ul Haq October 1, 2021
The picture of Zhang Junping smiling, wearing white shirt in the area that he transformed into green paradise Zhang Junping’s Sisyphean Task: from Abandoned Mines to Green Paradise
  • Figure

Zhang Junping’s Sisyphean Task: from Abandoned Mines to Green Paradise

by Nazalea Kusuma July 10, 2021
In frame: Tetsu Nakamura in Afghanistan | Image source: KYODO from the Japan Times Tetsu Nakamura Flowed Life Back to the Valley of Death
  • Featured
  • Figure

Tetsu Nakamura Flowed Life Back to the Valley of Death

by Zia Ul Haq May 25, 2021
In frame: Sadiman | Image source: Nuswantoro/Mongabay Indonesia Rebirth of a Forest: 25 Years of Sadiman’s Trees
  • Figure

Rebirth of a Forest: 25 Years of Sadiman’s Trees

by Zia Ul Haq May 21, 2021
  • Latest
  • Popular
  • Partner
  • a crowd at a stadium concert The Potential and Power of K-pop Fandoms as Global Communities
    • Featured
    • News

    The Potential and Power of K-pop Fandoms as Global Communities

  • A Japanese giant salamander is lying on top of measuring tape Saving the Japanese Giant Salamander with Sustainable Daisen
    • Featured
    • News

    Saving the Japanese Giant Salamander with Sustainable Daisen

  • IKEA’s blue building with a sign that says “IKEA Home" How IKEA Plans to Transition to a Circular Business Model
    • Featured
    • News

    How IKEA Plans to Transition to a Circular Business Model

  • greyscale photo of an empty class room Lebanon’s Education Crisis Is Not Getting Better
    • Featured
    • News

    Lebanon’s Education Crisis Is Not Getting Better

  • a night sky full of stars over kazakhstan’s golden steppe the altyn dala Reviving Kazakhstan’s Prehistoric Ecosystems, the Golden Steppe
    • Featured
    • News

    Reviving Kazakhstan’s Prehistoric Ecosystems, the Golden Steppe

  • The green landscape of Semakau Island in Singapore Semakau Island, the Green Landfill in Singapore
    • Featured
    • News

    Semakau Island, the Green Landfill in Singapore

  • Indonesian spices as cultural heritage Enthusiasts Reclaim Spices’ Cultural Heritage, Launch Spice Hub Indonesia
    • Featured
    • News

    Enthusiasts Reclaim Spices’ Cultural Heritage, Launch Spice Hub Indonesia

  • illustration of National SDG tracker by Unescap UNESCAP Supports “Build Back Better” with the National SDG Tracker
    • Featured
    • News

    UNESCAP Supports “Build Back Better” with the National SDG Tracker

  • In frame: Beena Rao with the children | Image source: beenarao.com Beena Rao and Her Fight for Education for the Children of the Slums
    • Figure

    Beena Rao and Her Fight for Education for the Children of the Slums

  • Customized water bottle by Muslimat NU Bojong | Image: Muslimat NU Bojong Muslimat NU of Bojong-Tegal Campaigns Environmental Protection, Reduces Waste Production
    • Featured
    • News

    Muslimat NU of Bojong-Tegal Campaigns Environmental Protection, Reduces Waste Production

  • green big containers, blue building, and large tube at Hamparan project site B-Corp Certified Gree Energy’s Commitments for Food Industry Decarbonization
    • Featured
    • News
    • Partner

    B-Corp Certified Gree Energy’s Commitments for Food Industry Decarbonization

  • the TEPI Talks #4 event poster Media Engagement Workshop for Sustainable Grassroots Movements by Women’s Earth Alliance Indonesia
    • Featured
    • News
    • Partner

    Media Engagement Workshop for Sustainable Grassroots Movements by Women’s Earth Alliance Indonesia

  • Kecak Traditional Dance. | Photo by Aminoz Acid on Unsplash. Bali Grows Arms for Stronger Economic Recovery
    • Brief
    • Featured
    • Partner

    Bali Grows Arms for Stronger Economic Recovery

  • The illustration of Harm Reduction with the fundamental purpose of upholding the safety and dignity of all people. An Introduction to Harm Reduction
    • Brief
    • Featured
    • Partner

    An Introduction to Harm Reduction

  • A young adult from we day ugm and three elementary schoolers planting mangrove seed. Photo is taken from above and shows only their heads and backs. WE Day UGM 2022: Raising Awareness on Climate Change and Encouraging Community Empowerment
    • Featured
    • News
    • Partner

    WE Day UGM 2022: Raising Awareness on Climate Change and Encouraging Community Empowerment

About Us

  • About
  • The Team
  • Partner with Us
  • Sponsored Content
  • Contribute to Our Mission
  • Press Release Guidelines
  • Op-ed Guidelines
  • Advisory Network
  • Youth Advisory Network
  • Author Network
  • FAQ
  • Work with Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Telegram
  • Etsy
  • Tokopedia
  • Media Link 11
  • Media Link 12
  • Media Link 13
  • Media Link 14
  • Media Link 15
© 2023 Green Network Asia