You might have seen or heard about the movie, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind which is about a teenager who made a difference in the most abysmal times. That inventor is William Kamkwamba. He has stirred people across the world about how remote villages face difficulties in access to electricity and have been the victims of climate change and poverty. These times were particularly austere for him and his family.
His Journey
His remarkable journey started when there was famine at his family farm in Masitala Village, Wimbe, two and half hours northeast of Malawi’s capital city. The famine occurred due to droughts which made it extremely hard for the farmers to irrigate their crops. This jolted his family’s living conditions since his father was a farmer and earned his primary source of income through crops. This resulted in him getting dropped out of the school because his parents were unable to pay for his school’s annual fees. During all of these unanticipated events, he borrowed the book called, Using Energy, which explains how to make a windmill. This book which is written by Sally Hewitt induced him to make a windmill creatively. He wanted to make a windmill to generate electricity in his village so that there could be light, radio, and mobile phones charged. He made the makeshift windmill with materials such as a radio motor, tractor fan blade, old shocker absorber, and blue gum trees. This invention powered four light bulbs and helped charged his neighbors’ electronic appliances. Further, he made a windmill that helped pump water. His curiosity and scientific ingenuity was further internationally recognized. Press, media, and news outlets around the globe covered his story which intrigued many. Since he missed 5 years of school from eighth grade, he accelerated high school. And further got accepted to Dartmouth College, located at Hanover, New Hampshire, US.
What is he doing today?
Currently, he is working with WiderNet@UNC. He is on his way to invent another solution. This invention is making educational websites and videos available offline. So that children from very remote areas of the world who don’t have access to the internet can still continue their education without any interruptions. And is also teaching individuals around the world to find climate-friendly technology.
Written by: Chirag Agarwal
Great article!