William Kamkwamba from Malawi harnessed his interest in electricity to build an electricity-producing windmill from scrap parts when he was 14 years old.

William was born on 5 August, 1987 in Dowa, Malawi. He lived with his parents and six sisters on a farm, and he grew up in relative poverty.

When famine hit in 2001, William's family was unable to provide for his education, and he was forced to drop out of school. However, he continued his studies in the village library.

William was especially interested in science, and he borrowed a textbook called Using Energy which inspired him to build a windmill that could power his family’s home, generating electricity and running water, which, at the time, was something only two percent of Malawians could afford. Since he could not read English, he used only the book’s illustrations to guide him.

He used scrap metal, parts from tractors and bicycles, and rubber from flip-flops to build a 5-meter wind turbine that powered some electrical appliances in his family's home. He went on to build other windmills—for electricity and to pump water—in his village. This brought him worldwide attention and praise for his resilience and ingenuity.

William Kamkwamba helped co-found the Moving Windmills Project, which seeks to inspire young people and empower local leaders in Malawi to create simple solutions to everyday farming challenges. Some of the foundation's projects have included: building low cost water wells with percussion drilling, installing solar powered pumps and energy systems, and renovating schools with new facilities and learning materials.

William has also been an advocate for the use of renewable materials, speaking up about the adverse impact of climate change on vulnerable communities and nations, such as Malawi.

William published a book called The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, which was adapted into a film by Netflix, and he is also the subject of the award-winning documentary film, William and the Windmill.

William continues to be an inspiration to young innovators around the world. Al Gore, former US Vice President and Nobel Laureate, said it best: “William Kamkwamba’s achievements…should serve as a model of what one person, with an inspired idea, can do to tackle the crisis we face.”

5 August, 1987

William Kamkwamba was born in Dowa, Malawi.

2001

Famine hit and William had to drop out of school. Using a textbook from the library, he built a working wind turbine from scrap materials for his family home.

2008

William co-founded the Moving Windmills Project.

29 September, 2009

William published his memoir, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.

2010

William graduated from the African Leadership Academy in Roodepoort, South Africa after being out of school for five years.

16 December, 2013

The documentary film William and the Windmill, which centres upon William's achievements, was released.

2014

William graduated from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire with a degree in environmental studies.

25 January, 2019

The film adaptation of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind was released.

• “I try, and I made it!”

• “Thinking of them reminds me of a quote I read recently from the great Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. that says, "If you can't fly, run; if you can't run, walk; if you can't walk, crawl." We must encourage those still struggling to keep moving forward.”

• “I went to sleep dreaming of Malawi, and all the things made possible when your dreams are powered by your heart.”

• “If you want to make it, all you have to do is try.”

• “Don't insult me today just because I'm poor, you don't know what my future holds!”

• “Whatever you want to do, if you do it with all your heart, it will happen.”

• Hope

• Resilience

• Risk-taking

• Innovation

• Education

• Poverty

• Dreams

• Sustainability

• William Kamkwamba's Official Website

• The website for Moving Windmills Project

• Quotes

• Timeline

• TEDTalks

• An online copy of the picture book version of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind