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'{{update|date=January 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}} {{short description|Malawian inventor}} {{Infobox person | name = William Kamkwamba | image = William Kamkwamba at TED in 2007.jpg | alt = | caption = Kamkwamba at [[TED (conference)|TED]] in 2007 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|8|5|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Kasungu, Malawi|Kasungu]], Malawi | nationality = [[Malawi|Malawian]] | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = [[Dartmouth College]] | education = [[Bachelor of Arts]] | occupation = [[Inventor]] | known_for = Constructing a wind turbine from scavenged parts }} [[File:William Kamkwambas old windmill.jpg|thumb|The first wind turbine]] '''William Kamkwamba''' (born August 5,hi 1987, in Kasungu, Malawi), is a [[Malawi]]an inventor, engineer, and author. He gained renown in his country in 2001 when he built a [[wind turbine]] to power multiple electrical appliances in his family's house in Wimbe, {{convert|23|km}} east of [[Kasungu]], using [[Eucalyptus globulus|blue gum trees]], bicycle parts, and materials collected in a local scrapyard. Since then, he has built a solar-powered [[water pump]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ted.com/speakers/william_kamkwamba|title=TED Speaker: William Kamkwamba — Inventor|publisher=TED|access-date=4 October 2020|archive-date=21 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021112208/https://www.ted.com/speakers/william_kamkwamba|url-status=live}}</ref> that supplies the first [[drinking water]] in his village and two other wind turbines, the tallest standing at {{convert|12|meters}}, and has built two more, including one in [[Lilongwe]], the political capital of Malawi. ==Life and career== Kamkwamba was born in a family of relative poverty and relied primarily on farming to survive. William enjoyed playing with his friends using recycled materials.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kamkwamba |first=William |title=The boy who harnessed the wind: creating currents of electricity and hope |last2=Mealer |first2=Bryan |date=2009 |publisher=HarperCollins-Publ |isbn=978-0-06-173033-7 |location=New York, NY}}</ref> A crippling [[famine]] forced Kamkwamba to drop out of school, and he was not able to return to school because his family was unable to afford the tuition. In a desperate attempt to retain his education, Kamkwamba began to frequent the local school library; it was there that he discovered his love for electronics. Before, he had once set up a small business repairing his village's radios, but this work did not earn him much money.[[File: William Kamkwambas new windmill.jpg|thumb|left|William Kamkwamba's new windmill]] Kamkwamba, after reading a book called ''Using Energy'',<ref>{{cite book | last=Atwater | first=Mary | title=Using energy | publisher=Macmillan/McGraw-Hill School Pub. Co | publication-place=New York | year=1995 | isbn=978-0-02-276142-4 | oclc=34171724 }}</ref> decided to create a makeshift wind turbine. He experimented with a small model using a cheap dynamo and eventually made a functioning wind turbine that powered some electrical appliances in his family's house. Local farmers and journalists investigated the spinning device and Kamkwamba's fame in international news skyrocketed. A blog about his accomplishments was written on Hacktivate and Kamkwamba took part in the first event celebrating his particular type of ingenuity called [[Maker Faire Africa]] in [[Ghana]] in August 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://techtv.mit.edu/videos/4282|title=Technology & Culture Forum - The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind|publisher=MIT TechTV|access-date=21 December 2009|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112023753/https://techtv.mit.edu/videos/4282|url-status=live}}</ref> Kamkwamba is one of four recipients of the 2010 GO Ingenuity Award, a prize awarded by the [[Santa Monica]]–based nonprofit [[GO Campaign]] to inventors, artists, and makers to promote the sharing of their innovations and skills with marginalized youth in developing nations. With the grant, Kamkwamba held workshops in his home village, teaching youths to make wind turbines and repair water pumps.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kamkwamba documentary wins international film award|url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/kamkwamba-documentary-wins-international-film-award/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=Malawi Nyasa Times |date=2013-10-24|language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2007 Kamkwamba entered an intensive two-year academic program combining the Cambridge University A-levels curriculum with leadership, entrepreneurship, and African studies at the [[African Leadership Academy]] in Johannesburg, South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-10-20 |title=William Kamkwamba, ALA Student, adds "Bestselling Author" to his CV |url=https://www.africanleadershipacademy.org/2009/10/20/william-kamkwamba-ala-student-adds-%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%C5%93bestselling-author%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%C2%9D-to-his-cv/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=African Leadership Academy |language=en-US}}</ref> He then went on to study at [[Dartmouth College]], Class of 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thedartmouth.com/2011/01/13/news/kamkwamba |title=Kamkwamba adapts to College life|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504235513/http://thedartmouth.com/2011/01/13/news/kamkwamba |archive-date=4 May 2012 |date=2011-01-13|first=Christy |last=O'Keefe|work=[[The Dartmouth]]}}</ref> ==Fame== [[File:Kamkwamba and Mealer.jpg|thumb|Kamkwamba at a book signing]] When ''[[The Daily Times (Malawi)|The Daily Times]]'' in [[Blantyre, Malawi|Blantyre]], the commercial capital of Malawi, wrote a story on Kamkwamba's wind turbine in November 2006,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=3312 |last=Mwafulirwa |first=Sangwani |title=School dropout with a streak genius |newspaper=[[The Daily Times (Malawi)|The Daily Times]] |location=Blantyre, Malawi |date=20 November 2006 |access-date=13 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061128040746/http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=3312 |archive-date=28 November 2006 |publisher=BNL Limited}}</ref> the story circulated through the [[blogosphere]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vdomck.org/2006/11/23/malawian-windmill/ |title=Malawian windmill |work=Hacktivate |publisher=Vdomck.org |date=23 November 2006 |access-date=30 October 2009 |archive-date=27 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927183841/http://www.vdomck.org/2006/11/23/malawian-windmill/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[TED (conference)|TED]] conference director [[Maker Faire Africa|Emeka Okafor]] invited Kamkwamba to talk at TEDGlobal 2007 in [[Arusha]], [[Tanzania]] as a guest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/153 |title=TED Talks: William Kamkwamba on building a windmill |work=[[Ted.com]] |date=July 2007 |access-date=30 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821001558/http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/153 |archive-date=21 August 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> His speech moved the audience, and several [[venture capitalists]] at the conference pledged to help finance his secondary education. His story was covered by Sarah Childress for ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119742696302722641 |title=A Young Tinkerer Builds a Windmill, Electrifying a Nation |first=Sarah |last=Childress |author-link=Sarah Childress |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=12 December 2007 |access-date=24 March 2019 |publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company, Inc.]] |archive-date=8 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608124541/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119742696302722641 |url-status=live }}</ref> He became a student at [[African Bible College]] Christian Academy in Lilongwe. He then went on to receive a scholarship to the [[African Leadership Academy]] and in 2014 graduated from [[Dartmouth College]] in [[Hanover, New Hampshire]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thedartmouth.com/2009/10/20/boy-who-harnessed-the-wind-comes-to-college/ |title='Boy who harnessed the wind' comes to College |work=TheDartmouth.com |date=20 October 2009 |access-date=3 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304193233/http://thedartmouth.com/2009/10/20/boy-who-harnessed-the-wind-comes-to-college/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |first=Christy |last=O'Keefe |url-status=live }}</ref> Among other appearances, Kamkwamba was interviewed on ''[[The Daily Show]]'' on 7 October 2009 (during which he was playfully compared to the fictional hero [[Angus MacGyver]] for his impressive scientific ingenuity).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-october-7-2009/william-kamkwamba |title=William Kamkwamba |date=7 October 2009 |work=[[The Daily Show with Jon Stewart]] |access-date=13 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722064038/http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-october-7-2009/william-kamkwamba |archive-date=22 July 2011 |publisher=[[Comedy Partners]] |first=Jon |last=Stewart |author-link=Jon Stewart |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, he was invited to and attended the 2011 [[Google Science Fair]] introductory meeting, where he was a guest speaker.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2011/01/11/googles-global-online-science-fair-kicks-off-today/ |title=Google's global, online science fair kicks off today |last=Matson |first=John |date=11 January 2011 |journal=[[Scientific American]] |access-date=13 August 2011 |archive-date=22 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022210425/http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2011/01/11/googles-global-online-science-fair-kicks-off-today/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Kamkwamba's book, ''The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind'', was selected as the 2013 "1 Book, 1 Community" title for [[Loudoun County, Virginia]]'s Public Library system. "1book 1community is a countywide reading program that promotes community dialog and understanding through the shared experience of reading and discussing the same book." Copies of the book were purchased from the [[A.V. Symington]] and [[Irwin Uran Gift Fund]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://library.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=115 |title=Irwin Uran Gift Fund |access-date=24 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924035552/http://library.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=115 |archive-date=24 September 2012 |work=[[Loudoun County Public Library]] System |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://library.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=716 |title=2013 1 Book, 1 Community |work=[[Loudoun County Public Library]] System |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825074050/http://library.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=716 |archive-date=25 August 2013 |access-date=24 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kamkwamba is the subject of the documentary film ''William and the Windmill'', which won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.ted.com/2013/03/13/william-and-the-windmill-wins-grand-jury-award-at-sxsw/ |title=William And The Windmill |date=13 March 2013 |work=[[TED conference|TED]] |access-date=17 December 2013 |first=Kate Torgovnick |last=May |archive-date=5 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205230639/http://blog.ted.com/2013/03/13/william-and-the-windmill-wins-grand-jury-award-at-sxsw/ |url-status=live }}</ref> at the 2013 [[South by Southwest|South By Southwest film festival]] in [[Austin, Texas]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Debruge |first=Peter |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/sxsw-review-william-and-the-windmill-1200324989/ |title=SXSW Review: 'William and the Windmill' |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=17 March 2013 |access-date=24 March 2019 |publisher=[[Penske Business Media, LLC.]] |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327073950/https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/sxsw-review-william-and-the-windmill-1200324989/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2010, ''The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind'' was selected as the [[University of Florida]] and [[Boise State University]] common book, required for all incoming students to read.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.ufl.edu/archive/2011/01/harn-uf-common-reading-program-sponsor-contest-for-students-art.html |title=Harn, UF Common Reading Program, sponsor contest for students' art |date=25 January 2011 |work=[[University of Florida]] |access-date=2 June 2015 |archive-date=28 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428183308/http://news.ufl.edu/archive/2011/01/harn-uf-common-reading-program-sponsor-contest-for-students-art.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, it was selected as the common book at [[Auburn University]] and [[University of Michigan College of Engineering]], as well. William made an appearance at each university to discuss his book and life. In 2013 ''[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]'' magazine named Kamkwamba one of the "30 People Under 30 Changing The World."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://ideas.time.com/2013/12/06/these-are-the-30-people-under-30-changing-the-world/slide/william-kamkwamba/ |title=These Are the 30 People Under 30 Changing the World |last=Rhodan |first=Maya |date=17 December 2013 |magazine=[[TIME]] |access-date=17 December 2013 |archive-date=10 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210230915/http://ideas.time.com/2013/12/06/these-are-the-30-people-under-30-changing-the-world/slide/william-kamkwamba/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Kamkwamba is featured in the book ''Extraordinary People'' by [[Michael Hearst]] and is also the subject of a song from the companion album ''Songs For Extraordinary People.'' <ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0v5hBQAAQBAJ&dq=hearst+extraordinary+People+kamkwamba&pg=PA6 |title=Extraordinary People |last=Hearst |first=Michael |year=2015 |publisher=[[Chronicle Books]]|isbn=9781452133393 }}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/qf3IQfZFiKY Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200429232055/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf3IQfZFiKY&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf3IQfZFiKY| title = William Kamkwamba | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2014, Kamkwamba received a bachelor of arts degree in [[Environmental Studies|environmental studies]] from [[Dartmouth College]] in [[Hanover, New Hampshire]]<ref name="DNJan2019">{{cite news |url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900052215/meet-the-man-whose-inspirational-life-story-is-about-to-open-sundance-in-salt-lake.html |title=Meet the man whose inspirational life story is about to open Sundance in Salt Lake |work=[[Deseret News]] |access-date=1 March 2019 |date=25 January 2019 |last=Meiners |first=Cristy |publisher=[[Deseret News Publishing Company]] |archive-date=2 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302211818/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900052215/meet-the-man-whose-inspirational-life-story-is-about-to-open-sundance-in-salt-lake.html |url-status=live }}</ref> where he was elected to the Sphinx Senior Honor Society. In 2019, ''[[The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind]]'' was adapted into [[The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind|a film]], starring [[Chiwetel Ejiofor]], who also wrote and directed.<ref name="DNJan2019" /> ==References== {{reflist|30em}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/ William Kamkwamba's blog] ** ''[http://williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/williamkamkwamba/book.html The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind : Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope]'' * [http://movingwindmills.org/ Moving Windmills] * {{Twitter}} * {{TED speaker}} * [http://techtv.mit.edu/videos/4282 William Kamkwamba talks at MIT] * {{IMDb name|3919523}} {{Authority control}} . {{DEFAULTSORT:Kamkwamba, William}} [[Category:1987 births]] [[Category:21st-century inventors]] [[Category:Autobiographers]] [[Category:Dartmouth College alumni]] [[Category:Innovation]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Malawian engineers]] [[Category:Malawian expatriates in the United States]] [[Category:Malawian inventors]] [[Category:People from Kasungu District]] [[Category:Utility]]'