Wind power’s been around since long before sustainable energy became a thing. A drive through any rural African landscape will prove that.
For centuries, farmers have been using windmills to draw water and drive mills but for one young man in Malawi, the humble windmill became the symbol of a new start.
Necessity Breeds Invention
William Kamkwamba grew up on his family farm in Masitala Village, about two hours’ drive from the capital city. He was one of 7 children and completed school up until the 8th grade, before severe famine and money shortages put paid to his ambitions of ever advancing further.
Being on good terms with his educators, William fueled his passion for learning by borrowing books from his primary school library until he came across a book entitled, Using Energy, which sparked off something extraordinary in his young mind.
The information he gleaned from this book inspired him to build a wind turbine to power a few lights in his family home. He hoped to save them a little money on buying kerosene for night-time illumination, but his idea set off a chain of life changing events instead.
His first attempt consisted of a radio motor, a tractor fan blade, a broken bicycle, an old shock absorber and some gum poles. He hooked his homemade wind turbine to a car battery for storage. After a few adjustments – it worked!
At first, he used this simple construction - complete with homemade light switches and a circuit breaker made from nails, wire, and magnets - to power four light bulbs in his parent’s home.
Soon his neighbors were asking him to charge their mobile phones too.
Ongoing Innovations
Fueled by his success, William extended his contraption to 12m so that he could catch more wind, then he added another windmill which served to pump grey water for irrigation.
On a roll, he then started and completed work on clean water systems as well as solar power and lighting for all six homes in his family compound. He added a deep-water well with a solar powered pump, and a drip irrigation system. He achieved all this in his early teens.
Back to School
The local population was astounded by William’s clever initiatives, and he soon started to draw the crowds, including Dr Hartford Mchazime, Ph.D. This dignitary was the director of MTTA, a Malawian NGO responsible for setting up community libraries in the area.
He invited the press to write about William’s astonishing achievements. This inspired a host of donors to sponsor his education as well as some of his current projects.
Thanks to the generosity of his donors, William at last found himself at high school in Lilongwe. He excelled and was offered a scholarship at the Regents Language Institute in Cambridge, UK, graduated from The African Leadership Academy in 2010, and matriculated at Dartmouth college.
The Journey Continues
Today, William is a sought-after speaker at global events, and works tirelessly on new innovations to help impoverished communities around the world, under the wing of the WiderNet brand. He is the subject of an acclaimed short documentary which discusses his life story and he’s also penned an autobiography detailing his journey.
William is an outstanding example of the unfailing spirit of Africa and serves as the inspiration for many other youths starting out just like he did.
If you’d like to experience some of this African magic, book your southern African safari and find out what this incredible continent has in store for you with a host of sustainable and eco-friendly travel options.
