William Kamkwamba

Activist, Blogger, Change Agent, Christian, Engineer, Inventor, Social entrepreneur, World traveler, Writer/Editor

William works with Moving Windmills to mentor young problem-solvers in Malawi. William's most recent designs include electric motorcycles and maize mills all using recycled materials, appropriate technology, and human-centered design. William is currently working to bring the Moving Windmills Innovation Center to life in Kasungu, a space where young people will find the tools and mentorship to co-create simple solutions to everyday agricultural challenges. When William Kamkwamba was 14, Malawi suffered a severe famine. His family could no longer pay his school fees, and he was forced to drop out of high school. While staying home, William remained curious and inventive and worked with a local librarian to stay engaged with his studies, especially science. Working from just one photo in a U.S. junior high school textbook book called “Using Energy,” he reasoned out how to build an electricity-producing windmill from spare parts and scrap, despite having no instructions. William’s inspiring story is told in his New York Times bestselling memoir The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, co-authored with Bryan Mealer, and in the Netflix film adaptation, directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, which was awarded the Alfred P. Sloan Prize at the Sundance Film festival. Since its debut, William’s book has been published in two additional editions, a young readers version, and a children’s book. The autobiography has sold more than 1 million copies and been translated in nearly twenty languages worldwide. William has been featured on The Wall Street Journal, Nyasa Times, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and Good Morning America with Diane Sawyer. After graduating from Dartmouth College in Environmental Studies, William began work as a Global Fellow for the design firm IDEO.org. William is an entrepreneur, TED Fellow, and has worked to develop appropriate technologies curriculums focused on bridging the gap between “knowing” and “doing” for young people in Malawi and across the world. William splits his time between the U.S. and Malawi and is currently working full-time with the Moving Windmills Project to bring the Moving Windmills Innovation Center to life in Kasungu, Malawi.

Wind Power, Solar Energy, Rural economic development and distributed power, especially for the people of my country, Malawi.

People know their own problems best. The process of defining, ideating, and prototyping solutions requires both community and individual ownership. We do not have to accept life "as-is" — making a difference starts with just a few small steps before giant leaps become possible.

Electric Mobility, Rural Economic Development, Solar Power, Wind Power

My life was utterly transformed by attending TEDGlobal in Arusha, Tanzania. Now I'm in the process of making my dream of creating a well-equipped machine shop, the innovation center in Malawi. The Moving Windmills Innovation Center will be a place where young people can find the tools and mentorship to create simple solutions that transform rural farming.

Playing pool