About William Kamkwamba

New York Times bestselling author of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, TED Fellow, IDEO.org Global Fellow, and co-founder of Moving Windmills Project

A life that reaches back

 
 

When William Kamkwamba was 14, Malawi suffered severe famine. The Kamkwamba family could no longer pay William’s school fees, and he was forced to drop out of high school. While staying home, William worked with the village librarian to remain engaged with his studies, especially science. Working from a photo in a high school textbook, “Using Energy,” William 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 has been translated into 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 with the WiderNet Project to develop appropriate technologies curriculums focused on bridging the gap between “knowing” and “doing” for young people in Malawi and across the world. 

 

Currently, William works with Moving Windmills to co-create innovative solutions using recycled materials, appropriate technology, and human-centered design with teams of young Malawians. 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.  

 
The-Boy-Who-Harnessed-The-Wind-3.png
The-Boy-Who-Harnessed-The-Wind-4.png
The-Boy-Who-Harnessed-The-Wind-2.png
The-Boy-Who-Harnessed-The-Wind-1.png
 

1,000,000+ Copies Sold

 

Since its debut, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind has sold more than 1 million copies and has been translated in nearly twenty languages worldwide. The memoir has been published in two additional editions, a young reader’s version and a children’s book.

 

William’s life

journey told through film

Directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, the Netflix adaptation of William’s life was awarded the Alfred P. Sloan Prize at the Sundance Film festival. The stunningly beautiful movie was filmed in Malawi and features an international cast, Malawian talent, and a moving soundtrack.

WATCH THE NETFLIX FILM

TED Fellow

William is a member of the inaugural TED Fellows class. After reading about William on Mike McKay's blog Hactivate (which picked up the story from a local Malawi newspaper), TEDGlobal Conference Director Emeka Okafor spent several weeks tracking William down at his home in Wimbe, Kasungu and invited him to attend TEDGlobal on a fellowship. Onstage, Williams talked about his invention and shared his dreams

WATCH WILLIAM’S TED TALKS

Inspiring a generation of creative problem-solvers

Moving Windmills Project is empowering young Malawians with mentors, appropriate tools, and opportunities to co-create solutions that change lives.

LEARN MORE

Testimonials

  • “THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND is the inspiring story of a young man in Africa who used the only resources available to him to build a windmill and elevate the lives and spirits of those in his community. William Kamkwamba’s achievements with wind energy should serve as a model of what one person, with an inspired idea, can do to tackle the crisis we face. His book tells a moving and exciting story.”

    — Al Gore, former Vice President and Nobel Laureate

  • "This is an amazing, inspiring, and heartwarming story! It's about harnessing the power not just of the wind but of imagination and ingenuity. Those are the most important forces we have for saving the planet. William Kamkwamba is a hero for our age."

    — Walter Isaacson, author, Einstein: His Life and Universe

  • "In this book, the spirit, resilience and resourcefulness that are Africa's greatest strengths shine through. My heart was gripped by the tale of how William's family pulled through the famine, and it was lifted up by the tale of how his determination brought light to his home and hope to his village. THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND is a remarkable story about a remarkable young man and his inquisitive and inventive mind."

    —Amy Smith, Founder, D Lab, MIT

  • "If we can develop more innovative leaders like William, Africa will finally stand on its own two feet."

    —Fred Swaniker, Founder & CEO, African Leadership Academy

  • "This book is inspirational. What William did took nothing more than initiative and a little learning, yet he changed his village and his life. There's never been a better time to Do It Yourself, and I love how much we can learn from those who often have no other choice."

    —Chris Anderson, author, Free: The Future of a Radical Price and editor-in-chief of WIRED

  • "William met hundreds of students, signed hundreds of books, and managed to make every single student feel as if he had all the time in the world to speak with them. William has inspired a number of our students to become much more involved in their communities, working at the grass roots level to create more "green" power devices.

    —Janet Hardin, Pellissippi State Community College

  • "William Kamkwamba is easily the most compelling, inspiring, and genuine speaker that I've ever heard or worked with. His talk will move people to imagine a better and brighter future for themselves and others. "

    —John Cary, University of Minnesota College of Design

  • “William Kamkwamba is the most inspiring human being I have ever met. A calm and bright demeanor mask an almost unfathomable drive to achieve goals that others would write off as impossible. After hearing him talk, it is hard to see any obstacle as insurmountable.”

    —Dave Callahan, Sonos