William Kamkwamba.

Born August 5, 1987 in Dowa, Malawi, William Kamkwamba grew up in a farming family. The drought and famine of 2001-2002 forced him to drop out of school. His resourcefulness led him to build a windmill from scrap materials, providing electricity to his village.

He later pursued education at the African Bible Colleges and the African Leadership Academy before attending Dartmouth College in the United States.

Kamkwamba wrote the memoir The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, first published in 2009. The book details his construction of a windmill to generate electricity for his family’s home. The memoir was adapted into a 2019 film directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, with Maxwell Simba playing Kamkwamba.

He also appears in the documentary William and the Windmill 2013 and was featured on Channel 4 News 1982. He received the Corine Literature Prize in 2010 and the GO Ingenuity Award in 2011.

William Kamkwamba, born in Dowa, Malawi, is the son of Trywell and Agnes Kamkwamba and the second of seven children. His childhood during famine and his determination to build a windmill are central to his memoir. He moved to the United States to study at Dartmouth College, graduating in 2014 with a degree in environmental studies.

Kamkwamba’s story inspired millions, showing what one person can achieve with limited resources. His memoir and its film adaptation have been used in educational programs to promote renewable energy and STEM education. He received the Corine Literature Prize 2010 and the GO Ingenuity Award 2011. Kamkwamba is most remembered for building a windmill that brought electricity to his village, demonstrating how individual effort can spark change.