On June 25, I got to do something I've been trying to do the entire time I've been in Malawi:
Meet William Kamkwamba.
aka The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
aka the Young Man Who Harnessed My HEART
I imagine a lot of you have heard of him. He has become somewhat of a celebrity in the States (and around the world) for his work. His road to celebrity status started with the book "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind", co-written with American author Bryan Mealer.
We have been lucky enough to become friends with Bryan and William's translator, Blessings (I have a cutie photo of Blessings many posts back) who has also helped us translate for our project. Anyway, that connection is how we got to go to William's village of Wimbe and see the actual windmills that William first built!! Here is the very first one that he built by himself when he was 14:
And here are the newer windmills, also built from scratch, right next to William's house:
We even got to go inside his family home and meet his sweet Mama!! I couldn't believe it. I don't EVEN understand all of the science behind what he has done (big ol irrigation system that waters a field behind his house and what-not........ wow)
Check out this website for more info:
I am so glad that I read the book in February because it made seeing it all in person so much cooler! Here is a picture of the group we went with (World Camp coordinators and volunteers, a group of friends in Lilongwe) at the brand new primary school that has been built in his village.
William is in the blue sweater in the middle!
What an inspiration. What a guy. What a story.
What a day!!!
The view from the road to William's house in Wimbe
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