William Kamkwamba

“The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind”

From the Book• Magic ruled his world• His father was strong and feared no magic • Father= hero to William• Family lived on farm• Took bubble gum• Guy who lost it put a curse on anyone who eat the gum• His father “saved” his life• Stories passed down generation to generation• Magic existed as a 3rd and powerful force• Invisible force• Father’s name is Trywell• Famous as a young boy• Farmer• Before farming he was a traveling trader

William’s Story • Born august 5, 1987 in Malawi, Africa• Country plagued by AIDS and poverty• Living with out luxuries• In 2002 Malawi had one of the worst famine in 50 years• For all it was a struggle to survive• At the age of 14 William was forced to drop out of school• His family couldn’t afford $80-a-year tuition• Even thought he wasn’t in a classroom he continued to learn• He wanted to build a windmill that could bring his family the electricity only 2% of Malawians could afford• His windmill project drew visitors from many kilometers away• He was invited to a TED conference• The Malawi Daily and bloggers/engineers were interested in his windmill• Because of fundraising it allowed William to re-enroll in high school • After 1 trimester William transferred to African Bible College Christian Academy, a private prep school in the

capital city of Lilongwe.• William became 1 of 97 inaugural students at the African Leadership Academy• Speaking engagements: TEDGlobal, World Economic Forum, African Leadership Academy,• African Economic Forum at Columbia University, Aspen Ideas Festival, TEDGlobal 2009, July, Maker Faire

Africa, summer, 2009, and Science Chicago, summer, 2009.• An exhibit features William as 1 of a dozen innovators and includes the Moving Wing Mills short film, photos

and electro-mechanical devices hand-made by William.• Media: front page Wall Street Journal, The Malawi Daily Times, the Sydney Morning Herald, La Repubblica<

Banker Magazine, and a special African issue of L’Uomo Vogue. Also Myriad blogs featured William and Williams blog appeared on the front page of the news aggregators Digg and Reddit.

TED• Build an electricity-producing windmill from spare parts and scraps• Started a surprising journey • Wrote “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind”• Born inventor• When he was 14, he built an electricity-producing windmill• WM powers 4 lights and 2 radios in his family home.

1. How do we define the personality traits of a hero?

• A hero is someone that changes the lives of the people around him in a positive way.

2. How do the setting, conflicts, and antagonists influence the

development of literary heroes? • My hero lives in Malawi, Africa (“Moving Windmills Project.”). In

2002 William’s village experienced one of the worst famines they have had in 50 years. For the people of his village it was a struggle to survive (“Moving Windmills Project.”).

3. How does a hero reflect his/her particular culture and society?

• William’s culture and society are reflected because he took the negative climate of his society and used it to his advantage. He made the windmill because only 2% of his village could afford the cost of electricity (“Moving Windmills Project.”). He want electricity to be affordable for everyone in his village.

4. How does a hero represent his/her time period and

geographical area?

5. How do various cultures reward or recognize their heroes?

• After William Kamkwamba build his first windmill many organizations recognized what he had done; the local malawi

jornalists, bloggers, newspapers, wed articles and TED. He was also invited to visit the United States for the first time in December of 2007. William was on the Daily Show in New York City for his book,

"The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind“ ("William Kamkwamba”) .

6. How did his life change from the building of his windmill?

• William now is attending school and a group of people pay for his education. He has been to the U.S. and other countries for conferences. He was also on the Daily Show talking about his book.

7. What is William Planning on doing now that he has become

recognized and successful?

• After William finishes his studies he is planning on going back to his village to help the people there receive the common luxuries most people have.

8. What is William doing to help his village, and what new

"luxuries" do they have because of his windmills?

9. Are there other heroes that have used modern technology to benefit the ways of there society?

• Yes there are other heroes like William out there. (still reaserching) on news article I found was about volunteers helping teach teens in Africa use web-based technology.

10.Are the others that used modern technology considered

heroes?