William Kamkwamba: Qualities of an inspirational figure
Necessity is the mother of invention and hardship is the father of heroes.
18 years ago, a 14-year-old boy from Kasungu district in Malawi was forced to drop out of school for lack of fees. At the same time, severe famine was ravaging his village, claiming people’s lives and leaving utter desperation in its wake.
This was a situation to break the strongest of minds but William Kamkwamba did not give up. Young as he was, he knew that education was where his future lay. He found hope in the library and feasted on the knowledge that he harvested from its books.
It was there that he came across a science textbook entitled Using Energy. He learned that he could generate electricity using wind. The youngster realised that, if mastered, this power could help his village in unprecedented ways.
Armed with determination and an iron will, the teenager set out to build a windmill out of random materials salvaged from a scrapyard. As his outside world was crumbling to dust, the youngster did not waver from his purpose. He remained oblivious to doubt and was unswayed by criticism.
He worked tirelessly until his dream of bringing electricity to his village became something tangible. Soon, he would be caught in the whirlwind of media attention that took him to new places that he would never have stepped on without his invention.
In his village, the dust has not settled yet and the winds of change continue to blow across the land. Windmills pump water to irrigate crops, sweeping away the spectrum of another period of hunger. William’s former primary school boasts of new and sturdier buildings, thanks to the help of well-wishers and the villagers’ united efforts.
What seemed like a hopeless situation has been turned into an inspirational story that motivates each and every one of us, persuading us that no misfortune is set in stone. William refused to be a school drop-out forever. He sought solutions for his problems and continued fighting even when the going got tough. He was able to rise above poverty and destitution to become a graduate from one of America’s best universities, Dartmouth College.
Not only was he capable of turning his life around, but he also managed to empower the people around him such as his parents and siblings. The former run a maize mill business and the latter have been able to go to school thanks to William’s perseverance and wind…
Today, March 1st 2019, is another significant day for once an insignificant African boy. People around the world can finally watch Netflix’s adaptation of William’s best-selling and inspiring book: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.
It is a beautiful portrayal of resilience that is so inherent to the Malawian spirit. It underlines individual and collective responsibility in the face of adversity. It shows us that positive obstinacy pays off in the pursuit of our dreams.
18 years ago, it took a science textbook and a young unfettered mind to turn the tide in the fight against despair in Masitala Village. Before that, no one had ever heard of William Kamkwamba. He was unknown, inconsequential, not worth mentioning.
His story is truly inspirational. Through his curious and child-like eyes, we understand and harness the power of creativity. We realise that a 14-year-old’s strong imagination is enough to move windmills and transform a people’s fate in unpredicted and mind-blowing ways.
Further Exploration: (William Kamkwamba)
Discover:
Read:
- Article, William Kamkwamba: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Learn English With Africa, November 2015
- Article, Nelson Mandela: An African Hero, Learn English With Africa, November 2015
- Short Story: The Astronaut from Bolero, Learn English With Africa, December, 2016
- Short Story: Dreams Can’t Be Too Big, Learn English With Africa, November 2016
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About the Author
Thandi Ngwira Gatignol is the founder of Learn English With Africa. She was born on June 11th, 1981 in Blantyre, Malawi. When she was 19, she left her country of birth for France. She currently lives with her two daughters and husband in Poland.
Thandi holds a Bachelor’s degree in English studies obtained at the Université Paris X Nanterre in France and a Certificate in Journalism from Malawi. She has taught English as a French Ministry of Education certified teacher both in France and in Poland. She speaks six languages fluently, including French, Polish and Italian. She is now learning Kiswahili, German and Spanish. Salt No More is her debut novel and you can find her other books here on the website or on Amazon.
Course Title: Article: William Kamkwamba-Heroes are Made of Wind (with Incredible Hope), Level B1-B2© Learn English With Africa, March 2019
