What are you reading Ms Leupold?

“The boy who harnessed the wind” is more than an autobiography. William Kamkwamba, a teenage boy growing up in a rural Malawian village, takes us on a journey that’s as educational as it is inspiring.

The story blends his personal experiences with insight into life in Malawi, and he paints a vivid picture of the country’s history, its society and the daily realities of its people. He narrates about traditional beliefs and folklore are passed down from one generation to the next. It’s a story about family and friendship, but also about struggle: the impact of famine and the growing poverty of William’s family which eventually forces him out of school. 

But then there is William’s insatiable thirst for knowledge. With restricted access to resources and formal education, he teaches himself about energy and engineering, eventually building a windmill from scrap materials, using it to generate electricity. With his determination, creativity and perseverance, he changes not only the life of his family and his village, but also his own future. 

Without overdramatizing, the book offers an honest, sometimes heartbreaking yet hopeful story. It reminds you that even under the most difficult circumstances, curiosity and courage can spark real change. As a reader, you will walk away not only inspired by William’s intellect but also moved by his story, humbled by his struggles, and encouraged to believe in everyone’s (including your own) potential to create change. 

After the story, as told in this book, concluded, William Kamkwamba went on and in 2008 he founded the Moving Windmills Project that supports communities in Malawi to this day: https://movingwindmills.org/  The book has also been turned into a movie. 

William Kamkwamba und Bryan Mealer: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope.  Harper Collins, 2010.