William and the Wind: The Story of William Kamkwamba

Written By: The Good and the Beautiful Published On:

Enjoy this behind-the-story look at William and the Wind by Shannen Yauger. This original illustrated storybook from The Good and Beautiful Bookshop is based on the true story of William Kamkwamba, most commonly known as “the boy who harnessed the wind.” Read on to learn more about William’s incredible story and to download our FREE coloring pages.

  • Download these free coloring pages with images taken from William and the Wind, an inspirational children’s book from The Good and the Beautiful Bookshop.

    Click Here for FREE Download

William and the Wind  

As Jenny Phillips and I (Shannen Yauger) thought about exactly whose stories to feature in our Bookshop books, we wanted to focus on people who persevered through hardships and made a difference because of it. While researching biographies to feature in The Good and Beautiful Bookshop, we came across William’s powerful story. William Kamkwamba stands out as an individual who truly overcame an enormous obstacle and used the lessons he learned to help others.

William Kamkwamba’s story begins when he was a young teen in Malawi, in East Africa. Due to extreme famine, his family did not have food or money and was unable to pay school fees. Instead of accepting defeat, William worked with his village librarian and continued to study, learn, and grow. 

His natural curiosity for all things, especially science, led him to a junior high school textbook from the US about energy. He studied this book and imagined a way to build an electricity-producing windmill using scrap metal and spare parts.

I found William Kamkwamba’s story incredibly inspiring. In the face of extreme adversity, he didn’t give up. He found a way to continue to learn, and he wasn’t afraid to try and fail. William’s curiosity led him to save not only himself but also an entire community.

  • Photograph by: Gilbert Wimbe

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: William Kamkwamba’s Story

William Kamkwamba is one of seven children and the only boy in his family. He grew up in a family of farmers—in a country of farmers—most of whom grew maize, or corn. In 2001, William’s country experienced a horrible famine. In a short span of time, starvation caused the deaths of many people. With no food, there was also no income. In William’s words from his TED Talk in July 2009, “I was forced to drop out of school. I looked at my father and looked at those dry fields. It was the future I couldn’t accept.”

Determined to continue learning, William frequented the village library. He studied anything he could get his hands on, but he especially loved science. William was fascinated by books about energy and physics. If he was unable to read the words, as the books were written in English, he studied the diagrams and pictures to help him decipher the words on the pages. 

A textbook on energy lit a fire in William to reach further than anyone in his village ever had before. He found a section on windmills and figured out that a windmill could both pump water and generate electricity. William was fascinated by this concept and worked hard to make this a reality for his people.

  • Photograph by: Gilbert Wimbe

  • William’s first windmill, built from scraps, generated electricity for one light bulb. This seemingly small success was all that William needed to grow his confidence. One light bulb multiplied to many lights for the Kamkwambas’ home, then to a machine to pump water for irrigation. People from William’s village came to charge their electronics at his home.

    Reporters found their way to William as well, and his story was shared around the world in books and in a well-known movie. William cowrote The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2010) and then followed it up with a picture book edition (2012)*, as well as a young readers edition (2016).

    *The original book is not on The Good and the Beautiful Book List; however, the picture book edition is.

  • William Kamkwamba’s Impact Today

    Such publicity made it possible for William Kamkwamba to share his story of invention and discovery. Furthermore, he was asked to give a TED Talk. In his talk William discussed his dream of building a larger windmill to help with irrigation for his entire village. He shared that he wanted to go back to school and continue his education. Many people heard William and vowed to help.

    Scholarships, mentorships, and a community of business leaders made it possible for William to not only return to school but also to work with organizations to inspire other children in his country to reach for their dreams.

  • Photograph by: Gilbert Wimbe

  • As the cofounder of the Moving Windmills Project, William Kamkwamba “inspires a generation of problem solvers” by teaching children to use their natural curiosity to create ways to improve their lives. This project has also built wells, installed solar-powered pumps, renovated local schools, provided learning materials, and supported community development efforts.

  • Photograph by: Gilbert Wimbe

  • William’s Powerful Story

    No matter the hardships William Kamkwamba faced, he persevered. He did not give up. Against all odds, he used his desire to learn and his natural gift of curiosity to save his community.

    In his first TED Talk, William ended his story with, “I tried. And I made it.” Two years later, he added to this inspirational wisdom with more advice: “Trust yourself and believe. Whatever happens, don’t give up.”

  • Download these free coloring pages with images taken from William and the Wind, an inspirational children’s book from The Good and the Beautiful Bookshop.

    Click Here for FREE Download

  • What inspires you most about William Kamkwamba’s incredible story? Tell us in the comments below!

  • Read more about how homeschooling families like yours can
    partner with The Good and the Beautiful to help bring clean water to local villages.

In the Bookshop

Purchase these and other original, character building books for kids in The Good and the Beautiful Bookshop. 

  • William and the Wind:
    The Story of William Kamkwamba

  • My Level K Africa Reader

Frequently Asked Questions About William Kamkwamba

Who is William Kamkwamba?

William Kamkwamba, commonly known as “the boy who harnessed the wind,” built a windmill to save his starving family and village. Now he runs the Moving Windmills Project, a nonprofit organization that empowers rural communities throughout Malawi.

Who is “the boy who harnessed the wind”?

“The boy who harnessed the wind” is a real person, and his name is William Kamkwamba. In 2001, when William was 14 years old, he built a windmill to save his starving family and village. Now William runs the Moving Windmills Project, a nonprofit organization that empowers rural communities throughout Malawi.

Is William and the Wind a true story?

Yes, William Kamkwamba, commonly referred to as “the boy who harnessed the wind,” is a real person—and he has an incredible true story! When William’s family and village were threatened with a terrible famine, he built a windmill that saved their lives.

Where did William Kamkwamba grow up?

William Kamkwamba grew up in Malawi, East Africa. Today William runs a nonprofit, Moving Windmills Project, that empowers rural communities throughout Malawi.

What did “the boy who harnessed the wind” build?

William Kamkwamba, commonly referred to as “the boy who harnessed the wind,” built a windmill. This windmill allowed William’s village to pump water, saving them from famine.

Where is William Kamkwamba now?

Today, William Kamkwamba, commonly referred to as “the boy who harnessed the wind,” runs a nonprofit organization called the Moving Windmills Project. With his nonprofit, William works to empower rural communities throughout Malawi.

What is William and the Wind: The Story of William Kamkwamba?

William and the Wind: The Story of William Kamkwamba is an illustrated children’s book from The Good and the Beautiful. William and the Wind tells the incredible story of William Kamkwamba, and how he saved his family and village from famine through his inspiring perseverance and hope.

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