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William's Windmill

Windmill%20William.jpg

The guy pictured above is the antithesis of Don Quixote.  His encounter with a windmill is anything but an exercise in futility -- it's an exercise in electricity.  Instead of tilting at windmills he's building them. 

William Kamkwamba of Malawi, Africa had to quit school when he was 14 because his family couldn't afford it anymore.  Instead of sinking in despair, William DIY'd a windmill using his ingenuity and a book on electricity, scrap wood, a bicycle, and other found objects.  As a result, he was able to supply electric lights to his household, replacing the cheap candles they used for lighting that cause eye irritation and respiratory problems.  Soon he was charging batteries for other folks in the village.

Two weeks after being introduced to the Internet, he started his windmill blog.  He is now receiving donations from all over the world.  This has empowered him to start new projects.  His next goal is to build a solar- or wind-powered water pump to supply water to his home and irrigate the family crops.

In an age where the need is a lot less talk and a lot more action, William Kamkwamba is an upward call to us all.

Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 at 04:39PM by Registered CommenterBurke Sisco | CommentsPost a Comment

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