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Teenager From Rural Malawi Who Built A Windwill To Power His Home [PICS]

williamkamkwamba.typepad.c… — Meet William Kamkwamba. At age 15 he built a windmill entirely from scrap parts, generating enough electricity to power his home in rural Malawi, one of the poorest countries in Africa. His personal blog details the steps day-by-day with pics.

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  • whitefo0t, on 10/11/2007, -3/+166Puts the potato cannons, trebuchets, hovercraft, and death rays of my youth to shame. Well done.
    • stupidverizon, on 10/11/2007, -1/+16Puts the playing video games all youth and not doing anything at all to even more shame.
    • cindylauper, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7Do it yourself and learn how...http://www.otherpower.com/
    • Yuo122986, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5Thus proving that even Malawi is better at conserving energy than the U.S..
    • shienloan00, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2This puts learning about electricity and making a light up cardboard house in tech ed to shame. Light up cardboard house...WTF HE LIGHTS UP A REAL HOUSE.
    • andyrobo60, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10I was going to build one as well, but then I found out I have electricity in my house already and went back to bed.
  • Anrkist, on 10/11/2007, -3/+142Finally, a Windmill blog I can get behind.
  • BOFH2, on 10/11/2007, -4/+39great job.
  • punchlineaction, on 10/11/2007, -20/+4This sounds like a good idea for a movie.
  • AndrewDB, on 01/10/2008, -37/+10A windwill?

    Reminds me of a blonde joke I once heard:

    Why'd the blonde get fired from the M&M factory...

    She threw away all the Ws.
    • ChromaVita, on 10/11/2007, -1/+18That reminds me of a joke i didn't laugh at once...


      ...No wait it was that one.
    • darksyde, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8I appreciate blonde jokes. They just aren't told as often as they used to be
    • GawtMilk, on 10/11/2007, -4/+2It's not a Mindmill, so the joke doesn't work.
  • ScottMaximus1, on 10/11/2007, -21/+10I'm sure some UN directive will ***** this up
    • smackhero, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4right, and bono and programs like ONE--which the kid is sporting the web address of on his shirt--is destroying africa because they give aid to poor communities instead of venture capital to african businesses.
    • Zique, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4I'm sure if UN was set up for that kind of a purpose, had directives, had legislative power, could supersede local laws, and laws were actually followed over there, it might ***** this up you mean?
  • evilelf2407, on 10/11/2007, -1/+123yes the windwill, not quiet as popular as other alternative energy sources; it's actually powered by pure will power.
    • bradm81, on 10/11/2007, -1/+21Touche. I honestly didn't notice until now, thanks for that.
      • praisethelard, on 06/06/2008, -1/+5Well, the guys name is Will. So you could have just acted as if it were a play on words.
    • optimuscrime, on 10/11/2007, -1/+9why wouldn't it be quiet?
  • yankeesfan, on 10/11/2007, -45/+5Did he have the help of aids? I don't think he could have done this by himself.
    • geost, on 10/11/2007, -1/+12You, sir, are an idiot.
      • Nereus90, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1No, its like aides only aids. Like on that episode of South Park.

        Yeah, it wasn't funny.
  • griz, on 10/11/2007, -1/+21Wow, as a kid we would rebuild bikes using frames we found. Never thought to put together a wind power generator.
    • guythomas, on 10/11/2007, -1/+28Yes, but you also had electricity and a window.
  • valkyries, on 10/11/2007, -0/+36His Flickr account showing all of his work

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/9278648@N04/
  • killadingo, on 10/11/2007, -3/+52What a wonderful story! I hope he continues his education and inspires his fellow countrymen and women to reach their full potential as he seems to be doing. Kudos to him!
  • marioae, on 10/11/2007, -4/+25What we must get from this story is: If he can do it, why can't we? Why can't we, when we live in the most powerful nation, when we live in a nation where nearly everything - with small amounts of effort when compared to his - can afford anything and everything needed to make this happen?
    • cfuse, on 10/11/2007, -2/+10Simple, it's the same reason that you are fat and he is not. Getting everything handed to you will turn you into a lazy blob.
    • sterken, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7There is more to it than that, I think. For one, what is the capacity of this windmill? It's enough to support some of his electric needs, but the average US household uses a lot more. Also, one windmill per house isn't really feasible in all parts of the US. It's all about the almighty dollar, and when the cost/kw goes down enough (below oil/nuke/coal), that's when power companies will really buy into it.

      One could argue that the environmental damage carries a price, but most companies are too interested in the short-term, bottom lines, and stock owners, and environmental damage doesn't really cost them anything directly.

      That said, I think this is some really great work. Kudos to him, and I wish him success.
    • secondimpact, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5Because Big Oil and good old Texas Tea wont let you go green.
  • PowerMax, on 10/11/2007, -3/+91Pimp My House : Africa

    9:00 P.M. EST

    Only on MTV.



    Seriously though, this kid is awesome. Why can't more people attempt such things?
  • coachace, on 10/11/2007, -4/+25Impressive! But, is it to code?
  • HanSolo69, on 10/11/2007, -8/+2As opposed to the dense suburbs of Malawi?
    • ciotog, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7Relatively speaking, places like Blantyre and Lilongwe are densely populated compared to the rest of the country.
      • HanSolo69, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1So rather...urban, and not suburban...ah, forget it. sarcasm is lost on most digg users, i understand.
  • mikeyj10, on 10/11/2007, -2/+40Someone tell me why we can't do this in the USA?
    • mrx23, on 10/11/2007, -0/+16I am pretty shure that in my area many people will bitch about how ugly wind mills are. I live in ASSociation where even small TV antenna masts are not allowed. But in some rural parts of the USA it has been done, by regular DIY folks like this kid. Check out www.otherpower.com It would be awesome if someone could either donate a decent working small 10KW windmill or give these guys plans and hard to find parts to build few of their own. I bet this kid will power up his entire town while still in his teens. He will be wery useful to his country and will do many great things for his people. Hopefully he will become a leader.
    • Hologram0110, on 10/11/2007, -5/+3Wind power gets too much hype. It doesn't work the way people think. If wind stops blowing over an area now that area is producing no power. Other plants need to produce more so the electricity doesn't go out, but there is a very definite limit to how quickly conventional power plants can change their power output... (Hydro-electric can change very fast, but nuclear changes very slow, everything else is in between) But because wind power is not reliable in the sense we can predict how much it will generate at any given time it cannot be used in large % without destabilizing the grid. I think in Alberta Canada they have actually been limited to 800 mega watts or something similar...

      Wind power is not the answer, It can help but it isn't the end all be - all of power.
      • osfn8, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3The generator charges a battery, it doesn't directly supply current to the home. Batteries directly power the home with a constant current instead of having an unpredictable current dictated by current wind energy. Only a long time without wind will stop electricity output but that would be pretty predictable.
      • eggo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3And how many of those can be hand built from trash by a poor kid in Malawi? Going from no electricity to wind powered electricity is a vast improvement for his quality of life.
    • giggity, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3We already did this: its called the industrial revolution.
  • paganmonkeyboy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+16wow. i have a new hero. this kid gets mad props !
  • jorgepblank, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6That kid is great, I'm sure he's a great source of inspiration to many of his neighbors and people in his same situation. He seems really intelligent and I hope he gets the education he deserves. It's amazing how he recently just used a computer for the first time and is actually using it for something useful. This is how people in those situations should approach those problems, I'm not saying the rest are stupid for not doing it, of course they have their own reasons for not being able to do such things, but what I mean is this is a great way to solve problems.
  • jcardinal, on 10/11/2007, -2/+18***** A!
  • PinkoComrade, on 10/11/2007, -4/+3Good he made the windmill with the people in his town, now New Bern won't be able to gather information
  • milk93rd, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Is this the kid Alex Lindsay was talking about on TWiM a week or two ago?
  • totalabyss, on 10/11/2007, -4/+6Least he is putting his extra time to good use unlike those other pesky kids who are out doing whatever kids do in Africa(dam Nigerian Princes with money to transfer to your account).
  • ispshadow, on 10/11/2007, -1/+28Wow, color me impressed. I have faith in the human race once again.
  • rippin1700, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7Incredible. There just might be intelligent humans on this planet after all. Dedication and ingenuity are in short supply on this rock nowadays.
  • c0ldfusi0n, on 10/11/2007, -39/+2He also has internet access and a camera. Sure, real poor.
    • unitethenations, on 10/11/2007, -0/+19who died and made you the decision maker for the poor list?
    • smackhero, on 10/11/2007, -1/+15he's also wearing a ONE.org shirt, and is probably involved in the campaign's outreach program to impoverished communities. it might be possible that he borrowed the camera from someone and uses the computer at a library or some kind of web access center set up for the community.
      • m3mn0n, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1It's in TFA

        He got it when he was invited to TED
    • bradm81, on 10/11/2007, -0/+20If you read a little more, you'll hear him talk about his mentor Dr. Hartford Mchazime, Ph.D. from a local university who has taken him under his wing so to speak. My guess is that he had a lot of help from him or other students taking the photos and updating his blog (he mentions needing a translator for his blog posts).

      But nice try to undercut somebody who did something with a whole lot less than most diggers.
      • sevenhelmets, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1I could edit that comment "...But nice try to undercut somebody who did something which you probably haven't"
  • junebeezy, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3WOW x A Million! Great POST and Great Job Kid. I'm speechless.
  • allaboutdatiki, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Bless him. This is fantastic.
  • harshalx, on 10/11/2007, -1/+9I hope his kid is not on Madonna's to-be-adopted list.
    • cfuse, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4I'd be more worried about Angelina 'Gotta catch 'em all' Jolie. She won't stop until she owns a deck that is the envy of trainers everywhere.
  • cheekybastard, on 10/11/2007, -0/+14PVC conduit, corrugated roof, concrete floors, manually digging the trenches for the power line etc. and he looks like he missed more than a few meals, yeah he's really living in the lap of luxury.

    c0ldfusi0n you have no heart.
    • Ainvar, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Heh tell me about it, the things we take for granted.... Reading a story like this is something to make you think about what you have and what others dont have.

      Also just cause he has some pics on the net and is able to get on the net does not mean he has these items. I am sure he was able to use the digi cam and computer access from where/who he is taking classes at/from.

      Sometimes it pays to think a little more and speak a little less, c0ldfusi0n.
  • Ainvar, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Wow this article actually made my night, An honest person trying to better not only himself but his family and neighbors. I hope the more projects and inventions he has aren't hampered by the idiots in that country and he is allowed to excel!!
  • 0ceanic, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3it would be nice to have a cheap-do-it-yourself kit for rural villages.
    anyways, dugg for building something from nothing.
  • txpenguin, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Very impressive work. It would be great if the foreign aid sent to Africa could end up in the hands of young people like William. All too often it ends up in the bank accounts of corrupt government officials. Congratulations to him and all who helped him in his achievement.
    • ChuyMatt, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1And just think, this is easily repairable and he can teach others to make these for their houses.
  • stinger666, on 10/11/2007, -7/+0"I also can charge mobile phones that the neighbors have."

    How can you afford a cellphone when you don't even have electricity?
    • leetdood, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Abandoned cellphones? They could be gifts, maybe? Don't be so assuming.
    • Eksfactor, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3In Africa, things like cellphones and cars are nearly dirt cheap. But essential things like bread, water, and others are so much more expensive. I myself and an immigrant from Africa and my parents go back every few years to visit family and tell my brothers and I about this.
      • gagan97, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1that's why some1 is saying... for GOD sake stop the help..
        u cant have cellphone for breakfast..
    • eliezerlp, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Prepaid cell phones are cheap.
  • CMOSLogic, on 10/11/2007, -6/+1saWEET!

    saWEET !

    saWEET ! ! !
  • Jorge777, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Great article with good pictures. I even liked the article within the article which starts off with...
    "While government might be moving at a retarded pygmy’s pace to search for alternative sources of electricity when signs are evident that Escom will not cope up with increasing demand, a form 1 dropout in Kasungu has proved that it is possible."
  • diggydougie, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Remember, When building a windmill the most important part is the conduit. The generator itself is incidental.
  • bwood, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4The teenager is now 19 years old. But he built his first windmill at 15. Very impressive project though!!
  • dengzhi, on 10/11/2007, -8/+2whose this guy's ISP? they have internet out there? how many customers? 2?
  • PrettyLadyGrace, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1im so glad that he was able to do that.. great for him.
    The UN has made it impossible for people in Africa to get electricity the way we have it because thye believe Africa devoloping will increase the so called global warming crisis. Many people live with out electricity and are starving beacuse of this. I'm really glad that one person was able to overcome this problem on his own, but there are many others out there who are not able to do so.
    • Johannesrexx, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Fzck the IPCC say I. It's a highly political organization pretending to offer a conservative evalutation of the state of the art. They generate way to much hysteria to be believable. Ironically Africa is the point of the univeral origin of life on the planet, and William may well be showing us the way to oil independence. Bless his heart! Go William!
  • macha, on 10/11/2007, -2/+7I am impressed that he had access to a camera for the photos and access to the internet to blog all about his adventure.
  • b0b0, on 10/11/2007, -0/+17MacGyver would be proud.
  • mos6507, on 10/11/2007, -3/+4Gosh, what would the homeowner's association think??
    • Johannesrexx, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Don;t laugh. Al gore finally got permission to put solar panels on the roof of his mansion in Tennessee, but they had to be inconspicuous to avoid spoiling the charm of the 'hood.
  • elmro, on 10/11/2007, -0/+15He needs to put up a paypal link on his blog. One of the older posts says he had to drop out of school because his family couldn't afford the tuition. Diggers need to do the right thing and send this kid to school.
    • Agret, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Does nobody on digg RTFA?
      "As a result of the publicity, Dr. Mchazime was able to raise enough money to send me back to secondary school. I've been enrolled for a trimester at a boarding school about an hour from my home on the way to Lilongwe."
      • ChuyMatt, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Nah... we are just lazy and wait for people like you to post the article in toto on the comments page.
      • m3mn0n, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I know eh... all these ignorant comments.

        RTFA, people.
  • headphonist, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5What he needs to do is once he perfects his own windmill, get a team together and start building more mills for other families and while charging them a fee to finish his studies.
  • miborovsky, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6Impressive guy. He should start his own power company.
  • Flashman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+10Microfinance would help this kid set up a windmill-building business. And that would be cool.
    • ChuyMatt, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Micro finance will change the way we give. It takes the money away from the untrustworthy governments and puts only what is needed in the hands of the individuals.
  • rome747, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4If all the teenagers in this world would work this hard, think of how much we could achieve? Right now, teenagers like me are on their ass doing nothing productive. Just saying.
    • Duffle, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Come on man, not all of us are lazy asses. I'm 14 and I'm in the midst of making my own multi-touch display.

      This kid however, is a hero. Considering what he paid for his windmill, cheap kits could be made out of scrap metal and be distributed all over Africa.
  • jerbaker, on 10/11/2007, -3/+4Even though this kid reports that he learned all of this from a USAID project, there are still crazy-assed libertarians who think we should stop giving aid to Africa. See yesterday's front page story: http://www.digg.com/world_news/Africans_to_Bono_For_God_s_sake_please_stop
    • gagan97, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4..he asking to stop flooding Africa with unwanted food/cloth's ... he is in support of such kinda initiatives which help people to be independent . Read it properly
      • jerbaker, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Since you are functionally illiterate, let me QUOTE the article:

        "Meanwhile in Arusha, Tanzania, at the Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) conference, a group of the continent's intellectual elite issued a very different plea: stop flooding Africa with aid. "

        AND

        "Kenyan economist James Shikwati, who in advance of the 2005 G8 summit in Gleneagles famously asked rich nations, "for God's sake, please just stop" giving Africa aid, thinks even misery is an opportunity."

        Where does the article say clothes and food? It doesn't. In fact, it's quite clear they want ALL foreign aid stopped and replaced with capital investment.
    • tnvwboy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Building infrastructure and businesses (jobs) will do a lot more for a poor country than food. Sure people need to eat but many times those resources don't get to the people who need them the most. They need to the resources to build their countries from the ground up not live off of global welfare forever.
  • ruoko101082, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0with all the crazy stuff going on in the world, this reminds me that the human spirit cannot be crushed...i am proud to be African!!
    • Johannesrexx, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1***** man, this makes me want to BE an african!
  • jjmarq, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0that photo of his windmill should be titled "the little windmill that could"
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