Ideas worth spreading

How I harnessed the wind

3,318,193 views |

William Kamkwamba |

TEDGlobal 2009

• July 2009

At age 14, in poverty and famine, a Malawian boy built a windmill to power his family's home. Now at 22, William Kamkwamba, who speaks at TED, here, for the second time, shares in his own words the moving tale of invention that changed his life.

At age 14, in poverty and famine, a Malawian boy built a windmill to power his family's home. Now at 22, William Kamkwamba, who speaks at TED, here, for the second time, shares in his own words the moving tale of invention that changed his life.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

William Kamkwamba

William Kamkwamba

See speaker profile

To power his family's home, young William Kamkwamba built an electricity-producing windmill from spare parts and scrap -- starting him on a journey detailed in the book and film "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind."

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.