The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Soon to be a major motion pictured directed by and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a moving, touching, important story.

SETH GODIN When William Kamkwamba was just 14 years old, his family told him that he must leave school as they could no longer afford his fees.

William resorted to borrowing books from the small local library to continue his education.

One day, he picked up a book about energy, with a picture of a wind turbine on the front cover.

Fascinated by science and electricity, but knowing little more about the technology, William decided to build his own using nothing more than bits of scrap metal, old bicycle parts and wood from the blue gum tree.

This windmill has changed the world in which William and his family live.

Only two per cent of Malawi has electricity; William's windmill now powers the lightbulbs and radio for his compound.

He has since built more windmills for his school and his village. When news of William's invention spread, people from across the globe offered to help him.

Soon he was re-enrolled in college and travelling to America to visit wind farms.

This is his incredible story.