The boy who harnessed the wind

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a memoir by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, telling the story of a young boy from a small farming village in Malawi who faced a devastating famine. Forced to leave school when his family could no longer pay the fees, he turned to the library and to his own curiosity, teaching himself the principles of electricity and engineering from a single textbook.

The book follows his determination to build a windmill from scrap materials, a project that drew the attention of his neighbours and, in time, the wider world. Written in an accessible and personal voice, it offers a window into daily life in rural Malawi and the ingenuity that can grow out of hardship.

The story will appeal to young readers and to anyone interested in science, innovation, and resilience, as well as to families and teachers looking for an inspiring true story about education and self-reliance.