William Kamkwamba: 'How I Harnessed the Wind' (TED Talks, 2009)

In this TED Talk, young Malawian William Kamkwamba describes how he built a windmill to power his family's home aged 14, during a time of poverty and famine. The windmill produced electricity and was built from spare parts and scrap.

This moving tale of an invention that changed a young boy's life is a powerful testament to the benefits of education, access to knowledge and self-belief.

This video was issued by TED under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported Licence, from http://www.ted.com

• Category

  Science & Technology

[doggypower1]

if he had that much confidence and that much knowledge what he has now when he was 14 he could made so much things im happy he never gave up on education cos so many people get it for free in school and he can pass the knowledge on to others

[globalismfilms]

If only more people had similar amounts of confidence in their ability to effect positive change for themselves!

[globalismfilms]

Thank you all for your comments. Although it's not an original video of mine, I felt it was such a great story that I had to share it. Glad to see that others have enjoyed it too!

[Klesis Zoe]

Boy from home. So inspiring!!!

[MrAlexWhack]

Read the boy who harnessed the wind NOW.

[KickLoans]

It's amazing how brilliant people regardless of their background can achieve! This video inspires us even more and confirms us we do really good by creating our Organization KickLoans :))

[Tyler Thrash]

That was great!

[PhilanthropyChannel]

Absolutely brilliant! So inspiring! This young man is an example of the great human spirit.

[Justin Jue]

i'm sitting in my bed watching this, cause i'm reading his group for an English class. I started clapping alone in my room. truly inspiring. it really makes me taking everything for granted and appreciate everything, great story, great book.

[Rags Fever]

GOD BLESS HIM AND ALL OTHERS WHO R STRUGGLING IN LIFE ! SENSATIONAL SPEECH REALLY. HIS UNIQUE SUPERB VOICE ACCENT. LET PEOPLES LIKE HIM FLOURISH IN THIS WORLD ACHIEVING ! ! !

[Innocenthia]

Beautiful...

[Areya S.]

Truly inspirational! Love this story! Great job William! Keep going!

[Caribeño Damacer]

genial genia, y natural,eso son los hombres que tienen que clonar.