William Kamkwamba: 'How I Harnessed the Wind' (TED Talks, 2009)
Summary
TLDRIn this inspiring talk, the speaker from Malawi recounts his journey from being an illiterate farmer to creating a life-changing windmill. After a famine forced him to drop out of school, he taught himself physics from library books and built a windmill from scrap materials to pump water and generate electricity. His invention not only transformed his village but also brought him international recognition, highlighting the power of determination and self-belief.
Takeaways
- 🎓 The speaker is from Malawi and had limited exposure to technology and the outside world before creating a simple machine that changed his life.
- 🌾 He was initially a simple farmer in a country with poor farmers and faced severe famine in 2001, which led to his family eating only one meal a day.
- 📚 Due to hunger, he was forced to drop out of school but was determined to continue his education by reading science books, especially physics, in a library.
- 🛠️ He learned about windmills from a book and decided to build one himself to provide irrigation and electricity, using materials from a scrapyard.
- 🔧 Despite being called crazy by many, including his mother, he successfully built a windmill that powered lights and a water pump, benefiting his community.
- 📡 His invention attracted attention, leading to media coverage, bloggers, and eventually an invitation to speak at TED.
- ✈️ The speaker's journey included many firsts, such as flying on an airplane and staying in a hotel, highlighting the transformative impact of his invention.
- 🗣️ He struggled with English during his TED talk but managed to convey his message, which was about perseverance and self-belief.
- 🙏 He encourages others, especially those in Africa and the poor who are struggling with their dreams, to trust themselves and never give up.
- 👏 His story was met with applause, indicating the audience's appreciation for his resilience and innovation.
- 🌟 The speaker's narrative is a powerful example of how determination and resourcefulness can overcome adversity and inspire others.
Q & A
What significant event took place two years prior to the speaker's current speech?
-The speaker had previously stood on the T stage in Arusha, Tanzania, and briefly mentioned one of their proudest creations.
What was the speaker's background before they became involved with their creation?
-The speaker was a simple farmer in Malawi who had never been away from home, used a computer, or seen the internet.
What was the speaker's family situation?
-The speaker comes from a family of seven children, all of whom are sisters.
What crisis did Malawi face in 2001 that affected the speaker's family?
-In 2001, Malawi experienced a severe famine, which led to the speaker's family eating only one meal per day.
Why did the speaker have to drop out of secondary school?
-The speaker had to drop out of secondary school due to the hunger caused by the famine, as they could not afford the school fees.
What was the speaker's motivation for seeking education despite the hardships?
-The speaker was determined to receive education to change their future and the dry fields they saw as their only prospect.
How did the speaker learn about science, particularly physics, given their limited English skills?
-The speaker learned about science by reading books, especially physics, using diagrams and pictures to understand the words around them.
What materials did the speaker use to build their windmill machine?
-The speaker used materials found in a scrapyard, including a tractor fan, PVC pipes, a bicycle frame, and an old bicycle dynamo.
What were the initial outcomes of the speaker's windmill machine?
-The windmill machine initially provided light for one room and later expanded to four lights with switches and a circuit breaker.
How did the speaker's invention impact their community?
-The invention attracted people from the community to charge their mobile phones and led to increased media attention, including bloggers and a call from TED.
What message did the speaker convey to people who are struggling with their dreams, particularly those from Africa and the poor?
-The speaker encouraged people to trust themselves, believe in their abilities, and not to give up on their dreams, no matter what happens.
Outlines
🌱 From Farming to Invention: A Young Innovator's Journey
The speaker recounts their humble beginnings as a farmer in Malawi and the transformative impact of a simple machine they invented. This invention not only illuminated their home but also symbolized a beacon of hope amidst poverty and famine. The story unfolds from their first encounter with the challenges of a harsh famine in 2001, which led to a single meal a day, to their determination to seek education despite the odds. The speaker's ingenuity is highlighted by their self-taught journey through science books and diagrams, culminating in the creation of a windmill that generated electricity and water for irrigation. This invention not only changed their life but also became a source of inspiration and utility for their community, attracting attention from the media and eventually leading to an invitation to speak at TED.
🌟 Encouraging Dreams and Perseverance: A Message to the Underprivileged
In the second paragraph, the speaker extends an encouraging message to those who, like them, face adversity and are striving to achieve their dreams. They emphasize the importance of self-belief and perseverance, regardless of the circumstances. The speaker's own journey serves as a testament to the power of determination and the ability to overcome obstacles. They convey a message of hope and inspiration, suggesting that with faith in oneself and relentless effort, even the most challenging dreams can be within reach, and they express gratitude for the opportunity to share their story, likely viewing it as a means to motivate others facing similar struggles.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡T stage
💡Azungu
💡Malawi
💡Femon
💡Sima
💡Secondary school
💡Library
💡Windmill
💡Scrapyard
💡Irrigation
💡TED
Highlights
Speaker's first international appearance was on the TED stage in Arusha, Tanzania, two years prior.
Proudly introduced a simple machine that changed his life and the lives of his community.
Had never left Malawi or used a computer before the TED stage appearance.
Initially struggled with English and felt overwhelmed by the audience at the TED stage.
Comes from a family of seven children, all sisters, and was a simple farmer before his invention.
Describes a severe famine in 2001 that led to extreme hunger and hardship.
Forced to drop out of school due to the inability to pay school fees and the impact of hunger.
Determined to educate himself, he read science books, especially physics, despite language barriers.
Learned about windmills from a book and decided to build one for irrigation to combat hunger.
Assembled materials from a scrapyard to build his first windmill.
His windmill invention initially powered lights and later included a switch and circuit breaker.
The invention attracted attention from neighbors and media, leading to broader recognition.
Received a call from TED after his initial appearance, marking a significant turning point.
Had never traveled by airplane or stayed in a hotel before his second TED appearance.
Shares a message of perseverance and self-belief to those struggling with their dreams.
Encourages the audience to trust themselves and not give up, regardless of the circumstances.
Transcripts
[Music]
[Music]
thank
you two years ago I stood on the T stage
in Arusha Tanzania I spoke very briefly
about of one my proudest creation it was
a simple machine that changed my
life before that time
I had never been away from my home in
Malawi I had never used the computer I
had never seen an
internet on stage that day I was so
nous my English
lost I wanted to
[Applause]
vomit I had never been surrounded by so
many a zungu white
people there was a story I couldn't tell
you then but well I'm feeling good right
now I'd like to share that story today
we are seven children in my family all
sisters accepting
me this is me with my dad when I was a
little
boy before I discovered the wonders of
science I was just a simple farmer in a
country of poor
Farmers like everyone else we grw
me one year our Fortune turned very
bad in 2001 we experienced an orful
femon within 5 months all malaran begin
to St to
death my family ate one meal per day at
night only three sarrow of Sima for each
one of us the food passes through our
bodies we drop down to
nothing in Malawi secondary school you
have to pay school
fees because of the hunger I was forced
to drop out of
school I looked at my father and look
those dry fields it was the future I
couldn't
accept I feel very happy to be at the
first year of secondary
school so I was determined to do
anything possible to receive education
so I went to a library I read books
science books especially physics I
couldn't read English that well I used
diagrams and pictures to learn the words
around
them another book put that knowledge in
my
hands it say said windmill could pump
water and generate
electricity pump water meant irrigation
a defense against hunger which we
experiencing by that
time so I decid I'll build one wind for
myself but I didn't have materials to
use so I went to a scrapyard where I
found my
materials many people including my
mother
said I was
crazy I found a tractor fan
sha PVC pipes using a bicycle frame and
old bicycle Dynamo I built my
machine it was one light at first and
then four
lights with
switches and even a sec breaker modeled
after an electric
Bell another
machine pumps water for
irrigation cues of people start lining
up at my
house to charge their mobile
phone I could not get rid of
them and the reporters came
too which led to blogers and which led
to a call from something called
Ted I had never seen an airplane before
I had never slept in a
hotel so on stage that day in
alia my English
lost I said something like I
tried and I made
it so I'd like to say something to all
the people out there like me to the
African
and the poor who are struggling with
your dreams God
bless maybe one day you watch this on
the
internet I said to you trust yourself
and believe whatever happen don't give
it up thank
[Applause]
you
[Applause]
w
[Applause]
w
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