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

globalismfilms

14 Mar 201005:56

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

00:00

🌱 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.

05:00

🌟 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

The 'T stage' refers to a specific type of stage or platform, often used for presentations or performances. In the context of the video, it is where the speaker shared his story two years prior in Arusha, Tanzania. It symbolizes a place of recognition and the beginning of the speaker's journey to global acknowledgment.

💡Azungu

The term 'Azungu' is a Swahili word that translates to 'white people' in English. In the script, the speaker uses this term to describe the predominantly white audience he faced during his initial presentation, which was a new and intimidating experience for him, highlighting the cultural and racial diversity of the event.

💡Malawi

Malawi is a country in southeastern Africa. The speaker mentions it as his home country, emphasizing his humble beginnings and lack of exposure to technology and the outside world before his invention. It also sets the stage for the challenges he faced due to poverty and lack of resources.

💡Femon

The term 'femon' seems to be a typographical error for 'famine' in the script. Famine refers to a widespread scarcity of food, causing extreme hunger and malnutrition. The speaker describes a severe famine in Malawi that led to his family eating only one meal a day, illustrating the extreme poverty and hardship he experienced.

💡Sima

Sima is a type of staple food made from maize flour in Malawi. The script mentions 'three sarrow of Sima for each one of us,' indicating the scarcity of food during the famine and the meager rations the family survived on.

💡Secondary school

Secondary school refers to the educational stage following primary school, typically for students aged 11 to 18. In Malawi, as mentioned in the script, school fees are required, and due to the famine and poverty, the speaker was forced to drop out, highlighting the impact of economic conditions on education.

💡Library

A library is a place where books and other resources are available for reading and learning. The speaker mentions going to a library to read science books, particularly physics, as a means to educate himself despite the language barrier, showing his determination and resourcefulness.

💡Windmill

A windmill is a device that converts wind energy into mechanical energy, often used for pumping water or generating electricity. The script describes the speaker's inspiration to build a windmill after learning about its capabilities, which became a turning point in his life and the lives of his community.

💡Scrapyard

A scrapyard is a place where waste material or scrap metal is collected. The speaker found materials for his windmill project at a scrapyard, demonstrating his ingenuity and ability to repurpose discarded items into something useful and transformative.

💡Irrigation

Irrigation is the artificial application of water to land or soil to assist in the growth of crops. In the script, the windmill the speaker built was capable of pumping water for irrigation, which provided a defense against hunger by allowing for more reliable crop growth.

💡TED

TED is a global set of conferences that aim to disseminate 'ideas worth spreading.' The speaker mentions receiving a call from TED, indicating that his story and invention had gained international recognition and were considered inspirational and influential.

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.