By James Ratlif
William Kamkwamba tells his story of growing up as a young boy in Malawi, Africa. The first part of the book gives plenty of background on what childhood is like in this part of the World. In a culture that still partially believes in witches and wizards, William shares some funny stories from his childhood. He is the only son among a houseful of daughters, so he gets his own room, which will eventually become a storage place for all the “junk” he will acquire to accomplish something amazing. He is obviously very proud of his family and the hard work they endure to ensure mouths are fed.
The book really sets the stage to help us understand just how different life is in some parts of the World. In a place where hunger and disease are just part of daily life, William takes it upon himself to learn more about science. Although unable to afford good schooling, he is a regular at the small library, and constantly checks out a few books that he uses to learn about motors and electricity. William eventually shares with us how he built the windmill during a major famine, and how long it took him just to find the parts much less assemble them. The book is a fascinating and sometimes terribly sad look at the famine crisis many people still face daily.
William’s story is not only inspirational to readers, but his story should also give hope to the millions of people who live life on the edge of starvation and death. William has already done other things in his village such as drilled a well for clean drinking water, provided stored water for his families crops, and built another windmill to irrigate his mother’s garden. His final thoughts in the book are about creating a new kind of Africa where innovation and leadership thrive. This young man and his story should be an inspiration to all of us.