When thinking about invention, technology and social change, we cannot go past William Kamkwamba, a Malawian boy who invented a windmill even though he never completed school due to his family’s financial constraint.

The Will
I believe that every successful social innovation begins with a will to change the world – a dream so big no one around you don’t think its possible.

William has always been fascinated by electricity, and after having to stop school, with no knowledge to read a book, let alone understand the theories, he relied on his determination to study the books he borrowed from the library. From his little understanding, he let his instinct and the pictures in the books guide him to build a windmill that will change his family, and his community’s life forever.

New Invention from Old Inventions
He scrambled through the junks and found some scraped metals, tractor parts and a bicycle frame. Using his limited knowledge, he built the first windmill in his village.

His invention, albeit an old invention in many developed countries was a milestone for people in his village, because it means, for the first time, they are able to power electrical appliances, charge mobile phones and pump clean drinking water for free – necessities to many in the first world countries, but a luxury to them.

More than Electricity
Being able to power other electrical appliances mean the family can be connected to the outside world via technologies such as mobile phones. However, the invention has enabled more than just connection to other parts of the world. It was an invention that has enabled them to access technology they have never been able to before, in a sustainable, affordable and green way. The value lies in the large-scale of social change the invention brought to the community.

The next step for them is to replicate his model for every house in the village and hopefully having access to clean water and electricity, these people can generate their own income and understand the power of innovation.