Africa Agenda William kamkwamba chats with two students from Kent Denver School
For many people, talking about the wind may not seem exciting. But when that talk is about something with magical powers, we might open our eyes and ears and pay attention.
That happened at a packed event held at Kent Denver School on October 17th. That is the day inventor and author William Kamkwamba stepped into the auditorium to talk about harnessing the power of the wind.
Born in Malawi, Kamkwamba combined his curiosity with creativity to generate electricity through windmills to help his local community.
World Denver, Rotary Club, and Kent Denver School Present Kamkwamba and Electricity in Malawi
Kamkwamba came to the area at the invitation of World Denver, the Rotary Club, and the Kent Denver School. The audience included students from all around town, teachers, native Africans, and nonprofits with a footprint in the African continent.
Queried by two high schoolers and the executive director of World Denver, Kamkwamba talked at length about his life in Malawi, his education in the United States, and the challenges of climate change and sustainability.
Throughout the evening, the excitement in the room seemed exhilarating.
Africa Agenda World Denver Executive Director John Krieger chats with William Kamkwamba during a Q&A session at Kent Denver School.
“What I could say is that every journey starts with the first step. I think you cannot just get what you want to get, you need to like start small. So…don’t be afraid to start small, because all of us, before we start walking, we start by crawling,” Kamkwamba quipped when asked about his advice to young people today.
Kamkwamba’s 2019 book, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, is a New York Times bestseller. It has received reviews from noted leaders in sustainability and climate change, including Al Gore.
