William Kamkwamba: How I built a windmill

William Kamkwamba, a 19-year-old from Malawi, shares his journey of building a windmill to generate electricity for his home. Inspired by a book, he designed a windmill with four blades instead of three to increase power. Using materials like a bicycle frame and plastic pipes, he successfully generated 12 watts of electricity, powering four bulbs and two radios. His innovation impressed his parents and community. William plans to build a larger windmill for irrigation and seeks support to realize his dream of working in energy.

What inspired William Kamkwamba to build a windmill?

• A television show

• A book he read in the library

• A family tradition

• A school project

How did William's windmill design differ from the one in the book?

• It had more blades

• It used solar panels

• It was made of metal

• It was smaller

What materials did William use to construct his windmill?

• Bicycle frame and plastic pipes

• Wood and metal sheets

• Glass and aluminum

• Concrete and steel

What was the primary use of the electricity generated by William's windmill?

• Powering a television

• Charging mobile phones

• Lighting bulbs and powering radios

• Running a refrigerator

What is William's future plan for his windmill project?

• To sell windmills commercially

• To create a larger windmill for irrigation

• To build a windmill for a science fair

• To stop working on windmills