Subsequent projects have included clean water, malaria prevention, solar power and lighting for his family compound, a deep water well with a solar powered pump, a drip irrigation system, and the outfitting of the village team Wimbe United with uniforms and shoes. He then added a car battery for storage, as well as homemade light switches and circuit breakers. He was able to power four light bulbs and two radios, and charge neighbors’ mobile phones. First he built a prototype, then his initial 5-meter windmill out of a broken bicycle, tractor fan blade, old shock absorber, and blue gum trees. He decided to build a windmill to power his family’s home. Rather than accept his fate, William borrowed books from a small community lending library, including an American textbook Using Energy, which depicted a wind turbine. For five years he was unable to go to school. Due to severe famine in 2001-2002, his family lacked funds to pay $80 in school fees and William was forced to drop out in his freshman year. William was educated at Wimbe Primary School, completing 8th grade and was then accepted to secondary school. William Kamkwamba was born Augin Malawi, and grew up on his family farm in Wimbe, two and half hours northeast of Malawi’s capital city.
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