When a lack of money for school fees forced William to drop out of school at age 14, he did not
simply sit and wait for a miracle to come. Instead he created a miracle of his own.
Using the knowledge he could gather from two textbooks at the local library and
locally-available materials costing about 2200 Malawian Kwacha (approximately $15 USD), William
began constructing a five-meter tall windmill outside his family’s modest home in rural Mastala
village. “They all thought that maybe I’m going mad and that maybe I am crazy,” he says. But he
persevered and two months later, he had built a windmill that
could power two light bulbs and a radio for his family of 20. William’s
neighbors soon noticed the sounds of Malawian reggae music emanating from his home.
Now William has built a second, larger windmill that produces both alternating and direct
current and allows him to charge batteries so his family and neighbors can have electricity even
when the wind is not blowing. He has added solar panels, bright lighting and a deep water well to
his family compound, and is replicating his work in other parts of Mastala.
After graduating from ALA, William says: “I want to build a windmill company that provides
energy to people across Africa”
could power two light bulbs and a radio for his family of 20. William’s
neighbors soon noticed the sounds of Malawian reggae music emanating from his home. 