Tuesday
Oct062009
William Kamkwamba: Good News Tuesday
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 9:40AM The Blogmother
Okay so last week I asked why the heck we don't acknowledge honor students until they are killed. Symphony from Essential Presence mentioned that she does Good News Tuesday. If you look in the sidebar, you have a link to a form where you can send us your good news. Whether the news is a story about someone else or your own personal good news that you want to share with the world.
To be clear, good news is news that has nothing to do with violence, crime, drugs or BET. I know this is going to be tough for some of you who have gotten into the habit of sending me every piece of depressing news about Black women you can find, but it can be done. Maybe we can make it to a month of doing Good News Tuesdays. Did you get a promotion? Did your kiddies graduate from pre-school? Got good news? Send it in.
Our first edition of Good News Tuesday is the story of William Kamkwamba. Its a modern day version of Don Quijote, with a better ending. William lives in Malawi. I actually met a blogger from Malawi at BlogHer, I took her to Best Buy to get a sim card. But I digress.
William was kicked out of school when he could not afford the $80 tuition. He clearly had a love of learning because he saw a windmill in a photo in a textbook. He then taught himself how to build a windmill. He did this by savaging for parts. He made his first windmill from PVC pipe, rusty car and bicycle parts and gum trees. All along the way, relatives and neighbors mocked him. Some even said he was “bewitched.” He said he wanted to finish just to show them that he could do it.
Now those same people are charging their cellphones and drinking water from a well powered with electricity from windmills William built. His initial goal was to power a small light bulb in his room so he could stay up after sunset. He ended up fundamentally improving the lives and livelihoods of his family and fellow villagers. Eventually a government official learned that he had been out of school for 5 years and found money for him to continue his education and in 2007, William spoke at the TED conference and came to the notice of venture capitalists and philanthropist... and author Brian Mealer.
Now he wants to build these windmills all over Maliawi. His goal is for Africans to be self reliant and free of dependence on foreign aid.
You can read more of William's story in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by Brian Mealer.
If you have good news, submit it for next week.
To be clear, good news is news that has nothing to do with violence, crime, drugs or BET. I know this is going to be tough for some of you who have gotten into the habit of sending me every piece of depressing news about Black women you can find, but it can be done. Maybe we can make it to a month of doing Good News Tuesdays. Did you get a promotion? Did your kiddies graduate from pre-school? Got good news? Send it in.
Our first edition of Good News Tuesday is the story of William Kamkwamba. Its a modern day version of Don Quijote, with a better ending. William lives in Malawi. I actually met a blogger from Malawi at BlogHer, I took her to Best Buy to get a sim card. But I digress.
William was kicked out of school when he could not afford the $80 tuition. He clearly had a love of learning because he saw a windmill in a photo in a textbook. He then taught himself how to build a windmill. He did this by savaging for parts. He made his first windmill from PVC pipe, rusty car and bicycle parts and gum trees. All along the way, relatives and neighbors mocked him. Some even said he was “bewitched.” He said he wanted to finish just to show them that he could do it.
Now those same people are charging their cellphones and drinking water from a well powered with electricity from windmills William built. His initial goal was to power a small light bulb in his room so he could stay up after sunset. He ended up fundamentally improving the lives and livelihoods of his family and fellow villagers. Eventually a government official learned that he had been out of school for 5 years and found money for him to continue his education and in 2007, William spoke at the TED conference and came to the notice of venture capitalists and philanthropist... and author Brian Mealer.
Now he wants to build these windmills all over Maliawi. His goal is for Africans to be self reliant and free of dependence on foreign aid.
You can read more of William's story in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by Brian Mealer.
If you have good news, submit it for next week.
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Reader Comments (10)
Loving it!! Thank you for making my morning!!
Congrats, William.
Oh BTW!! Some more great tips from First Lady!!
Gina, how are you doing on your low sodium diet?
http://www.prevention.com/obama/18.html
That is good news. My sister visited Malawi last year and I hope to visit there with her next year.
And this is the African country where singer Madonna "adopted" her son from? Well, this is especially good news given that Malawi has a very high rate of HIV/AIDS! Thanks very much!! :) :)
How resourceful, I wish I was that handy
word...! i can dig this...
That was refreshing! Go William!
What a wonderful and inspiring story. You made my day!! Let's have more like this. Thanks again.
Xai
GREAT story. Off to share it.