William Kamkwamba, author, "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind," and Malawi Windmill Maker

African Leadership Academy Indaba

Last week I went to New Jersey for a reunion of the first two classes to graduate from the African Leadership Academy. The school sponsored a conference on leadership and economic development of our continent. They wanted those of us in the first class to share our experiences at college in America with the class that just graduated in order to help them prepare. The purpose of the conference was to keep us focused on our mission: playing a leadership role in the transformation of Africa.

 

It was great to see my friend and hear what they up to these days. They are all doing well, and they are happy to have finished their first year of college.  Several friends are working as interns at investment banks. Their experience will help prepare them for the task of economic development in their own countries. One of my other friends was working with a team that is developing a phone program for education use.  The program that he was working could be used for online learning in areas that don’t have access to schools, teachers, and books. When he was telling me about his work, one of my former teachers overheard, and he mentioned a recent article he had read about online learning. My teacher was interested to hear from us if phone-based technology can be applied to Africa. We talked for an hour to find the way to incorporate online learning into the existing educational system.  I told them that I am working in a machine shop and learning computer aided design.  When I explained that I am also preparing for my upcoming fall classes, they laughed, but they appreciate how difficult college can be, especially for people who are far away from home.  I told them I was also having some fun and learning how to swim.

 

Apart from seeing friends, it was great to participate in the leadership conference. We did some activities together that encouraged confidence, leadership and teamwork. I had to walk across a rope that was five meters off the ground with a partner, hanging on to his hand and using my other hand to hang on to another rope. It was scary to look down, but I felt safe and secured holding on to my partner. This activity was to develop trust and teamwork. One of the other activities we did was called “Cross the Swamp.” It was fun, but also full of leadership education. The game was to make the group of people to cross “the swamp” with limited resources. The swamp was ground. The resources were 3 long boards and concrete blocks for risers.  You weren’t allowed to touch the ground while you built a bridge. At the end of the game I learned the importance of teamwork. We needed to work together as a team in order to cross. Going forward I will be using these skills back at school, but more importantly, when I return to Malawi.

 

The message from each of the speakers at the conference was that we are agents of positive change. They emphasized the need for us to return to Africa with our new knowledge and skills and work to improve the lives of our people. The conference was amazing. Listening to the speaker made me to feel that I’m part of the people who are responsible for developing Africa. I felt that any small contribution I can make to Malawi would be better than just watching. Often when people are in trouble they just sit and complain when they really need to wake up and start doing.

It is like my windmill, “I just tried, and I made it happen.” After the conference I was “pumped” to come back to Dartmouth and learn more, gain more skills, and prepare myself to go back and play a leadership role in transforming my village, Malawi, and the whole continent.

 

 

My Summer of 2011

    After finishing exams at the end of my first year at Dartmouth, I went back to Malawi for one month. It was good to see my family and friends. Although I went home, I didn’t get to enjoy it as long as I wished, because I had to come back to the USA in order to start the preparations for the upcoming academic year. My visit was too short. When some of my friends started coming back from their schools, I had to start packing my favorite clothes. It was tough to say bye to my buddies who just came home two days before my flight back to the US. In fact my friends were looking forward to catching up with me. They wanted to know how is it to live abroad, especially in America. They have watched many Hollywood movies, and they wanted to know if what they see is real. However, I didn’t get a chance to explain how life is in America. I was also looking forward to hearing from them what had happened since I left a year ago. I barely had enough time to say goodbye; I watched tears come from their eyes as I walked to the car. As I was closing the car’s door, I shouted loudly, “Don’t worry guys. I’m going for the better cause, and I promise next time we will catch up. In fact, we’ll have two years worth of stories to share with each other.

     After eighteen hours of flying, I finally landed in New York. Memories of home started flashing in my head. Within an hour I started feeling homesick, but this didn’t last long. I remembered all the fun stuff I use to do at Dartmouth. When I got back to Hanover, I first meet with my tutor Christopher Schmidt. We made a timetable of what I’m going to do for the rest of the summer. For the next ten weeks, I’m working on four areas: math, writing, working at Thayer’s machine shop, and taking swimming lessons. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday I start the day by working at the machine shop from 8 am up to 11 am.  From 11am up to 1pm I work on math. The rest of the day until after 5pm, I work to improve my English. Every Friday, I take a swim lesson at a nearby pool. In the machine shop, I’m building a Sterling engine. It feels great to play with all the tools in the shop. In math, I’m currently working on logarithms. To improve my English, I work on reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary. Currently I’m writing descriptive essays, like this one. As part of my writing assignments, I’m updating my blog weekly.  Keep an eye out for future posts.

    Summer isn’t all about studying. On the weekends I am off from academics; instead I do some fun things like going hiking and swimming. Recently we drove two hours to Lovell Lake in Sanbornville NH for the weekend. While I was there, I practiced my swimming, I met many new people, ate delicious food, and I enjoyed my time away from academics. It was a nice sunny day, so I decided to go swimming. Before I jumped in the lake, I stuck my foot in to see how warm the water was. The thermometer by the dock read 80 degrees. The water was so clear that I could see the rocks and gravel at the bottom. The surface was calm with some small waves. Because I am not yet a strong swimmer, I put on a life jacket and then jumped in. I started swimming by the dock, and then some young kids and their parents joined me. I swam shallow water for a while before I gained my confidence to swim towards the flooding dock 15 meters away. While I was still swimming, the kids began swinging on a rope swing and jump off into the Lake. I watched them smiling and laughing, and I envied them. I wanted to try. I got out of the water and went straight to the swing. I held the rope with my hands, and everyone was looking at me. I felt the pressure on me to do it. I swung off and flew out over the water. When I was about let it go, I looked down. The water was so far way. I could see the rocks at the bottom of the lake and I was scared. I was worried that I would get water up my nose. I froze. I swung back to the shore and put my feet down. I didn’t do it. But then I heard a voice, “You can do it!” With this encouragement I felt confidence build inside me. I knew I could do it. I swung out again, and this time, I let go and splashed into the water. Some water did go up my nose, but I was too happy to care. I did it.

    I finished swimming right before dinner. We had our supper outside under big tall trees. It was a prefect time to be outside, nice cool wind was coming from the lake. For dinner that night, I had grilled chicken, marinated steak tips, and salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and other tasty vegetables. I also had nsima and corn on the cob, which reminded of home. The following morning I slept in and missed breakfast. This might have been the best part of the weekend.    

How To Make Nsima

Nsima is basic food in Malawi; everyone eats it regardless of what they do: politicians, teachers, soccer plays, pastors, and doctors are all getting fat from it. Although there are many ways of preparing nsima, there is one that is commonly used. You need the following tools and ingredients: medium-sized cooking pot, corn flour, water, cooking stick, and firewood if you don’t have stove. To make enough nsima for five people you need: one liter of water, and four cups of flour. The first thing you need to do is to make a hot fire. Fill the pot with the water. The water should get hot before you start pouring the flour into it. When you feel that the water is hot enough, pour half the flour into the water while you are staring it. Make sure that the flour is well mixed with the water. Cover the pot with a lid for a few minutes until the porridge starts bubbling. Cook for five minutes. Then add more flour and stir until it gets medium hard and smooth. After that, take the pot off the fire and start scooping the nsima onto a serving plate using the wooden spoon. Now your nsima is ready; it tastes best with mustard greens and chicken stew.

Business Cards

We ordered business cards today for the Maize Mill. Some people are visiting Hanover from Malawi this week, and I will send the cards back with them. I hope these cards will increase business.

Front of Card:

Back of Card:  "After four trips to the mill, the fifth trip is half price."

 If you are ever in Chamama Trading Center, stop in and say, "Hello."