>> Hi I'm Jess Chen, class of 2012 and I'm here
with William Kamkwamba class of 2014,
majoring in environmental studies,
modified with engineering and author of the book "The Boy
Who Harnessed the Wind".
Could you tell me a little bit about your first book
and what inspired you to write it?
>> So my fifth book " The Boy
Who Harnessed the Wind" I was inspired to write that book
because I feel that there are so many people in my [inaudible]
in the world who have great ideas but because
of the circumstances that they are in they are not able
to continue with their idea so I wanted to share my story
with them so that they might be able to inspire them
to achieve their dreams, that's what inspired me
to write my first book.
>> So what is the book about?
>> The book is more about me like growing up in Malawi
and how I was able to build the windmill when I was too young
and I had like some challenges the time I was growing up
but regardless of all the challenges
that I was facing I didn't stop from doing what I want to do
with my life and so that's what the book is all about.
>> That's amazing.
What kind of challenges were you facing?
>> Like one of the challenges that I dropped out of school
in my fifth year of high school
because my parents wouldn't have money to pay for my school fees
and that time there was also like famine going
on in the country so some of the challenge we have those
so for me I wanted to continue with my studies so seeing
that I had to drop out it was real hard for me
>> And now you're here at Dartmouth mainly
because of engineering is that correct?
>> I'm here like mainly because of like engineering classes
and also like the school itself
with like a wonderful school they focus more
on the graduated student comparing to some other schools
so I feel that coming here I'll feel more like home comparing
to other schools you know.
>> Do you have any other projects
in mind besides windmills?
>> Yeah I have like a project in mind.
One of the project that I'm trying
to implement is bio dust project which had tried
out when I was still in Malawi so I'm trying to redo it
so that's one thing and the other thing that I'm trying
to find the way is how I can be able to install solar panels
in some of the schools like a primary school that I'm
like we are building so that kids can be able to read
at night and also be able to use computers
if we'll be able to get them.
>> You also have another book coming
out on January 19th a children's book I believe.
Could you tell me a little bit about that?
>> So yeah that book was inspired by my first book
to write a children vision of my book
so that the kids can most have a chance to learn about my story
through picture book and I'm really excited
that many young kids will be able to read it
and then they might be able to be inspired by what I did
and then if there were doubt about something that they want
to become in their life, then they'll be encouraged
to do whatever they need to do in order
to achieve their dreams.
>> Do you have any goals or any idea what you would
like to do after Dartmouth?
>> After Dartmouth I'm planning like going back to Malawi
and start using the knowledge that I'm learning right now.
If they are [inaudible] to solve some of the challenges
that people are facing in my community or in my country
in general so that's what I'm planning to do.
>> Thank you so much William for sitting down and talking to us.
Look out for William's children's book "The Boy
Who Harnessed the Wind" coming out on January 19th.