Scribd
Upload
14 views

The Boy Who Built a Windmill

The document tells two inspiring true stories: William Kamkwamba, a young boy from Malawi who built a windmill to provide electricity and water for his village during a drought, and Severn Cullis-Suzuki, a 12-year-old girl who delivered a powerful speech at the 1992 Earth Summit advocating for environmental protection. Both individuals faced challenges but used their creativity and determination to make a significant impact in their communities. Their stories emphasize the importance of education, perseverance, and the power of youth voices in addressing global issues.

Uploaded by

Shirin Abdullayeva
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
14 views

The Boy Who Built a Windmill

The document tells two inspiring true stories: William Kamkwamba, a young boy from Malawi who built a windmill to provide electricity and water for his village during a drought, and Severn Cullis-Suzuki, a 12-year-old girl who delivered a powerful speech at the 1992 Earth Summit advocating for environmental protection. Both individuals faced challenges but used their creativity and determination to make a significant impact in their communities. Their stories emphasize the importance of education, perseverance, and the power of youth voices in addressing global issues.

Uploaded by

Shirin Abdullayeva
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

The Boy Who Built a Windmill

A True Story from Malawi


In a small village in Malawi, a country in southeastern Africa, a young boy named William
Kamkwamba changed his life—and the lives of many others—using only a few tools, old
books, and a lot of creativity.
A Time of Crisis
In 2001, Malawi faced a terrible drought. Crops failed, food was hard to find, and many families,
including William’s, struggled to survive. William had to stop going to school because his
family couldn’t afford the fees. But he didn’t give up on learning.
Learning from Books
William loved science and technology. Even though he wasn’t in school, he started visiting a
small local library. There, he found a book called Using Energy. He couldn’t read English very
well at first, but he studied the pictures and learned about wind turbines—machines that can
turn wind into electricity.
Building the Windmill
William decided to build a windmill for his village. People thought he was crazy. They laughed
at him because he was collecting trash—old bicycle parts, a fan, and other scrap metal. But
William kept working.
After many attempts and mistakes, William finally made a small windmill that could power a
light bulb in his home. Later, he built a bigger one that could pump water and bring electricity to
more houses.
Changing His Life
News of William’s invention spread. Journalists came to interview him, and he was invited to
speak at a famous conference called TED Talks. He later received a scholarship to study in the
United States and wrote a book called The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, which became a movie
in 2019.
An Inspiration to All
William’s story teaches us many lessons: that education is powerful, that we should never give
up, and that one person, even a young student, can make a big difference in the world.

Glossary
 Drought – a long period with little or no rain
 Scrap metal – old pieces of metal that people throw away
 Turbine – a machine that uses wind or water to create power
 Harness – to control and use (something natural)
 Scholarship – money given to a student to help pay for school

Discussion Questions
1. What would you do if you couldn’t go to school but wanted to keep learning?
2. Why do you think people didn’t believe in William at first?
3. What is something you could build or create to help your community?
The Girl Who Silenced the World for 5 Minutes
A True Story from the Earth Summit, 1992
In 1992, a 12-year-old girl named Severn Cullis-Suzuki stood in front of world leaders at a
major event in Brazil called the Earth Summit. What she said shocked and moved people
around the world.
A Young Voice for the Earth
Severn was from Canada and had been interested in nature since she was very young. She loved
animals, trees, and clean air. When she learned about pollution, global warming, and endangered
animals, she felt scared and wanted to do something.
She and a few friends started a small group called the Environmental Children’s
Organization. They raised money and traveled to Rio de Janeiro to speak at the United Nations
Earth Summit—a big meeting where world leaders discussed how to protect the environment.
The Speech That Moved the World
In front of powerful politicians and scientists, Severn gave a short, but powerful speech. She
said:
“I am only a child, yet I know we are all part of a family, five billion strong… I am fighting for
my future.”
She told the adults in the room that children around the world were suffering because of
pollution, war, and poverty. She asked them to take real action—not just make promises.
Her voice was calm, but full of emotion. When she finished, the room was silent. Many people
were in tears.
A Global Impact
Severn’s speech became famous. It was shown on TV around the world and shared in schools.
People called her “The Girl Who Silenced the World for 5 Minutes.”
Though she was young, her message was clear: adults should protect the planet for the
children of the future.
Where Is She Now?
Severn continued to work for the environment. She became a writer, speaker, and mother. She
still talks about climate change and inspires young people to speak up.

Glossary
 Summit – a meeting of leaders to discuss important topics
 Pollution – dirty or harmful substances in the air, water, or land
 Endangered – in danger of disappearing forever (like some animals)
 Poverty – the state of being very poor
 Inspire – to encourage someone to do something good

Discussion Questions
1. How do you think Severn felt before giving her speech?
2. Why is it important for young people to speak out?
3. If you could speak to world leaders for 5 minutes, what would you say?

You might also like