William Kamkwamba was just 14 years old when a severe famine was affecting his home country of Malawi. Unable to attend school becasue of the financial burden it put on his family, he sustained his own education by visiting his local library. It was there that he found some key resources to support his inventive and innovative mind. Armed with rough plans, he headed to the scrap yard to find supplies to build a windmill. William's first windmill was able to power four lights and two radios for his family and quickly became a community sensation.

William's portfolio of community-focused energy projects is ever expanding – solar power and lighting for the six homes in his family compound, a deep water well with a solar powered pump for clean water, a drip irrigation system, and solar powered schools. Through his charitable foundation, the Moving Windmills Project, William is continuing to improve energy provision and wellbeing in Kasunga District, Malawi.

Join William for an engaging and inspiring address about the transformative power of energy.

Watch William's TED Talk and learn more at williamkamkwamba.com

William will be signing his book, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, following the talk. Wordsworth Books will be onsite selling copies.

Parking: Limited parking is available at Perimeter Institute. Free 2 hour parking is available in UpTown Waterloo within walking distance.

Waterloo Global Science Initiative is bringing organizations in the Waterloo Region with an interest in sustainability and energy issues together under the #PowerShiftWR banner for a week of public programming that will engage all ages in discussions about our energy choices.

Learn more about all #PowerShiftWR events at wgsi.org/powershiftwr