A gathering of friends, storytellers, and innovators who believe change happens when opportunity meets talent.
William caught the wind, and it never stopped blowing. The gift of a dynamo became a windmill; the windmill caused water to flow; the water transformed a community. The wind then blew his story across Kasungu, across Malawi, then to the TED stage where it spread to millions. One act of generosity became a movement that has traversed the world and back.
Doors of opportunity blew open for William. His talent was met with the tools, mentorship, and the space to try, to fail, and try again.
Then the wind brought William back home. He set out to build for others what he had received: an opportunity network. Spaces to invent local solutions to global challenges. The tools and mentorship to equip the next generation of problem-solvers. The partners, mentors, and resources to fuel each person’s progress and the next person’s opportunity. A perpetual hope machine based in William’s belief that if you can dream it, you can build it.
And that is how one windmill became a movement — a generation learning to build, earn, and lead where they already live.
That movement is moving the world.
There are talented young people everywhere — their ideas just don’t see the light of day.William Kamkwamba
You’ve read William’s story in a book. You’ve seen the film. You can catch it on stage this summer. Now it’s about to take one more form — a journey you can literally step inside.
With Model of Architecture Serving Society (MASS) Design Group, Moving Windmills is building the Innovation Center — a working campus in Kasungu where young people will learn, build, co-create solutions, and lead.
Model of Architecture Serving Society (MASS) believes a just and beautiful future is ours to create. This campus is that belief made physical: the wind, the work, and the welcome, drawn into a place.
On 9 July, we’re gathering in celebration of the next stories that will unfold in this bold new space — the stories that will move the world and shape the future, from Malawi to the world.
Join us at The Conduit, a space created to allow bold ideas to flourish and partnerships to form. Film, music, theater, writing, architecture, curiosity, and human-centered design will come together in one special event.
What started with one friend’s gift continues with a room full of friends.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is on stage at @sohoplace through 18 July — contact the box office for tickets.