McGraw-Hill Education's Using Energy Inspires Malawi Teen To 'Harness the Wind'

NEW YORK, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ — McGraw-Hill Education congratulates William Kamkwamba on the release of his autobiography, THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND: Creating Currents of Electricity & Hope (William Morrow, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishing). William's powerful story began at age 14 when he borrowed a McGraw-Hill Education science textbook, which was donated to his village in Malawi by the McGraw-Hill International Book Donation Program, the International Book Bank and the American Institute for Research.

By utilizing the experiments in Professor Atwater's book, William, now 22 and a senior at the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa, was able to bring electricity to his family and village for the first time. William's quest to bring electricity to his African village led to the creation of a windmill built out of a broken bicycle, tractor fan blade, old shock absorber and blue gum trees, which generated enough electricity to power four light bulbs and two radios. Subsequently, William moved on to work on projects to prevent malaria and provide clean water, solar power and lighting to his village.

"William Kamkwamba's story is a testament to the impact of educational content and the power of knowledge," said Peter Davis, president, McGraw-Hill Education. "By using the knowledge and information in Using Energy, William's journey clearly demonstrates the vital role that education, inventiveness and innovation can play in helping to raise standards of living and give hope to communities around the world."

Professor Mary D. Atwater, the author of Using Energy, was inspired when she learned about William's story. "I found a fantastic story come to life in William Kamkwamba's book about his vision and commitment to provide his family electricity with a windmill," Professor Atwater said. "I became involved in the McGraw-Hill Science program many years ago because one of the major goals was to provide students with a dream of science and the science knowledge and skills to change the world around them. I am proud that I played a part in providing Mr. Kamkwamba the opportunity to see and use the book Using Energy."

THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND: Creating Currents of Electricity & Hope chronicles William's journey – a tale of trial and error, struggle and success, and a hunger for knowledge – that started when the windmills on the cover of Using Energy caught his eye and he borrowed the book from his village library. William's autobiography has received accolades from Former Vice President Al Gore and Carter Roberts, president & CEO of the World Wildlife Foundation.

About McGraw-Hill Higher Education:

McGraw-Hill Higher Education, a unit of McGraw-Hill Education, is a premier provider of teaching and learning solutions for 21st century post-secondary and higher education markets worldwide. Through a comprehensive range of traditional and digital education content and tools, McGraw-Hill Higher Education empowers educators and prepares professionals and students of all ages to connect, learn and succeed in the global economy. McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 60 languages. Additional information is available at http://www.mheducation.com/.

SOURCE McGraw-Hill Education