Chocowinity Middle School participates in the one school, one book reading program. That entails every single student, faculty member and even the janitorial staff reading the same book at the start of the school year. This year’s selection was the best-seller “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.” The program is headed up by the school’s media coordinator, Lisa Baker.

The author, William Kamkwamba, recounts in the book his life in a tiny village in Malawi. Due to drought, his family lost all of their crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. Then 14 years old, he began to explore science books at his village library, looking for a solution. There, Kamkwamba came up with the idea that would change his family’s life forever: He could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, his windmill brought electricity to the family’s home and helped them pump the water they needed to farm the land.

In support of the school’s reading project, Baker submitted a Bright Ideas grant application to Tideland to purchase wind and solar energy kits so students could create their own renewable energy projects.

At the awards dinner in November where Baker received her grant, she revealed that Kamkwamba would be visiting Chocowinity Middle School the following day.

Tideland was on hand as the student body assembled in the gymnasium to officially welcome Kamkwamba. He discussed the challenges of building his windmill while being taunted by those who considered his endeavor futile. A question-and-answer session allowed students to learn more about life in Malawi and his pursuits since the book was published. Following the presentation, he conducted a book signing for students and faculty.

Kamkwamba currently resides in North Carolina where he works with WiderNet to develop technology curriculum that will allow people to bridge the gap between “knowing” and “doing.”

That too is the goal of Baker’s Bright Ideas grant: Take students beyond the book, turning concepts into hands-on creations that generate their own energy. In fact, Baker says, the real lesson isn’t necessarily in the outcome of each student’s project. It comes from having tried and persevered...just like William Kamkwamba.