Desert Hot Springs students’ clean energy program inspires return of African inventor 13 years later

33-year-old Malawian author and inventor William Kamkwamba returned to the Coachella Valley on Friday to visit a class of students enrolled in a renewable energy program at Desert Hot Springs High School.

The newly unveiled facility has inspired Kamkwamba to build an innovation center in Malawi to continue inspiring the next generation similar to how he was inspired more than a decade ago.

Kamkwamba told News Channel 3, "If you give younger people opportunity, tools, mentorship -- they are going to be able to come up with great ideas. That's what I'm working on."

About 13 years ago, Kamkwamba visited from Malawi with his friend and mentor Tom Rielly with TED Conferences, and toured the Wintec turbine farm in 2007.

Prior to his visit, Kamkwamba started getting international recognition at the age of 14 for building a windmill out of random items he found at farms near his home.

His windmill became the first source of power in his village, and his trip to the U.S. inspired him to strive for better renewable energy technology in his country.

In 2009, Kamkwamba authored a memoir, "The Boy Who Harnassed the Wind," which was inspired by his life.

The Dartmouth graduate's visit to Desert Hot Springs High School allowed him to share his story in person with students who are currently learning about clean and renewable sources of energy.

The program, called REAL, also enables students to get hands on experience and practical application of skills taught in the classroom.

REAL students also participate in KidWind competitions.

Kamkwamba's story inspired a Netflix film that came out in 2019.