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Colrerd Nkosi grew up in a village with no electricity, like much of Malawi. After getting an education 40 km away, he moved back to his village and made it his mission to make a difference for his community. He decided to take advantage of the fast-flowing river that ran past his house; he put his bicycle into the stream and found the force of the water turned the pedals. Nkosi then used a maize sheller (a machine that skims kernels of corn off the cob) to create a powerful turbine. The power generated is carried through metal cables strung between trees. With a minimal charge to his neighbors for monthly maintenance, he has electrified the village and children no longer have to do their homework by candlelight. The new power supply also has an environmental benefit: people no longer need to cut down trees for charcoal.
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