Ryan’s well foundationElena García Marín

                                  

I am Ryan and I am six years old

                                                                                                             

                                                                                   

Ryan was a normal boy

                                                                                                                                   

This is Africa and...

What can I do?

That’s nice, Ryan

but $70 is a lot of money.

I will do extra work at home

Extra work = 2 $

It is not enough!

We want to help too!

Great! I have got $70 for the well

Ryan, a hand pump costs $70 but to drill a well costs $2,000.

No problem, I will get more money.

Well done, Ryan!

How an11-year-old Canadian boy became the hero of an African village. Tijn Touber | April 2003 issue

When six-year-old Ryan Hreljac learned at school that there are many children in Africa without clean drinking water, he decided to help. Ryan, who lives in a small town near Ottawa, in Canada, was told by his teacher that CDN$70 is all it costs to dig a well. So he asked his parents for $70. Ryan's mother, Susan, put him to work vacuuming and washing the windows, and after four months he had earned the money. Ryan: 'When I brought the money to Watercan - the organisation that digs the wells - its director told me that $70 was enough to buy a hand pump, but not enough to dig a well. That took $2,000. So I had to make more money.' Luckily, the Canadian International Development Agency was prepared to provide half of the sum. Ryan went to work with heightened zeal, and this time his buddies joined in. Ryan: 'My friend Spencer donated all his report card money, and Jeff turned up with all the loose money he could spare.'

A boy who makes a difference

•

By Diana Federman / January 2, 2007

One person can make a difference. Just ask Ryan Hreljac (pronounced hurl-jack), who is 15 and lives in Canada. Without his help, hundreds of wells that now provide fresh water for people in Africa, Central America, and India might never have been built.Ryan is what you might call a water ambassador. He travels the world to tell people how they can help solve a big problem: the lack of safe drinking water in many developing countries."Everybody can do something," Ryan says.

                                                                                                                       

... and the well was built

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                       

... a penpal relationship with Angolo Primary School

Dear Ryan, My name is Akana Jimmy. I am 8 years old. I like soccer. Our house is made of grass. How is America?Your friend, Akana Jimmy.

Dear Jimmy, It must be cool to have a house made out of grass. I am 8 now. Do you drink from my well every day?What is your favourite subject in school?I am going to Uganda whem I am 12. My house is made of bricks.Write back soon. Your friend, Ryan.

                                                                                                                                                                                       

Ryan arrives at his well (July, 2000)

                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                      

Drilling a new well

                                                                                                                          

Ryan and Jimmy

                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Uganda 2006 (seven years later)

                                                                                                                                   

•2003 Recipient, Order of Ontario March, 2004. Please see our separate page of news coverage pertaining to this prestigious award! •Honorary Member, Engineering Institute of Canada March, 2004.   Ryan was made an honorary member of the Institute along with Dr. David Strangway, President and CEO of the Canada Foundation for Innovation and former President of the University of British Columbia. •World of Children Founder's Award November, 2003.   What the Nobel Prize is to those working for world peace, the World of Children Awards, founded in 1998, is for those who dedicate their lives to helping children.  •Meritorius Service Medal announced March 8, 2002. The Meritorious Service Decorations, Civil Division, recognize individuals who have performed an exceptional deed or an activity that brought honour to their community or to Canada. •Student of the Year, Elementary Division, Ontario Catholic School Trustee Association Ryan received the 2002 OCSTA Student Award of the Year at the Association's Annual General Meeting on April 12, 2002 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The award recognizes students who strive to meet the goals expressed in the Ontario Catholic School Expectations developed by the Institute for Catholic Education. •Wolf Project Award The Wolf Project was established to recognize, honour and promote activities which serve to promote racial harmony. Ryan was nominated for this award by his classmates at Holy Cross School. The Wolf Award has also been presented to Nelson Mandela by a delegation of Manitoba Chiefs on a visit to South Africa. Ryan received this award in June 2001. •Award Of Excellence, Child and Youth Friendly Ottawa (CAYFO) CAYFO presents "Awards of Excellence" to individuals, groups and institutions advancing the cause of children and youth. Ryan received his Award of Excellence at the National Arts Centre, Ottawa, on April 18, 2001. •Canadian Peace Award Recipient, Age 9, Youth Category, Canadian Centres for Teaching Peace, Okotoks, Alberta, November 11, 2000 ? •Youngest ever guest speaker at Rotary International Conference, Cornwall, Ontario, October 14, 2000 •Guest speaker at a National Conference on Child Poverty hosted by The Student's Commission, Kemptville, Ontario, August 19, 2000 •Ryan has appeared as a guest speaker at over 60 schools, service clubs, churches and community organizations. •Millennium Dreamers Award Recipient, global forum sponsored by Walt Disney World, McDonald's and the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida, May 7-11, 2000 •Finalist,Public Service/UNICEF category, 1999 YTV Achievement Awards, Toronto, Ontario •Identified as the inspiration for a "Singing Well" from the Central Children's Choir, an internationally known children's choir based on Ottawa, November 24, 1999 •Guest of Honour, at French Embassy, WaterCan's "Wine into Water" Wine Auction hosted by French Ambassador, September 23, 1999 •Celebration of Life Guest of Her Excellency Diana Fowler Leblanc, Rideau Hall, Ottawa, Ontario, July 27, 1999 •Special Achievement Award, Township of North Grenville, Ceremony with Town Council, Kemptville, Ontario, April 26, 1999 •Guest of Lieutenant Governor Hilary Weston, Reception held at the Lieutenant Governor's Suite, Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, April 9, 1999 •Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year, Toronto, Ontario, April 9,1999 •Guest of Honour, Ugandan Embassy, Dinner given by High Commissioner in Ryan's honour, January 3, 1999 •Two letters of commendation, Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Government of Canada (December 7, 1998 and November 20, 1998) •Recipient- You Made a Difference Award, Our Kids Foundation, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario, November 20, 1998 •Honoured by Groundwater Association of Eastern Ontario, Stittsville, Ontario, October 24, 1998 •Mother Teresa Act of Kindness Award, Holy Cross School, Kemptville, Ontario, June 1998

RYAN'S AWARDS

                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Jimmy is living in Canada, with Ryan’s family

• Etiopia• Guatemala• India• Nigeria• Uganda• Ghana• Guyana• Malawi• Tanzania • Zambia

RWF Projects

I am Ryan and I am six years old

This is Africa and...

• Etiopia• Guatemala• India• Nigeria• Uganda• Ghana• Guyana• Malawi• Tanzania • Zambia

Rwf proyects

I will do extra work at home

Extra work = 2 $

Ryan and his family

His teacher at school

Extra choresThe first Ryan’s well in

Uganda

RYAN’S WELL FOUNDATION

Why is Ryan famous?

What happens to people who haven't got drinking water?

How old was he when he began to get money?

How old is he now?

Where does Ryan live?

How did Ryan earn the money to build his first

well?

Who is Jimmy?

Where is he from?

How many wells have Ryan Foundation built?

Which job does Ryan like when he grows

up?