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Pick a Dream |
Ryan meets Ugandan child. © www.ryanswell.ca
He has been called the ‘Messiah for Water’ and the ‘water boy’. One thing is at least for sure, he is now one of the most successful young fundraisers that the world has probably ever seen.
Starting with the desire to build just one well in an African country, Ryan Hreljac has, seven years later, raised over one million dollars, built 169 wells and provided clean water for 300,000 people in undeveloped countries like Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Guatemala. Having received an enor-mous embrace from the media and a non-stop interest from people all over the world, 14-year-old Ryan is still determined to continue on his path until he reaches his dream – to provide clean water to everyone in the whole world.
It all started back in 1998 when Ryan, just six at the time, intently listened to his first-grade teacher telling the class about how people in Africa had to walk many kilometres every day just to get water. The teacher also told him that it would only take 70 dollars to build a well for an entire village. On hearing this, Ryan decided he had to build one and so asked his parents as soon as he got home for 70 dollars. Since he was only six, his parents offered to pay him extra pocket money for doing chores around the house. Four months of hard chores later, he had saved the 70 dollars needed and went to give the money to the charity, WaterCan, in Canada, who specialise in the building of wells in undeveloped countries.
When they told him that the 70 dollars was only enough to build a hand pump and 2,000 dollars was needed to actual-ly build a well, his answer was: “Well I’ll just have to do more chores.”
Having collected 100 dollars, Ryan realised he could not raise the amount on his own and started giving speeches at a local level in service clubs and churches. The story about the little boy fundraising for a well in Africa spread and soon, he was also giving speeches nationally and internationally.
At the age of nine, in 2001, Ryan’s Well Foundation was established and Ryan went to Uganda to see his first well: this is one of the best memories Ryan has. “I’m most proud of the trip. It’s also my best memory because I met my pen pal, Jimmy Akana there.
Just a few years later, Jimmy was abducted by a guerrilla group. However, after a time of anxiousness, the message arrived that Jimmy had escaped and Ryan, his two brothers and parents took the decision to adopt him.
Ryan Hreljac has been interviewed by countless media publications, given hundreds of speeches and been awarded many times, met Pope John Paul II, HRH Prince Charles, environmentalist, Jean-Michel Cousteau and the famous primatologist, Dr Jane Goodall. With his unique, captivating story he inspires and motivates both young people and adults alike. “Pick a dream” he says. “and make it happen.”
Contact: Ryan’s Well
PO Box 1120, Kemptville, Ontario Canada, K0G 1J0.
Tel: +1 (613) 258-6832
Email: info@ryanswell.ca
Website: www.ryanswell.ca
Starting with the desire to build just one well in an African country, Ryan Hreljac has, seven years later, raised over one million dollars, built 169 wells and provided clean water for 300,000 people in undeveloped countries like Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Guatemala. Having received an enor-mous embrace from the media and a non-stop interest from people all over the world, 14-year-old Ryan is still determined to continue on his path until he reaches his dream – to provide clean water to everyone in the whole world.
It all started back in 1998 when Ryan, just six at the time, intently listened to his first-grade teacher telling the class about how people in Africa had to walk many kilometres every day just to get water. The teacher also told him that it would only take 70 dollars to build a well for an entire village. On hearing this, Ryan decided he had to build one and so asked his parents as soon as he got home for 70 dollars. Since he was only six, his parents offered to pay him extra pocket money for doing chores around the house. Four months of hard chores later, he had saved the 70 dollars needed and went to give the money to the charity, WaterCan, in Canada, who specialise in the building of wells in undeveloped countries.
When they told him that the 70 dollars was only enough to build a hand pump and 2,000 dollars was needed to actual-ly build a well, his answer was: “Well I’ll just have to do more chores.”
Having collected 100 dollars, Ryan realised he could not raise the amount on his own and started giving speeches at a local level in service clubs and churches. The story about the little boy fundraising for a well in Africa spread and soon, he was also giving speeches nationally and internationally.
At the age of nine, in 2001, Ryan’s Well Foundation was established and Ryan went to Uganda to see his first well: this is one of the best memories Ryan has. “I’m most proud of the trip. It’s also my best memory because I met my pen pal, Jimmy Akana there.
Just a few years later, Jimmy was abducted by a guerrilla group. However, after a time of anxiousness, the message arrived that Jimmy had escaped and Ryan, his two brothers and parents took the decision to adopt him.
Ryan Hreljac has been interviewed by countless media publications, given hundreds of speeches and been awarded many times, met Pope John Paul II, HRH Prince Charles, environmentalist, Jean-Michel Cousteau and the famous primatologist, Dr Jane Goodall. With his unique, captivating story he inspires and motivates both young people and adults alike. “Pick a dream” he says. “and make it happen.”
Contact: Ryan’s Well
PO Box 1120, Kemptville, Ontario Canada, K0G 1J0.
Tel: +1 (613) 258-6832
Email: info@ryanswell.ca
Website: www.ryanswell.ca
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