Reaching Our Goals

About Ryan’s Well

            You may not be aware of it at your house, but….    There is a World Water Crisis

At least one billion of your fellow humans do not have access to clean water. Many more do not have proper sanitation. Every eight seconds– somewhere in the world– a child dies from water– related causes.

            In 1998, a six-year old Canadian boy named Ryan became aware of these problems in  his first grade class. He decided to do something. His first goal was to raise $70 to contribute. He did it by doing  extra chores at home for several months.

            His new goal was to raise at least $2,000 dollars to fund a well for an African community. His efforts got attention and help. By the time he was seven, a well to serve several villages was being drilled near a school in Uganda. He became long-distance friends with Jimmy Akana, his pen pal from one of the villages.

            Ryan didn’t let up. He set a new goal: to raise $25,000, enough money to buy a drilling rig. He worked to involve his entire school and was invited to talk to students at other schools. He also became a public speaker on television and at adult gatherings. His dedication was infectious. The success continued.

            When  Ryan was nine years old, friends and neighbors arranged for Ryan and his parents to visit that first well, “Ryan’s Well,” in  northern Uganda. When he arrived, 5,000 people from several villages lined the road clapping and shouting his name. After receiving a visiting dignitary’s welcome, he was able to see “his well” and play soccer with Jimmy and the other boys. He wanted to stay longer.

Before Ryan had turned eleven, he and his family—parents and two brothers—had formed a charitable foundation  to continue the work of funding water and sanitation projects in places where the need is great. Friends and volunteers from near and far have been  helping ever since.

            Today, Ryan Hreljac is a very tall fifteen-year-old high school student. His dedication and passion continues to inspire adults and children alike. He has been honored with numerous awards and continues to travel the world to speak on behalf of his cause and for youth empowerment. The inspiring story was the subject of a children’s book published in 2006.

            So far, the Ryan’s Well Foundation has raised more than $1.5 million dollars to fund more than 250 water projects in twelve countries serving more than 430,000 people on several continents. Ryan says, “I’m just a regular kid… If I can do it,you can do it.” One more thing: There’s a new brother in the Hrelijac family. He’s from Uganda and his name is Jimmy. But that’s another story…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Believe in your dream

"I want everyone to have clean water”

Ryan Hreljac

 

 

Visit

www.ryanswell.ca to

 help Ryan with his dream

 

 

P.O. Box 1120

Kemptville, Ontario

Canada KOG 1JO

(613)258-6832

 

TOP TEN REASONS TO

TAKE ACTION TO HELP OTHERS;

 

What goes around comes around-when you give to others, you fill your heart
with mercy & gratitude– it’s good for the soul.

 “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Gandhi

 

2. You don’t really NEED all things that you spend

 your money on. Distinguish between

 needs and wants.

 

3. The gap is growing between those who have and those who have

 not. Do you have more than your fair earth’s share?

 

4. It matters to you that you Become part of the solution,

Rather than part of The problem.

 

5. You understand that each One of us can make a

Difference. You don’t just Want to be a bystander.

 

6. You don’t need any training You just have to care.

You want to find where Your puzzle piece fits.

 

7. Each individual who is willing To help brings us one

Step closer to the solution To end world poverty.

 

8. It’s unacceptable to you that 1.1 billion people

Around the world have a drinking problem-unsafe-

Inaccessible water.

 

9. It is the perfect solutions if you are yearning for a

Purpose. “How wonderful it is that nobody need

Wait a single moment before starting to improve

The world.”-Anne Frank-Holocaust victim.

 

10. It’s the right thing to do.

 

 

 

MMS is helping to make Ryan Hreljac's  dream come true. As a school, we have adopted the Ryan's Well project as a way to help others and ourselves.  Our awareness of the importance of water for our daily use and for the world increases everyday. As we begin to get this project underway, we are planning a variety of activities that promote water conservation, appreciation, and knowledge of water's use in other countries that are less fortunate than ours. Morning announcements provide water facts daily, viewing Ryan's film helps us understand our needs and goals and participating in a variety of activities, from collecting money for the cause to classroom projects will be ongoing.

Ryan in first RWF office.