Ryan Hreljac

Not many seven-year-olds decide to buy a well in an African village,

and not many create a foundation to raise millions of dollars for clean

water.

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Ryan Hreljac seems like your typical Canadian teenager. He goes to school, plays
hockey, and likes video games. But Ryan also happens to be the founder of an
international foundation that has helped save tens of thousands of lives!
When he was growing up in Kemptville, Ontario, Ryan heard a story from his Grade One
teacher. She explained how millions of people in under-developed countries die every
year because they don’t have access to clean water.
Lots of kids hear about issues like this; only a very few decide to do something about it.
Ryan Hreljac was one of these.
Ryan did extra chores at home to earn pocket money. He worked very hard and, over four
months, managed to earn seventy dollars. That was enough to pay for a new well in a
village in Uganda.
The charity that built the well was surprised to get a donation from a seven-year-old and
began telling people about this big-hearted boy. Ryan soon had other children and adults
asking him how they could help him solve the world’s clean water challenge.
Other charities got involved, the Government of Canada offered to help, and before he
knew it, Ryan’s single donation was growing into an organization.