Ryan's Well Foundation
Encyclopedia
Ryan's Well Foundation is a non-profit organization
located in Kemptville, Ontario
, Canada
. It was founded in 2001 by Ryan Hreljac
with the focus of raising funds to enable clean water
projects and health-related initiatives in Africa
n nations and other developing countries
. Ryan's Well has completed over 600 projects bringing access to clean water and sanitation to over 685,000 people in 16 developing countries. Ryan's first well was built at the Angolo School in northern Uganda.
BUILD: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene projects
Our BUILD program supports water, sanitation and hygiene education projects in partnership with local non-governmental and community based organizations in developing countries. Our current focus is to the communities of West Africa (Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Togo), East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda), and Haiti.
EMPOWER: Get Involved and Make a Difference
Ryan’s story has been compelling not just for his actions against the global water and sanitation crisis, but for all grassroots action. It continues to motivate people of all ages –youth in particular – to take action and effect positive change in the world.
Our EMPOWER program consists of:
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
located in Kemptville, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was founded in 2001 by Ryan Hreljac
Ryan Hreljac
Ryan Hreljac OOnt, MSM is a Canadian individual who, at the age of six, began raising money for those affected by the global water crisis, and has since raised millions for water and sanitation projects in Africa.Biography=...
with the focus of raising funds to enable clean water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
projects and health-related initiatives in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n nations and other developing countries
Developing country
A developing country, also known as a less-developed country, is a nation with a low level of material well-being. Since no single definition of the term developing country is recognized internationally, the levels of development may vary widely within so-called developing countries...
. Ryan's Well has completed over 600 projects bringing access to clean water and sanitation to over 685,000 people in 16 developing countries. Ryan's first well was built at the Angolo School in northern Uganda.
History
The Ryan’s Well Foundation grew from the commitment of one boy, Ryan Hreljac, who learned of the great need for clean and safe water in developing countries in his 1st grade class. With the support of friends, family and the community, Ryan raised enough money to build a well in Africa. In 1999, at age seven, Ryan's first well was built at Tungungo Primary School in northern Kenya. To this day, the well continues to serve the community.Their Philosophy and Work
The Ryan's Well Foundation is a family of people committed to delivering access to safe water as an essential way of improving the lives of people in the developing world. We empower citizens of all ages to take action and effect change in the world. Since 2001, we’ve improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people through the initiation of community-led water and sanitation projects, and by inspiring others, especially youth, to effect positive change in the world.BUILD: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene projects
Our BUILD program supports water, sanitation and hygiene education projects in partnership with local non-governmental and community based organizations in developing countries. Our current focus is to the communities of West Africa (Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Togo), East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda), and Haiti.
- Completed over 600 water and sanitation projects.
- Provided access to clean water, improved sanitation and hygiene education for over 6,705,000 people.
- With access to safe water and sanitation, communities realize improved health and well-being for a more prosperous future.
- Women and children are empowered by access to safe water when less time is needed to collect water each day - time that can be dedicated instead to education, income-generating activities and living healthy lives.
EMPOWER: Get Involved and Make a Difference
Ryan’s story has been compelling not just for his actions against the global water and sanitation crisis, but for all grassroots action. It continues to motivate people of all ages –youth in particular – to take action and effect positive change in the world.
Our EMPOWER program consists of:
- Youth in Action – This program educates students about the need to conserve water and to understand the importance of safe water and sanitation. This elementary and secondary curriculum helps to inspire students to find where their ‘puzzle’ piece fits in our world and take action.
- Getting Involved - School groups, community groups, individuals and other dedicated Ambassadors of the Foundation are encouraged to organize their own fundraising activities, help raise awareness and share our story, thereby making a difference in their own way.
- Speaking Engagements – Through proactive story-telling, we inspire and educate continue to grow, benefiting from the many dedicated and enthusiastic people of all ages who are makingto make a difference in their own way.
Partners
- Sanitation and Water Action Network Canada
- Haiti Missions Inc.
- The Samburu Project
- L’Union des Groupements de Productrices des Produits du Karité - Burkino Faso (UGPPK)
- Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario
- Rotary InternationalRotary InternationalRotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
- Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief
- Jane Goodall InstituteJane Goodall InstituteThe Jane Goodall Institute is an international wildlife and environment conservation organization with branches in many countries. It was founded in 1977 by English primatologist Dr...
- World of Children