WorldWide Drilling Resource

The Well that Changed Everything by Amy White, Associate Editor, WorldWide Drilling Resource ® with Information from Ryan Herljac and Ryan’s Well Foundation Ryan Hreljac said his story is really very simple. One day in 1998, he was sitting in a Grade One classroom in Canada. He was six years old. His teacher, Mrs. Prest explained people were sick and dying because they didn’t have clean water. She told the class some children inAfrica walked hours just to collect dirty water. Ryan said the kids became angry at the teacher because she revealed the world was not fair. “All I had to do was take ten steps frommy classroom to get to the drinking fountain and I had clean water. Before that day in school, I figured everyone lived like me. When I found out this wasn’t the case, I decided I had to do something about it.” When the teacher asked who wanted to help raise $70 for a project to drill a well in Africa, Ryan raised his hand. Ryan said he was not a “high-achiever” in school. He thought he would just ask his parents for the money, they would give it to him, and the world would have access to clean water, easy enough; but Ryan had a lot to learn. He went straight home and begged his mom and dad for help. His parents told him if he really wanted the money, he could do extra chores to earn it. Ryan worked four months for $70, only to learn it would cost around $2000 to complete a well in a place like Uganda. “That’s how my little Grade One project became the Ryan’s Well Foundation.” Ryan said he simply could not get the project out of his head. He wanted to keep going, and thought maybe he could just do a few more chores. Ryan’s parents suggested he get out of his comfort zone and talk to people in the community to rally support. He took their advice, and at age seven, Ryan gave his first speech to the Rotary Club. From there, he continued speaking to service clubs, school classes, and anyone who would listen about raising money for a well at Angolo Primary School in Uganda. The community got involved and went on to raise the money needed to drill the well in Uganda; and it became the well that changed everything. In 1999, Ryan started writing to Jimmy, a pen pal at Angolo Primary School. Before the well was drilled at his school, Jimmy had to get out of bed at midnight and walk five miles to the nearest water source multiple times. “I had to go back and back again to fill the pot we used at home for cooking and washing,” said Jimmy. The water was not clean. It looked like chocolate - but it was the only source available before Ryan’s well was built. After the well was constructed at Jimmy’s school, he could simply bring water home. Jimmy said the well made a big difference in all the students’ lives, including his. “After the well was built, I didn’t have to walk too far, just wake up like a normal kid...” He said having water gave him time to just play and have fun. In 2003, Jimmy’s village was facing many problems due to a rebel group looking to overthrow the government. He was abducted by the rebel army, but thankfully managed to escape and find his friend Tom Omach, a project coordinator for Ryan’s Well. It took some time - and a lot of paperwork - but eventually, Jimmy went to Canada to live with Ryan and became part of his family. In 2007, Jimmy graduated high school and became a Canadian citizen. He received a degree from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia in 2012. Jimmy said he lives in a different world now, and has to do things differently. “For me, now I just wake up, wipe my face, and... Hallelujah! Life is good.” As for Ryan, he went on to graduate from University of King’s College in Nova Scotia. After completing studies in international de- velopment and political science, he remains involved with Ryan’s Well Foundation as a project manager. He is a sought-after keynote speaker at events across the globe, and has been featured on international media such as the Oprah Winfrey Show and CNN. His Foundation has received support from prominent individuals, including the Prince of Wales, Craig Kielburger, Matt Damon, and Dr. Jane Goodall. Ryan still views himself as an ordinary kid who loved video games, and just wanted to help make the world a little more fair. He said the hardest thing he ever did was raising his hand in class that day when the teacher asked for help. Ryan’s key message is anyone, no matter what age or circumstance, can make a positive change the world. “You don’t have to be someone remarkable to make a difference.” He said Ryan’s Well Foundation is not a success because of superheroes; it became possible because of friends and neighbors. Fifteen years after that first well was drilled in Uganda, Ryan made a trip back to the site at Angolo School. Over 4000 people came out to greet the young man who changed their lives all those years ago. It was an emotional and fascinating visit for Ryan and his family as he talked to hundreds of people whose lives had drastically improved forever because of his childhood dream. Forming the same long line as they had years earlier, the crowd burst into applause when Ryan’s vehicle came into view. Bearing gifts of chickens and eggs, people of all ages waited to have a few words with the boy who had given them so much hope. Since the founding of Ryan’s Well Foundation in 2001, more than 990 community- led clean water projects, and 1153 latrines have been constructed, giving over one million people worldwide the power to take over their own lives. Ryan said the world can be an overwhelming place, but the key to making a difference is to ask yourself, “What am I passionate about?” And when you find it, raise your hand. Jimmy and Ryan, then and now. Ryan Herljac was keynote speaker at the Groundwater Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2015. WWDR photo. Ryan in Uganda, May 2014. Ryan in Uganda, age 9. 68 JUNE 2016 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®