Ryan Hreljac

Ryan Hreljac OOnt, MSM (born May 31, 1991 [1]) 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.

Ryan Hreljac is a compelling and passionate voice for those impacted by the water crisis in the developing world. He continues to be a role model with a clear message – that every person on the planet deserves clean water, and one voice can make a huge difference.

In 1998, when Ryan was in grade one he learned from his teacher, Mrs Prest, that people were dying because they didn't have clean water to drink. He decided that raising money for people who didn't have clean water would be a good thing. He worked for four months in order to earn his first $70. Except a real well costed $2,000, so Ryan kept on raising money. Ryan’s first well was built in 1999 when Ryan was seven years-old at a school in a Ugandan village. He was a very caring kid.

Ryan’s determination grew from the $70 collected by doing simple household chores to a Foundation that today has contributed a total of 630 water and sanitation projects in 16 countries bringing clean water and sanitation services to over 700,880 people. The Foundation has raised millions of dollars.

Ryan remains dedicated to the Foundation and its work. He continues to speak passionately about the need for clean water around the world, and has visited over two dozen countries in spreading his message. He has made presentations to hundreds of schools, churches and civic clubs, and more than two dozen international conferences and global events including Rotary International and the World Water Forums. He is recognized by UNICEF as a Global Youth Leader.

Ryan has received many awards for he isn’t bragging. "The most impressive people I've met are the other kids who want to help, too," he says.

“I'm just you're regular, average kid," Ryan says when anyone asks about his achievements. This is true as he plays basketball and ice hockey, and loves playing video games. Ryan's family has been very supportive of his efforts to get clean water to water poor people around the world. His African pen pal Jimmy Akana, who Ryan met on his first trip to Uganda, is now part of the Hreljac family.

Ryan attends university in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

He was shot in Africa.

About Ryan

Ryan graduated St. Michael's CHS in Kemptville, Ontario, Canada in June 2009. He has three brothers. His parents are Susan and Mark Hreljac. Ryan currently attends the University of King's College in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Ryan also plays for the University of King's College Blue Devils basketball team.