"I found out where my puzzle piece fits in the world and that is with water. I just hope everyone else finds out where their puzzle piece fits too."

At the age of 6, Ryan Hreljac was inspired to raise money for digging wells and providing clean water in developing countries. His first-grade teacher presented a list of needed supplies in Africa, encouraging Hreljac to earn the money by performing household chores and raising funds in his community. In January 1999, his first well was built near a primary school in northern Uganda. Hreljac continued his fundraising and, in 2001, with the support of his family established the Ryan's Well Foundation. The foundation has raised over $1 million for numerous water and sanitation projects. More than 120 wells have been built in many African countries, including Malawi, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria. Ryan's Well Foundation has given over 150,000 adults and children access to clean water. Ryan, now 13, plans to pursue a career in water engineering thus continuing to provide clean water to people around the world. To learn more, please visit www.Ryanswell.ca.

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