About Us  Contact Us  Guest Book  Blog

Frequently Asked Questions - Water Projects
1. When is Ryan's birthday?
May 31, 1991
2. When was Ryan's Well Foundation created?
The Ryan's Well Foundation was officially incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in 2001. Although Ryan started raising money for water projects in 1998, the Foundation was not formed until 2001.
3. What sports does Ryan play?
Soccer, Football, Hockey, Basketball and Golf.
4. Where does Ryan go to school?
Ryan is in his first year of university in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
5. Does Ryan have any siblings?
Yes, Ryan has 3 brothers.
6. What does Ryan want to do when he gets older?
At this point in time, Ryan isn't sure what he will do when he is older. He is still young and is enjoying being a teenager, playing sports, going to school, and spreading his message of the need for clean water and sanitation for all!
7. How many countries has Ryan visited?
Ryan has visited over 20 different countries in the world, some of the countries he has visited include the United States, Mexico, Italy, France, the Netherlands, England, Scotland, Germany, Luxembourg, Uganda, South Africa, Algeria, Mali, Ghana, Morocco, Australia, Thailand, China, Japan, and the Czech Republic.
8. Does Ryan's Well Foundation have charitable status?
Yes, Ryan's Well Foundation has charitable status. In Canada, the "Ryan's Well Foundation" has operated as a not-for-profit organization in the Province of Ontario since 2001. The Foundation received federal tax exempt status as a registered charity in 2004. (Charity Business Number 88858 7110 RR0001)
9. Does Ryan's Well Foundation issue tax receipts?
Yes, as a federally registered tax exempt charity, the Ryan's Well Foundation is able to issue charitable tax receipts for income tax purposes. Canadians will receive a Canadian charitable tax receipt for income tax purposes on donations of $10 or more. If you make an online donation through the Ryan's Well Foundation web site you will receive an electronically generated tax receipt. Tax receipts are also issued for donations made by cheque or money order directly to Ryan's Well Foundation. If you make an online donation through CanadaHelps.org, Canada Helps will issue your tax receipt. If you make a donation through the Tides Foundation, Tides USA will issue your tax receipt for use in the USA.
10. What is the Tides Foundation and why can I not donate directly to the Ryan's Well Foundation?
If you are donating from the United States of America and DO NOT require your contribution to be tax deductible, then donations can be made directly to the Ryan's Well Foundation, on-line or by mail. If you are donating from the United States of America and want your donation to be tax deductible, you can donate to Ryan's Well Foundation through the Tides Foundation to receive a charitable receipt for tax purposes. The Tides Foundation (www.tidesfoundation.org) is a duly reigstered public charity under sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) of the US Internal Revenue Code and will accept donations for Ryan's Well Foundation through their Global Support Fund. When donating through the Tides Foundation, a receipt will be automatically issued for donations of more than $250.00. For donations under $250.00 please keep your cancelled check as a receipt. To make a tax deductible contribution, please make your cheque or money order payable to: TIDES Foundation - Ryan's Well Foundation and send it by mail to: Tides Foundation P.O. Box 29903 San Francisco, CA 94129
11. I live in neither Canada or the USA, how can I make a donation?
You can donate using your credit card through our secure website, over the phone, or by mail using your credit card information. Unfortunately we are unable to accept cheques from several countries. Due to some amendments in the International Bank clearing process, the collection of some cheques, Australia for example, now have to be done manually through the banking systems and there is a substantial fee associated with this process. In order to avoid these charges, we ask that you donate online by credit card or by sending an international money order in either Canadian or US funds payable to the "Ryan's Well Foundation." We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your support.
12. Do you take credit card donations?
Yes, Ryan's Well Foundation can accept Visa and MasterCard donations. You can donate using your credit card through our secure website, over the phone or by mail using your credit card information. Currently, cards with debit/credit interchanability are not accepted over our secure website.
13. I would like to donate in memory of a family member who recently passed away. How do I go about doing this?
We accept memorial donations and send out a special card to the family to let them know that a donation has been made in their memory. Please visit the "Donate in Honour/Memory" section of the Donate Now function on our website for more information.
14. How do I send money to the Ryan's Well Foundation?
There are many different methods to send funds to the Foundation: (1) Donating online through our secure website (2) Donating by mail with a cheque, money order or credit card information (3) Donating by phone using a credit card (4) Donating by wire transfer. Please visit the "Donor Information" section of the website found at this link http://www.ryanswell.ca/difference/waystogive.html for more information on how to send your donation to the Ryan's Well Foundation.
15. I would like to donate in honour of a special occasion (friend's birthday, wedding, anniversary). How do I go about doing this?
We accept and encourage tribute donations in honour of birthdays, anniversaries, holiday giving and other special occasions. A special tribute card will be sent out by mail or by email to your gift recipient to let them know that a donation has been made in their honour. As the donor, you will receive a charitable tax receipt per Canada Revenue Agency guidelines. Please visit the "Donate in Honour/Memory" section of the Donate Now function on our website for more information and to make your gift.
16. Does the Ryan's Well Foundation trade, sell or rent donor information?
No, the Foundation does not exchange in any way, shape or form donor information. We value the support of our donors and do not believe in providing this information to others.
17. How can I get my class involved in Ryan's Well?
There are many ways in which to get your class involved in Ryan's Well. To start, share Ryan's story with your class. Your class can look through the Ryan's Well Foundation website. You can order the Ryan's Well "Youth in Action" Education program which provides material linked to school curriculum as well a copy Ryan's Well Documentary. You can also consider ordering Ryan and Jimmy's book "Ryan and Jimmy And the Well in Africa That Brought Them Together". Other motivational material is also availble. Once your class has learned about how Ryan began, perhaps they will be inspired to make a difference in the world too! Fundraising, holding awareness campaigns, spreading Ryan's message of the need of clean water for all are all ways in which your class can be involved with Ryan's Well. Visit "Make a Difference" for ideas and tools to help.
18. Does Ryan's Well Foundation have an Education Program?
Yes, Ryan's Well Foundation, in collaboration with local school boards (Upper Canada District School Board and the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario) and the University of Ottawa's Department of Education, developed the "Youth in Action" Education Program for use in elementary and secondary programs.
19. What is the Youth in Action Education Program??
The "Youth in Action" program is a creative learning program designed to educate students about the importance of clean water for all and encourage them to become active responsible citizens of the world. The program consists of five resources which bring attention to local, national and international issues related to water, sanitation and activism. Program material supports various elementary and secondary curriculum expectations with links to an array of disciplines such as language, math, health, social studies, English, the arts, science and technology, world studies, geography, guidance and career education.
20. What is the underlying theme of the Ryan's Well Foundation Youth in Action Program?
The key theme of the "Youth in Action" is to encourage young people to find where their 'puzzle' piece fits in this world and to take action. Throughout the material, students are exposed to examples of youth and organizations making a difference. They are encouraged to accept their global responsibilities by positively contributing in their own communities and/or abroad.
21. Where is the Ryan's Well Foundation located?
The Ryan's Well Foundation is a Canadian organization based out of Kemptville, Ontario, Canada. The mailing address is: P.O. Box 1120 Kemptville, Ontario, Canada K0G 1J0
22. What are the administrative costs of the Ryan's Well Foundation?
As part of our core philosophy we, at Ryan's Well Foundation, strive to keep administrative costs as low as possible. On average, 90% of your donation is directed towards our charitable activities. This is possible because of strong fiscal management and because of the strong engagement of board members and other volunteers. In the most recent three years, our administrative costs were 10% in 2005; 11% in 2006, 10% in 2007 and 8% in 2008. The Ryan’s Well Foundation has a small staff in Kemptville, Ontario and is governed by a Volunteer Board of Directors. All projects are reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors. The Board meets quarterly and, with the staff, is responsible for administration and governance of the Ryan’s Well Foundation. Ryan's Well does not rely on Government assistance to fund it's charitable activities. It is only with the generous support of individuals, schools, and many different organizations that the Foundation continues to make a difference. Our fiscal year end is March 31st and our financial statements are audited annually by McCay, Duff & Company LLP, Ottawa, Ontario. You can visit the CRA Registered Charities website http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/charities/menu-e.html to view our Registered Charity Information Return (T3010). Our Charitable Registration number is 888587110RR0001.
23. How much does it cost to build a well?
There are many factors that determine the cost of a well and other types of water access such as protected springs or rainwater harvesting tanks. What country is the well in? Is it a deep or shallow well based on terrain and geology? How accessible is the well site? What community activities and training are taking place to support the well? Is there a latrine included? These are all the questions that impact the costs of our water and sanitation projects and are important factors in the sustainability of safe water sources. As a guideline, a shallow well in Uganda generally costs approximately $5,000 - $6,500 Canadian dollars. A deep well can cost $15,000 or more depending on the region. Our "Projects Needing Help" will give you a good idea of the current costs for our projects based on all these important factors for building sustainable water access.
24. Can I direct my donation to a specific Project Needing Help?
Yes you can. Please visit our "Projects Needing Help" index to see what projects are currently in need of your support. You may direct your donation to any of these current projects in need of support. If you would like your donation directed to one of these Projects Needing Help, please make sure you indicate which project with your on-line or phone donation or specify in writing with your cheque donation.
25. Can I be recognized as a donor towards a specific well or water project?
All donations of $1,000 or more will be directed towards a specific water and sanitation project. We will recognize all schools, faith based and community groups and corporations on our website in the "sponsors" sections within each project profile. Individual donors are not named on our website unless specifically requested for a memorial or tribute. We are not able to include names or plaques on the wells where they are built. Local communities take much pride in the naming of their community well and this pride of ownership helps to ensure the well is properly managed and maintained for years to come.
26. Can I travel to go and help build a well?
Ryan's Well does not send volunteers or groups to help build wells. We are a small organization and do not have the capacity to manage travel for groups and do not have offices or on the ground staff in each country. Most importantly, our water and sanitation projects are implemented by local partner organizations (local non-governmental or community based organizations) in each country and region where the projects take place. Through collaboration with people locally, projects benefit from cultural insight and community participation which is a win-win situation when it comes to successful water and sanitation projects. This supports positive change in the area through capacity and skill building while providing the means for a community to manage and maintain their water and sanitation sources for the future.
27. In what countries has Ryan helped to build wells?
To date, Ryan and his Foundation have supported water and sanitation projects in 16 countries and we are currently focusing our efforts and resources in three primary regions: (1) East Africa - Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi (2) West Africa - Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso (3) Central/South America - Haiti Ryan's Well has also supported projects in Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guyana, Nigeria, India, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Lesotho.
28. How are the local communities involved in water and sanitation projects?
Local people take on the responsibility of organizing, educating, building, and overseeing water projects from start to finish. This builds their capacity as a community to better govern themselves. For any project to be sustainable, the community must take ownership and control. All people participating in RWF water and sanitation projects come from the community where the project is taking place. RWF and our local partners provide guidance and support in the initial stages of the projects and then establishes an arrangement, which sees the responsibility being absorbed by the local community with follow-up monitoring and evaluation taking place.
29. Can we choose a specific project and then fundraise for it?
You can choose a specific Project Needing Help and fundraise for it however, please be aware that our Projects Needing Help will change as they become fully funded. If the project you selected becomes fully funded before your initiative is completed, we ask that you allow for your funds to be directed where they are needed most. If we receive enough funds for a project we like to move forward with it as soon as possible - people without clean water have waited a long time so we are hesitant to reserve projects for long term fundraising campaigns. There are always projects needing your support so all fundraising campaigns will make a difference!
30. How does the Ryan's Well Foundation choose the projects it supports?
Ryan's Well has established a network of local partners throughout the countries where we work. We accept project proposals on an ongoing basis from these non-governmental and community based organizations. Our Project Committee reviews all proposals and then make their recommendations to our Board of Directors for approval. We continue to build slowly and carefully to make sure we are providing what communities need and can sustain for the future. Ryan's Well Foundation believes in local ownership and community participation, which is a win/win situation when it comes to successful water and sanitation projects. Our staff and volunteer Board Members work with our partners daily from Canada and travel to each project throughout the year to monitor and evaluate the work on the ground.
31. What are the different types of water access that Ryan's Well supports and how do you choose which one to build?
The types of water access most often supported by Ryan's Well are drilled wells (also called boreholes or tubewells), rainwater harvesting tanks and protected springs. Many factors are considered when deciding what type of water access point should be built including climate, terrain, depth of the groundwater table in both rainy and dry seasons, cost of bringing in building materials and equipment and community culture. Our expert partners in each country and region can assess what type of water access is sustainable, desired by the communities and most suitable for the area given its geographical factors.
32. How long does it take to complete a water project?
There are many factors which can impact the time needed to complete a water project. It is not always an easy question to answer given that it can vary by location, by season and by scale of the work being done. In general, a project of multiple sites can take between 6 and 12 months to complete. In some instances they can take longer due to issues such as in accessible road conditions in the rainy seasons, instability in the country or complications in acquiring materials.
33. I know of a school or village in need of a well. Can Ryan's Well build a well there?
With almost 1 billion people across the globe in need of access to clean water, there are many regions and areas needing wells. In order to work most efficiently and sustainably within our capacity, Ryan's Well works with local partner organizations in each country and region. These partners know the region and can work with the communities, assess the most suitable type of water access and ensure a comprehensive plan is in place to mobilize the community and build a well. It is up to our local partners in each region to identify sites based on these activities for sustainability. Unfortunately, we are not able to build a well at a specific site based on an individual request for a place you have visited or know of through friends and family. We certainly understand the great need however our experience has indicated that it is not the most sustainable way to utilize the donations that we gratefully receive. We encourage you to look at our "Projects Needing Help" and see the areas where we are currently working and in need of your support.



 
Local: 613.258.6832    International: +1 (613) 258-6832 (GMT -4.00)
Home | About Us | Education Resources | FAQ | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
©2007 Ryan's Well Foundation

Powered by: Artzooks Multimedia Inc.