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. Ryan’s first well was built in 1999 when Ryan was seven years-old at a school in a Ugandan village.

Ryan’s determination grew from the $70 collected by doing simple household chores to a Foundation that today has contributed a total of 546 water and sanitation projects in 16 countries bringing clean water and sanitation services to over 663,901 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 his work including the World of Children Founders’ Award, the Order of Ontario (youngest ever recipient), Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers, the Canadian Meritorious Service Medal, ONE X ONE Difference Award, and the Top 20 Under 20 Youth Award. His message has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show (twice), CNN, and CBC.  Numerous books, magazines and newspapers have profiled Ryan including Christian Science Monitor, People, Reader’s Digest, Time, Times of London and Watervoices.  Ryan has met some of the most important people in the world, but he isn’t bragging.  "The most impressive people I've met are the other kids who want to help, too," he says. Click here for a full listing of his accomplishments.

“I'm just your 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.