February 5 - 11, 2012 is International Development Week in Canada. Each year focuses on a different topic and aims to encourage Canadians - especially youth - to get involved in Canada's international development efforts.

This year's theme - empowerment of women and girls - is one of our own vital priorities for success as women and girls often hold key roles of responsibility for household water supply, childcare and community mobilization.

In 2010, we met Mrs. Florence Awor - a resident of Onyut village in northern Uganda. Before the construction of her community's well, she - and the other women from her village - spent over 2 hours for just one collection of water from an unprotected and unsafe source. With a well now in her village, they can collect safe water for their families in 20 minutes. Florence and three other women have also become members of the village water committee - providing leadership and representation for the women of Onyut. Through her leadership role, Florence has become a positive role model for youth in her village. She's creating a healthier community which, in turn, enables her to better care for her family, her home and her farm. 

Women from the UGPPK Shea Butter Cooperative

In the region of Léo in Burkina Faso, approximately 3,000 women make up UGPPK - a women's shea butter production cooperative. As part of the cooperative, the women grow shea trees in their villages and process the fruit to be sold.

Our partners at UGPPK recognize that access to safe water and sanitation is vital to the women's efforts and their time spent at the cooperative. In May 2010, we completed the first phase of a project which provided 1 new well and 2 latrines near the cooperative's processing area. Last year, we completed Phase 2, which provided five more latrines and a new well to serve over 1,300 people.

Access to sanitation greatly improved the working conditions for the women at the processing centre and for their children who often accompany them.  By providing safe water access in their home villages, members and their families benefit from improved health, enabling children to spend more time in school and  providing women with more time for income generating activities and childcare. UGPPK also offers community hygiene training and literacy programs for it’s members and their children – improved health and well-being through water, sanitation, education and empowerment!

Learn more about our current Projects Needing Help in Haiti and Uganda!

Just in time for Valentine's Day - purchase a gift basket filled with products made with shea butter from the UGPPK women's shea butter cooperative!

For years, we have been working with our local partners - Haiti Mission in Jeremie & Rotary Ancaster/Höpital Albert Schweitzer in the Artibonite Valley, Haiti. Two years ago, when the earthquake hit, our work took on even greater meaning and urgency. Our local partners reflect on the importance of our work - before and after this devastating disaster.

No one knew nor could anyone anticipate what happened January 12, 2010.  The role of Ryan’s Well and Haiti Mission, Inc (HMI) being part of the support system to save lives in the aftermath of the “horror in Haiti” began in May, 2008 when fate had an internet search of possible funding sources for water well drilling in the Jeremie region of Haiti and a visit to Jeremie by (Ryan's Well Board Member) Bruce O-Callaghan coincided to begin a joint venture between the two. That first well-project drilled for the school and community of Kay en Rond was a grand success. It still pumps some of the best potable water in the area today.

Communities and households are required to first
dig the latrine pit and build the cabin. We then
supply the cement blocks, tank, pipe and tin for the
roof.

Soon afterwards, the Ravine Sable water system was funded by Ryan’s well and coordinated and accomplished by HMI. This system which included three fountains and privacy bath stations delivered potable water to an area of Haiti that had never had its own water source. Now as HMI completes three more wells in this area sponsored by Ryan’s Well, these wells and water systems have been a major factor in these villages having one of the lowest rates of cholera in Haiti. The school children are healthier and the area is experiencing considerable economic growth in large part because of this partnership between Ryan’s well and Haiti Mission, Inc.

Be assured of our thanksgiving for the confidence you have placed in HMI. We hope to continue to build on what has been a wonderful blessing for so many who often have a hard time finding anything for which to be hopeful. - Lloyd, Haiti Mission, Inc.

Renold (holding poster), staff member from Höpital
Albert Schweitzer, uses every opportunity to
educate others about proper hygiene and
sanitation practices.

Today is again (and I think permanently) a national holiday. Many people will be pausing for a minute of silence just before 5pm. This has certainly been a year to reflect on. We remember all the lives lost in the last two years, but mostly we are focused on going forward.  On providing new water points and on finding solutions for the wells with water quality issues, on improving how we provide handwashing and sanitation services connected to the wells we do, on keeping going with latrine and handwashing projects in areas where wells aren’t the best technology to use. 

Many Haitians told us last year that they would rather focus on fixing the future than on dwelling on the past. I see the same thing this year, even more now that the rawness of the earthquake and the shock of cholera’s arrival have faded somewhat. We continue to coordinate with the French Red Cross, the WASH Cluster for the Lower Artibonite, and the governmental water agency DINEPA. Talk among the water and sanitation team and among the Rotarians is about how to get the current projects completed and about where and how to do the next ones, to spread access to potable water and sanitation. - Dawn, Höpital Albert Schweitzer

Learn more about our current Projects Needing Help in Haiti!

Luckily for us, our inspiration comes year-round from the amazing people who aim to be better and do better every day! They serve as a constant reminder that supporting your favourite cause can be as simple as selling your favourite cookies, that helping the environment can be as easy as turning off the tap while brushing your teeth and that helping others can be instantly gratifying and rewarding.

Let these people be your inspiration, too!

Students from Bartle School pose with their teacher

Like the fourth graders at Bartle School in Highland Park, New Jersey, who - after learning about the global water & sanitation crisis - organized a "World of Water" one-day awareness event to share what they had learned with other students and parents. A survey completed before and after the event showed the event was a complete success - students walked away with a greater knowledge of the issue! They also organized a school-wide fundraiser, engaging classmates, family members & their local commuities!

Emily shows off her donated art work

"As a result of their hard work and dedication, students successfully increased awareness about the worldwide water and sanitation crisis and exceeded the fundraising goal they had set!  Thanks to Ryan's inspirational story, students learned first-hand how one person really can make a difference in the lives of others." - Bartle School Fourth Grade Teacher

Or, Emily, a Grade 3 student at Jockvale Public School in Ottawa, Ontario, who has been working hard for months organizing a number of activities to raise funds for Ryan's Well. In October 2011, Emily donated one her own beautiful paintings to an art auction held to raise funds in support of her ambitious efforts to help fund a well.

Jeni at her bake sale

Or Jeni, an eight-year-old who organized her own cookie and fruit sale after reading the book Ryan and Jimmy and the Well in Africa that Brought Them Together. As her mom said, "Her father is from a village in Burkina Faso and she knows of the conditions people in many places in Africa have to endure, so this is a cause that means a lot to her."

Resolutions are only good as good as our intentions to see them through. But, as you can see, change can happen any day of the year!

On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Clean water for you and me!

On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two tippy taps,
And clean water for you and me.

On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Three deep wells,
Two tippy taps,
And clean water for you and me.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Four new latrines,
Three deep wells,
Two tippy taps,
And clean water for you and me.

On the fifth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Five jerry cans,
Four new latrines,
Three deep wells,
Two tippy taps,
And clean water for you and me.

On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Six hands a-washing,
Five jerry cans,
Four new latrines,
Three deep wells,
Two tippy taps,
And clean water for you and me.

On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Seven schools a-skyping,
Six hands a-washing,
Five jerry cans,
Four new latrines,
Three deep wells,
Two tippy taps,
And clean water for you and me.

On the eighth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eight teachers teaching,
Seven schools a-skyping,
Six hands a-washing,
Five jerry cans,
Four new latrines,
Three deep wells,
Two tippy taps,
And clean water for you and me.

On the ninth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Nine pumps a-pumping,
Eight teachers teaching,
Seven schools a-skyping,
Six hands a-washing,
Five jerry cans,
Four new latrines,
Three deep wells,
Two tippy taps,
And clean water for you and me.

On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten groups a-giving,
Nine pumps a-pumping,
Eight teachers teaching,
Seven schools a-skyping,
Six hands a-washing,
Five jerry cans,
Four new latrines,
Three deep wells,
Two tippy taps,
And clean water for you and me.

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eleven monthly donors,
Ten groups a-giving,
Nine pumps a-pumping,
Eight teachers teaching,
Seven schools a-skyping,
Six hands a-washing,
Five jerry cans,
Four new latrines,
Three deep wells,
Two tippy taps,
And clean water for you and me.

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve partners drilling,
Eleven monthly donors,
Ten groups a-giving,
Nine pumps a-pumping,
Eight teachers teaching,
Seven schools a-skyping,
Six hands a-washing,
Five jerry cans,
Four new latrines,
Three deep wells,
Two tippy taps,
And clean water for you and me!

Don't get us wrong, a lot has happened this year! But we worked to squeeze our favourites into this top 10 list:

10. The Launch of our Giving Circle

In March, we launched the Ryan's Well Giving Circle as a way for people dedicated to taking action against the global water & sanitation crisis to get involved using a more hands-on approach. Just last month, charter member - Wayne VanderWees - selected the group's first project! Thanks to their support, we will be able to provide a school rainwater harvesting system and handwashing for over 550 students and teachers as part of our Community Water & Sanitation for Amansie West Phase 3 project in Ghana.

9. Ryan in the News

While balancing his 3rd year of university, Ryan has also been able to continue sharing his story around the world as often as possible:

• Ryan and his mom, Susan, interviewed for CTV News in February
• Sharing his updated story on TVO's Get Involved! in February
• An inspiring interview with 100 Huntley Street in May
• Being named a Kick Ass Canadian in June

8. Pii en Kwo: Water is Life Photo Exhibit

In early 2010, photographer Lesley Marino accompanied Ryan's Well representatives on a monitoring trip to Uganda to document our work and impact. This March, Lesley's pictures were exhibited at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, showcasing the incredible impact Ryan's Well projects have on the local people.

"It is my hope that these images adequately capture the hope, joy and positive change that the Ryan's Well Foundation fosters among the people in this region." - Lesley Marino

You can find many of Lesley's pictures throughout our website, too!

7. An Inspiring Evening with The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean

Just last month, we were honoured to join the Kanata Rotary Club for a very memorable evening as they recognized The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean as a Paul Harris Fellow.

"It really was inspiring, I have to say, to be among others who share a passion for what Madame Jean described as 'our resolve to see the fundamental values of humanity triumph in our communities, across our country, and around the world.'" - Jane Baird

Read the rest of Jane's review of the night.

 6. Ryan Receives the Lewis Perinbam Award

November was a busy month as the World University Service of Canada also awarded Ryan with the Lewis Perinbam Award in International Development. Ryan was honoured to accept the award in front of 400 professionals, students & high-ranking delegates at the awards gala in Ottawa, Ontario.

5. School Challenge Excitement!

On March 22 - World Water Day - we wrapped up our 2nd School Challenge project. With the help of 24 schools from 6 countries, we were thrilled to surpass our $25,000 goal and bring WASH (water, sanitation & hygiene education) to the 905 students and 13 teachers at Ariek P7 School in northern Uganda!

This September, we launched our 3rd School Challenge project and hope to celebrate similar success! Unlike previous projects, this year, participating schools will be learning about rainwater harvesting - an alternative to drilling a well.

It's not too late for your school, group or class to get involved and help us raise $30,000 to improve the lives of over 2,500 people in Ngong Sub-County, Kenya!

4. Our First Project in Partnership with CIDA

Earlier this spring, we were thrilled to receive news that we would be receiving financial support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to implement water and sanitation projects in northern Uganda. This 2-year project, to be completed in July 2013, will focus on reducing water-related diseases by improving access to safe water and sanitation for 16,600 people - of which, 6,000 are children, youth and teachers from area schools.

With help from an incredible matching-funds opportunity, we've reached our $62,500 fundraising goal for Year 1 of the project. As of November, 9 wells have been constructed and 5 latrines are near completion - along with continuing community water and sanitation training. 

 Get the latest updates from ths exciting project!

3. Welcoming Jane!

In early August, we welcomed our new Executive Director, Jane Baird, to the Ryan's Well family. Jane, previously a high-tech marketer, began like most of the Foundation's staff - as a volunteer.

"One of my areas of focus will be helping grow awareness of the Foundation’s work, bringing these stories to even more people. It’s pretty powerful to realize that, by continuing to tell that story and enlisting others in the Ryan’s Well family, we can help improve even more lives." - Jane Baird

We look forward to learning and growing together!

2. Celebrating our 10th Anniversary!

2011 marked an important milestone for the Foundation - our 10th Anniversary! Although Ryan began his journey of clean water for all in 2008, it wasn't until years later, in 2001 that the Ryan's Well Foundation was formed.

Over the past 10 years, the Foundation has remained true to its roots focusing on completing sustainable water and sanitation projects with experienced local partners and maintaining a personal relationship with donors and supporters.

"It's hard to imagine that my simple, naïve, Grade One school project has grown into the Ryan's Well Foundation. Over 10 years, the work of the Foundation has become the work of countless people, young and old, from around the world. This is a message for all that even kids in Grade One can make a difference." - Ryan Hreljac

 1. 700 Wells & 839 Latrines Completed to Serve 736,569 People!

This is one set of numbers we love to watch grow! With 1 in 6 people living without access to safe water and 2.6 billion without basic sanitation - every project we complete means more people will have a chance at living healthier, more prosperous lives. More children will be able to get the education they need and deserve. More women will be empowered with the dignity and tools they need to thrive.

Of course, these accomplishements would not be possible without YOU. We can't thank you enough for your continued support!

Now, let's make 2012 our best year, yet!