It all began with a simple Tweet about how my class was reading a story in language about Ryan Hreljac. Ryan was a seven year old boy from Keptville, Ontario who learned in his grade one class that some people in our world did not have access to clean water to drink. As a result, Ryan started raising money doing chores around his home to come up with money to help build wells and his first well was built at the age of seven. Since then, Ryan has inspired others to get involved and the organization Ryan’s Well has been formed.
When I Tweeted out the day I included Ryan’s Well and was contacted by them asking if we wanted to Skype with Ryan. I responded “absolutely!” This is what I love about technology and being part of a global community. If I had not shared what were doing with a global audience, this experience might never taken place.
We prepared for our call with Ryan by doing some additional reading including Water Princess by Susan Verde and Georgie Badiel and One Well by Rochelle Strauss. We then came up with questions to ask Ryan. I was so impressed with the questions my young students were coming up with such as: “Why don’t some people have access to clean water?”
Ryan is a humble Canadian and speaking with him was inspiring for not only my students but myself. Ryan is now twenty five years old and continuing to do amazing work with his organization. When I asked him what advice he could give to my class of change agents, he talked about how you don’t have be special. Ryan said: “People who made the biggest difference weren’t those superheroes, they are the people sitting next to you…they are the people who do little things to give back!” Ryan encouraged us to find our passion and do something small because you don’t know where it will lead and noted you don’t have to have all the answers.
Ryan inspired us to get involved and my class and I will be making a donation to Ryan’s organization with the hope of making a small change and we hope it encourages you to do the same!