Canadian International Learning

💐 Happy Mother’s Day from Canadian International Learning! 💐

Today, we celebrate all the incredible mothers whose love, strength, and guidance inspire future generations every day. Thank you for being the first teachers, greatest supporters, and everyday heroes in the lives of your children. ❤️

Kemptville, Ontario, Canada. 1998.
Ryan Hreljac was six years old, sitting in his first-grade classroom, when his teacher began talking about something that would change his life—and the lives of a million people he'd never met.
She was teaching the class about how children live in different parts of the world. She talked about Africa. About villages where children walk miles every day just to get water. About water that makes them sick. About children who die—actually die—because they don't have clean water to drink.
Ryan's hand went up.
"How much does it cost to bring them water?"
His teacher mentioned an organization called WaterCan that could help communities build wells. A well, she thought, cost about $70.
To a six-year-old, $70 might as well have been a million dollars. But Ryan didn't see an impossible number. He saw a problem with a price tag. And if it had a price, it could be solved.
After school, Ryan went straight to his mother, Susan.
"Mom, I need seventy dollars."
"Seventy dollars? For what?"
"To buy a well for children in Africa. They don't have clean water. They're dying."
Susan Hreljac looked at her six-year-old son, completely serious, completely determined, and made a decision that would change everything.
She could have just given him the money. The family wasn't wealthy, but $70 was manageable. She could have written a check, sent it in, and felt good about teaching her son about charity.
Instead, she said: "If you want seventy dollars, you'll have to earn it."

Ryan started doing chores. Extra chores, beyond his normal responsibilities. He vacuumed the house. He washed windows. He did yard work. Each chore earned him a dollar or two.
His brothers thought he was crazy. Seventy dollars was a fortune. It would take forever.
Ryan didn't care. He kept working.
Four months later, Ryan had saved $70. He was so proud. He had done it. Now African children would have clean water.
His mother drove him to the WaterCan office. Ryan walked in with his money—probably mostly in coins and small bills—ready to buy a well.
That's when he learned the truth.
"We're so impressed with what you've done," the WaterCan representative said. "But I need to explain something. The seventy dollars covers the cost of a hand pump. The actual cost to drill a well and install a complete water system is two thousand dollars."
Most six-year-olds would have been crushed. Two thousand dollars? That was impossible. How could a kid earn that much money?
Ryan looked at his mother. Then back at the representative.
"Okay," he said. "I'll just have to do more chores."

Susan Hreljac expected this to be a learning moment—that Ryan would try for a while and eventually give up when he realized how difficult it was. She underestimated her son's determination.
Ryan went back to work. More chores. More hours. But something else started happening.
His brothers saw what he was doing and joined in. Neighbors heard about "the boy saving for a well" and started offering him work. His school learned about his project and organized fundraisers. His story began spreading through the community.
What started as one six-year-old doing chores became a movement. Donations started arriving. Fundraisers generated hundreds of dollars. Media covered the story. The money kept growing.
By late 1998, Ryan had raised $2,000.
In January 1999—almost a year after Ryan first asked his teacher that question—a well was drilled at Angolo Primary School in northern Uganda.
Ryan was seven years old. And he had just brought clean water to an entire village.

But the story was far from over.
Ryan's school established a pen pal connection with students at Angolo Primary School. That's how Ryan met Jimmy Akana—a boy about his age who attended the school where Ryan's well had been drilled.
Jimmy wrote about his life. About how he'd fought to go to school despite having to spend hours each day walking to get water. About how Ryan's well had changed everything—not just for him, but for his entire community. No more sick children. No more hours wasted walking for water. More time for school. For childhood. For life.
Ryan was moved in a way only children can be—simply, purely, completely. He asked his parents: "Can we go meet Jimmy?"
In 2000, the Hreljac family traveled to Uganda. When they arrived at the village, Ryan was completely unprepared for what happened next.
Hundreds of people lined the road. Children, parents, elders. They formed a corridor. And as Ryan walked through, they chanted his name.
"Ryan! Ryan! Ryan!"
He was eight years old and overwhelmed. He turned to his guide, confused.
"They even know my name?"
The guide smiled. "Everyone within a hundred kilometers knows your name. You're the boy who brought them water."
Ryan stood there, surrounded by people celebrating him, and understood something profound: that even small hands can change the world. That a six-year-old asking one question and refusing to give up could save lives.

Most childhood projects end there. A feel-good story. A life-changing moment. Then everyone moves on.
Ryan didn't move on.
He kept fundraising. Kept organizing. Kept spreading awareness about the global water crisis. In 2001, when Ryan was 10 years old, his family established Ryan's Well Foundation—a formal nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing clean water to communities in need.
And here's where the story becomes even more remarkable: Ryan didn't age out of caring. As a teenager, when most kids are worried about social media and fitting in, Ryan was traveling to Africa, speaking at conferences, meeting with government officials about water policy.
As a young adult, when most people are focused on starting careers and building their own lives, Ryan continued leading his foundation.
Today, at age 33, Ryan Hreljac still runs Ryan's Well Foundation. He's not a figurehead. He's actively involved—traveling to project sites, raising funds, speaking about water and sanitation issues worldwide.
The numbers are staggering:
Over 1,700 water and sanitation projects completed
In 17 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America
Serving over 1,000,000 people with clean water
Hundreds of thousands more with improved sanitation and hygiene education
But Ryan's Well Foundation doesn't just drill wells and leave. They train local communities to maintain the water systems. They teach hygiene and sanitation practices. They ensure that projects are sustainable—that the wells will work for generations, not just years.
The foundation employs local workers, partners with community organizations, and ensures that every project is led by the people who will actually use the water.

Jimmy Akana, Ryan's pen pal from that first well, eventually came to Canada and lived with the Hreljac family while attending school. The two boys who connected over a well in Uganda became brothers in every meaningful way.
Ryan has received numerous humanitarian awards. He's been recognized by governments, nonprofits, and international organizations. He's spoken at major conferences. He's met presidents and prime ministers.
But if you ask Ryan what matters most, he'll tell you about the faces. The communities. The children who now have time to be children because they're not spending six hours a day walking for water that might kill them anyway.

There's something profound about Ryan's story that goes beyond statistics and wells and awards.
It's about how we respond to learning about suffering. Most of us—adults included—hear about global problems and feel overwhelmed. The problems are too big. We're too small. What difference could one person possibly make?
Ryan was six years old and didn't know he was supposed to feel helpless. He heard about a problem, asked about the solution, and then did the work to make it happen.
And when the problem turned out to be bigger than expected, he didn't quit. He adjusted. He kept going.
That's the lesson. Not that we all need to start international foundations. But that action beats despair. That starting small beats not starting. That asking "what can I do?" is more powerful than saying "what difference would it make?"
Ryan asked that question at six years old. He's still asking it at 33. And somewhere in Africa, over a million people have clean water because he refused to accept that the answer was "nothing."

The next time you're tempted to think you can't make a difference, remember the six-year-old who earned seventy dollars doing chores, discovered he needed two thousand, and decided that just meant more work.
Remember the boy who met a village that knew his name before he even knew he was making history.
Remember that Ryan Hreljac didn't have special powers, unlimited resources, or unique abilities. He had a question, some determination, and parents who let him try.
That's it. That's all it took to change a million lives.
Ryan Hreljac
Born: May 31, 1991, Kemptville, Ontario, Canada
Age started: 6 years old (1998)
First well: January 1999 (Angolo Primary School, Uganda)
Foundation established: 2001 (Ryan's Well Foundation)
Impact: 1,700+ projects, 1,000,000+ people served with clean water
Current role: Executive Director, Ryan's Well Foundation
Still active. Still working. Still proving that compassion combined with action can change the world.
If a six-year-old could do it, what's stopping the rest of us?
One child. One question. One million lives.

🧡 National Day of Truth and Reconciliation September 30, 2025 🧡

Today, we pause to honour the survivors of residential schools, their families, and the children who never returned home. At Canadian International Learning (CIL), we are committed to fostering education that acknowledges truth, builds understanding, and promotes reconciliation.

May we continue to learn, reflect, and take meaningful action toward a future rooted in respect, healing, and unity.

🕊️ Every Child Matters 🕊️

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🌍💜 Honoring National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 💜🌍
Today, we pause to reflect on the profound impact of residential schools and the resilience of Indigenous peoples in Canada. At Canadian International Learning, we are dedicated to promoting awareness, understanding, and healing.
Let’s commit to learning the truth about our shared history, listening to Indigenous voices, and supporting the ongoing journey toward reconciliation. Every step we take together is vital for a brighter, more inclusive future.
How are you honoring this important day? Share your thoughts and actions in the comments! 💬👇

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📚 Happy World Teacher's Day! 🍎

Today, we celebrate the incredible educators who light the path of knowledge and inspire the leaders of tomorrow. 👩‍🏫👨‍🏫

At Canadian International Learning, we are fortunate to have a dedicated team of Ontario certified teachers who go above and beyond to nurture young minds, instilling not just knowledge but also a passion for learning.

🌟 To our amazing teachers, thank you for your unwavering commitment to education and for making a positive impact on the lives of our students. Your dedication is truly commendable! 🌟

On this special day, let's take a moment to express our gratitude to teachers everywhere. Share your stories, memories, or a simple thank you message for the teachers who've made a difference in your life. 💙

Happy World Teacher's Day! 📖✏️🌍