In 1999, Ryan Hreljac and Jimmy Akana became pen pals. They lived on two continents, thousands of miles apart. Their lives could not have been more different. Ryan lived with his family in Kemptville, Canada, while Jimmy, an orphan, lived in Agweo, Uganda. Jimmy's life was in constant danger because rebel troops would raid his village. Fate, and Ryan's determination to help others, brought the pals together.
When Ryan was six, he learned that millions of people in Africa lacked access to clean water. He decided to change that. To raise money, Ryan did chores for four months, earning $70—not enough for even one well. "I realized I couldn't raise $2,000 by doing chores," he said. "So I started doing public speaking." To date, the Ryan's Well Foundation has built 238 wells in 11 countries. "We've helped almost 400,000 people and raised $1.5 million," Ryan says.
The foundation's first well was built in Agweo, where Jimmy lived. For the first time, Jimmy could get clean drinking water without walking for miles. The boys met in 2000 when Ryan traveled to Uganda. "We had a connection from the beginning," Jimmy said of their meeting.
Four years ago, the Hreljac family adopted Jimmy and brought him to live in their home. Now, Ryan (15) and Jimmy (17) speak to communities and schools worldwide about the importance of clean drinking water. Their story is told in the book Ryan and Jimmy by Herb Shoveller.