To Change the World.

Ryan Hreljac.

I have to blog about this guy.

Today, we had an assembly during Flex time (when you're supposed to see teachers about work and stuff but nobody actually does it) because of the Global Issues Club. This 17 year-old guy from Canada came to talk about his foundation. He started it when he was 9 and was inspired when he was 6. He explained a lot of stuff and he was quite funny too. I can't really remember much what he said about himself, but I caught that he likes playing football/rugby and is a fan of Toronto Raptors. Not sure what that is, but I remember it because Emilie mentioned it in her blog.

When he was 6 years old, he did a lot of house chores to raise $70 to donate to a foundation so that they'll build a well in Africa so the people there would get clean water. But then he found out that you actually need $2000 to build a well, so I think after that he started doing public speaking to motivate people to donate.And sometime later he went to Africa when he was 9 to have a look at the well that he built. He also met his pen-pal buddy there, Jimmy and his family adopted him and brought him back to Canada.It was sweet that he introduced him as 'my brother, Jim'.

Then somewhere along the way, he went on Oprah's show and so it got some people's attention and he started his own foundation:



I would definitely donate as soon as I find out how. And after I start saving my money xD.

Oh, and this guy has met Matt Damon too!



I like Matt Damon.


There was another guy from Ethiopia, couldn't catch his name because he only got like 10 minutes to speak because school already ended. Or else I would have written more about him. But he's part of an organization called ACET. He joined it because when he was younger this company donated $15 a month for him to go to school and what not. And so when he became older he created EYES.



I tried googling it but nothing really came up. Not for EYES I mean.

Both of these guys had a talk with the middle-schoolers too, including my sister, during their lunch time. My sister told me that Ryan was signing autographs for them in the cafeteria and seemed like a normal guy. He didn't seem arrogant or anything and was talking and laughing with the kids.

It's funny to actually see someone who has met Oprah. I would like to meet Oprah.