Overview

Our Story

Water Crisis

Mining Connection

Participate

FAQ

Here’s how Mining for Water started…

In 2004 Orezone CEO Ron Little heard about a boy drilling wells in developing countries. This boy was Ryan Hreljac, the teenage founder of the Ryan’s Well Foundation (RWF). Since the age of 6, Ryan has been educating and motivating people of all ages on water and sanitation issues. RWF began with one well built from savings for household chores, and has now grown to a non-profit organization that has drilled 196 wells in 10 countries – and continues to grow.

Intrigued by Ryan’s amazing story, Ron sought a meeting with the young leader and was inspired to get the mining community on board. With operations in many developing countries, as well as powerful drills and experienced crews already on the ground, surely they could help such a worthy cause? Almost immediately, the Mining for Water Challenge was born.

Announced at the Prospectors and Developers Association Conference (PDAC) in March 2004, the Mining for Water Challenge was created with a two-fold purpose: to inspire participation in water projects in a spirit of corporate social responsibility, and to highlight the many existing efforts of the mining community on water issues. The main challenge was to raise $1 million in funds and drill 150 wells by March 2005.

By March 2005, progress had been made – 23 wells were drilled, $40,000 in donations had been received and community water projects run by mining companies in four countries were valued at $3 million! A little different than the original goal but support has only grown and expanded.

And the challenges of clean water continue - one out of every five people on earth does not have access to safe drinking water and children pay a very high price. UNICEF says that 80 per cent of sickness and death among children is caused by water-related diseases – that’s almost four million deaths every year.

The partnership started in 2004 continues.