Montreal-area teen visits Kenya to see wells he helped build from home
A teenager from Dorval, Que. has returned from a trip to Kenya, a trip over a decade in the making.
Joshua Morin-Surette learned about the importance of clean water when he was seven years old.
Since then, he's dedicated his free time to raising money to build wells in Kenya.
In March, he got to see the fruits of his labour for the first time ever.
"It was pretty great," he said. "We're kind of talking about how it was a very humbling experience."
One of his mothers, Cori-Ann Surette, accompanied Morin-Surette on his trip to Kenya.
"The people were just amazing and welcoming everywhere we went," said Surette.
The duo travelled to Kaka-Mega for two and a half weeks to visit the three wells they've funded and meet the people they've helped for over a decade.
"They were really happy to see us," said Morin-Surette. "We were happy to see them."
Two of the wells are located at schools and the pair said it was inspiring to hear stories about the importance of clean water.
"One of the principals was talking about the attendance at school and how the students are not getting sick as as frequently as they were with cholera and typhoid and things like that," said Surette.
The two are already planning future fundraising opportunities.
"I do want to try a lot harder and it has motivated me quite a bit to put more time and more energy into, into making another 1, 2, 10 wells happen," said Morin-Surette.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Wildfires are dampening against cool, rainy weather, but there's plenty left to contain
An opportune system of cool, wet weather Friday is dampening the spread of wildfires across Western Canada, but there's still plenty of work for responders and residents alike.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
Information commissioner faces $700K funding shortfall, says system is 'overwhelmed'
Canada's information commissioner says her office is facing a $700,000 funding shortfall that could impact its ability to investigate complaints about government transparency and accountability.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.
Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.