A dental team from central Alberta at work in Kenya Masai mara. (Supplied)

By Sheldon Spackman

one million people helped

A Better World Canada celebrates 30 years of helping children

Dec 31, 2020 | 2:45 PM

In 1990, two friends, Eric and Brian, wanted to invest $5,000 in a development project.

They and a handful of others decided to pay for reconstructive surgery for 15 children in Kenya, enabling those children to walk for the first time. And so, A Better World Canada was born.

According to the Lacombe-based charitable organization’s website, the project was so successful that they began to receive donations to continue their humanitarian work. Nine years later, they traveled to Kenya to see their project site.

Now wrapping up its 30^th anniversary in 2020, A Better World Canada now has projects in over 15 countries and has invested over $34 million in clean water, essential healthcare, quality education, sustainable agriculture and income generation.

Over one million lives have been changed for the better.

Snow Pack Outlook

Water supplies in central Alberta strong in early 2026

16h ago

2026-2029

New United Way strategy sets direction for community impact across Central Alberta

Feb 21, 2026

St. John Paul II Outreach School

Third CASA Mental Health Classroom opens in Red Deer

Feb 21, 2026

Co-founder and Executive Director Eric Rajah says he’s quite humbled by the milestone.

“When we started, I don’t think we thought we would be coming this far,” he admits. “The organization has changed dramatically because over the 30 years, we have raised over $35 million. And more than 2,600 people from across Canada have travelled to volunteer and help out.”

Rajah credits volunteers and donors for the organization’s success.

“We’re a very slim organization,” remarks Rajah. “We have one paid person and we have one other young person under an internship program. So what we have is two people and our whole model is that all of the money raised will go to the projects and local people, they take ownership and manage the projects.”

Rajah feels 2020 has been a good example of that as people were largely not able to travel.

“Yet, while we were delayed in our projects, all of the projects were being managed and implemented by our local partners,” adds Rajah.

Canadian volunteers learning about the community of Talek, Kenya from teacher Jacob Nkumum in 2018. (Supplied)

From their humble beginnings to the present day, Rajah notes an expanded scope in their projects over the past three decades.

“When we first started, we were doing surgeries on children and it was fairly simple. We send the money to a local hospital and volunteers went from here, worked with the children with disabilities and did the surgery. Every year we did 15, 25, 30, and now we have schools that we’re building and water wells.”

Rajah says A Better World Canada’s goal now, is to have 75,000 students enrolled in the schools the organization has built, by 2030.

“It’s an achievable dream because when we did the numbers for the end of this year, we are 49,575 students enrolled in the schools that people from central Alberta have funded to build,” he exclaims. “These children have access to clean water, and health care. So yes, it’s a tribute to the people who care about not within our own boundaries but reach out beyond our boundaries to help others.”

Having said that however, Rajah points out that A Better World Canada also helps those in-need throughout central Alberta.

“The wisest investment we can make is in the lives of children. They’re the ones who are going to change the future,” suggests Rajah. “So we do have a component where we help children in our school systems as well.”

Rajah says their projects aim to make an impact in the communities they serve in both the short term and long term.

“By getting kids educated, we can slowly see the changes in their communities,” explains Rajah. “Then in the short-term of course, families are benefitting from clean water, from their day-to-day ability to grow gardens, and also to have access to health care. So when we build these projects, it’s built with community in mind, that when we leave, all these things can be sustainable.”

Rajah reiterates though, that A Better World Canada’s backbone lies in central Alberta.

“I want to thank all the volunteers who give up their time and money, we don’t pay them to come, they have to buy their own ticket,” says Rajah. “Then of course the generous donors in central Alberta, it’s absolutely amazing. Even this year, I cannot believe how many people are stretching out realizing this was a difficult year for many and those who can give, are giving more. I’m overwhelmed by the generosity and the support of the people here.”