My Trip to Ghana: Read abiut Keller Kramer's Experience on the recent well installation project
My name is Keller Kramer. I'm a former member of the LBHS Walking for Water Club and am currently attending UC Davis. I was extremely honored to travel with the Wisdom Spring Team on the December well ground breaking in Ghana, last December.
It’s hard to put this trip into words—it was an experience that will continue to shape my perspective and provide lasting insights. But two key takeaways stood out for me: agency and gratitude.
Growing up in Laguna Beach I’ve come to realize—and this trip reaffirmed—that I can pursue nearly anything I set my mind to. The biggest obstacles to my success are my effort and the creativity I bring to problem-solving. During the trip, I found myself tempted to feel guilt about this privilege. It’s natural to empathize with the people you meet, to imagine life in their shoes, and to let guilt creep in. But I’ve learned that guilt is a paralyzing emotion that serves no one. Instead, I’ve come to see it as a call to action. Rather than wallowing in guilt, I believe it’s more productive to channel that energy into agency—a sense of responsibility to use my position and resources to drive meaningful change.
"Being a humanitarian isn’t passive; it’s a conscious choice. It requires critical thinking, intentionality, and the courage to engage with complex issues. Feeling bad about injustices or challenges isn’t enough. The real work lies in identifying where you can make an impact, then committing to those efforts wholeheartedly."
When I started working with Walking for Water, I already understood that development work is about far more than raising and distributing funds. The real challenge is ensuring those resources are used effectively and sustainably. This trip gave me a deeper appreciation for just how intricate that process is—balancing diverse personalities, navigating logistical hurdles, and maintaining accountability. Despite these challenges, I witnessed incredible passion and unwavering dedication from everyone involved. That reinforced my belief in the importance of this work. It isn’t glamorous—it’s tough and, at times, involves the same negotiation of egos and power dynamics you’d find in a corporate boardroom. Yet, progress emerges from these efforts. True development happens when we find common ground and work collaboratively.
At Walking for Water, we’ve strived to create that kind of thoughtful, inclusive approach. Development shouldn’t impose external agendas but instead should empower local communities. Wisdom Spring stands out in its commitment to collaboration—working hand-in-hand with communities to identify their needs, establish clear standards for success, ensure accountability, and define our role within the larger framework. This process builds trust, strengthens relationships, and equips communities to sustain and grow the changes we achieve together.
