KL Engineering is proud to have employees who care, and who go the extra mile to give back. Sometimes, they go even further than the extra mile, and head out of the country.
KL team members Alli Kohlstedt and Tanner Braatz have been involved with Engineers Without Borders (EWB) for the past three years. This summer, they traveled to Ghana, where they provided surveying services through the organization.
The trip gave these two early-career engineers the chance to connect with the community, learn about its strengths, and align the project with local goals. “Our main purpose was surveying for one project, but we also provided additional survey data of two potential locations for future projects. This included providing GPS to create a land plan. Additionally, we inspected tasks that were being completed by locals while we were there.” Alli said about her involvement in the trip. “We went back and viewed some past projects completed by our club to view the community’s progress and growth.”
Tanner added, “My role focused more on gathering cost estimates to determine what it would take to complete the school. That meant I got to meet with local contractors and explain our vision for the project.”
While they applied their engineering skills to tackle real-world challenges, the most rewarding part of the experience was connecting with the local community they were supporting. Alli shared, “One of my favorite moments was when two young kids came up and wanted to us to play with them while we were surveying. We didn’t have any toys, but I let them play with my watch and pocket rod while we finished surveying. It was so sweet, and they were very grateful.”
When we asked Tanner about the best part of his experience, he said, “There was a man who tirelessly cleared paths for us with a machete while we were working. He never asked for anything in return; he simply wanted to help. I was so deeply impacted by this man with so little, and such a generous heart. I gave him a large tip, and he gave me the biggest hug. It was a moment I’ll never forget.”
Engineers Without Borders provides opportunities for hands-on engineering experience while making a meaningful impact. We are incredibly proud of Alli and Tanner for their dedication to this mission and their commitment to helping communities thrive.
