This morning I received a phone call that made me question how developed my Lao listening skills were.

A member of the village education development committee (VEDC) called me to talk to me about the secondary school library. She explained that she had picked up the blueprints from the District Office of Transportation and wasn’t sure if she should send me a picture or leave a copy with the school principal. I told her that I would be coming to Meung District soon and we could discuss details then. “We still need to discuss if the style is correct, if the community can afford 50%, and the schedule and style of collection.”

Before we said our goodbyes, she mumbled that the new cost was estimated to be 400,000,000 kip (around 50,000USD), which would be a manageable 200,000,000 kip (25,000USD) for each side. I shook my head. Had I just heard her correctly? Did she say each side would pay 25,000USD and that she thought Meung District could come up with that money no problem? I ended the phone call saying that speaking in person would be better, but I couldn’t help reflecting on this revelation for the next few hours.

Here are a few of the things that kept bugging me:

1.) If the district had 25,000USD laying around, why hadn’t they invested it in education yet? The secondary school in Lat Khun Meung doesn’t have enough classrooms and needs a laboratory and dance hall. Where was this 25,oooUSD coming from? The money was either a) corrupt money or b) non-existent, meaning the district office hiked up the prices enough to consider itself paying 50% when it was really only contributing 10% or less with SangNamGan covering 90%.

2.) If the district government intervened to contribute the matched donations, they would be skewing the accountability and feedback loop. No longer would SangNamGan’s work be directly connected to community needs, giving community members a necessary voice at the table.

3.) But does it make sense to exclude the government completely? If they are willing to donate to improve the school facilities, then shouldn’t that be encouraged?