I am sure people would be more than happy to give $1, $2, even $10 a
month to help change the lives of these folks, many of whom may be your
relatives or former neighbors. This is the easy part, even school kids
can contribute. And it doesn't have to be long term. All it takes is a
commitment of say two years. I am not a Hmong but count me in. I will
pay my portion of two years in lump sum.

Imagine what you can do for this village with a budget of one million a
month for two years?

No, this money will NOT be handled by anyone but your own people. Have
your paid volunteers stationed right there at the site. This is the
first thing you must successfully negotiate with the Lao government.
With a good humanitarian intention, I don't see why the government won't
allow it. Best of all, we have our friend Thanouxay, aka. Yong, whom we
all know so well through SCL and SCH. Whatever disagreement we may have,
I believe Yong is a very good, honest man who is eager to see the lives
of the villagers changed for the better. For those of you who don't
know, Yong is from Lad-Houang, Xiengkhoaung, only a few kilometers from
Meuang Khoune where I was from.

You know, the funny thing in life is that the most difficult part of a
project is also the easiest, most doable thing of all. It's called
GETTING ALONG. I am not saying this just to the Hmong, it happens
everywhere - the Lao, the Taidam, the Vietnamese, the Chinese, etc.
Often things already fall apart before coming together when people come
to a meeting with their egocentric mentality. If we could put that aside
and work together, anything is possible.

I envision a Ban Phalak with paved roads, running water, modern store
fronts, restaurants, beautiful play-ground, ... Oh, it's just so many
good things in this town (not a village any more!) that you and I want
to visit year after year. Many even want to spend their retirement
there. All this is possible with a tiny contribution from each of you, I
mean each of us.

Best regards,
Sahai Mak Muan