Why are appointments not being kept?

This happens in a lot of foreign cultures. In a foreign culture this can lead to confusion for the volunteer. When you get to know the story behind it, it’s easier to grasp. 

Follow the leader! 

The person who you’ve made deals with, probably hasn’t got the authority to manage but did not want to bother you. It will be a failure for both. 

In Laos the superior determines what the employee must do. The leader is followed without any questions. It’s a Top Down policy. 

Losing authority is a serious business

To manage authority is a serious business. Avoid any confrontation which can lead to a competition where there are losers and winners. This approach is the base for any relationship, work or private. 

The more important you are, the more you get done. Our partners will avoid telling you what went wrong, they’d rather hide it. 

Beside the agreements nothing happens

This happens in charity work all over the world and also in Laos. Partners usually don’t specify reasons why a project was cancelled. Tact and patience are required to discover the true reasons. 

We must develop a way to get informed of the power structures and influence by hidden parties.