In a city of hundreds of thousands, accidents happen every day. And so do disasters. But for the residents of the Laotian capital Vientiane, when calamities struck, nobody came. That’s because nobody could. Without a first responder network, victims sprawled on the roadside and bodies went unrecovered.

But that was then, and thanks to the volunteers of Vientiane Rescue, this is now.

After a long struggle to build a working operation from a handful of underage volunteers, Vientiane Rescue boasts a grown-up, full-spectrum team of emergency services. Paramedics supply first aid. Hydraulic teams pull survivors from wrecks. Fire and rescue staff brave smoke and flames. And diving and excavation teams tackle rescues in difficult natural environments.

We’re not trying to save people’s lives, we’re trying to change their minds. And it’s working.” -Sebastien Perret

Read the full article by James Poulos about volunteer rescue teams from GOOD Magazine