Vientiane Rescue 1623 builds for life with financing for a full ambulance refurbishment from Acteus

Acteus Smiles’ ongoing partnership with local emergency services provider is continuing its close ties with Laos.
 Building on more than two years of COVID-19 partnership between the Acteus Group and Vientiane Rescue 1623 (VR1623), VR1623 will soon get a new look for one of their ambulances. The ambulance is ready to be sent to a local refurbishment facility in Vientiane, which will lend its installation expertise to the project.
As part of this project, the facility will get VR1623’s ambulance back on the road again by employing its engineering skills and resources to rebuild, repair, modify, and upgrade, which will result in a like-new ambulance ready for any future service work.
Founded in 2010 with a handful volunteers, VR1623 is a first of its kind in Laos that has grown to a 350 plus, non-paid voluntary service.
This includes firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs, as well as flood, dive, and hydraulic rescue teams. They provide free emergency and rescue services, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with 20 ambulances, two fire engines, and three specialised support vehicles.
These assets have been deployed for emergency responses, locally and internationally: search and rescue operations and donations in Savannakhet in 2021, the transfer of more than 300 COVID-19 patients in Vientiane in 2021, 2018 flood assistance alongside search and rescue in Attapeu in 2018, and the internationally publicised 2018 cave rescue, when they sent three divers to help 12 boys trapped in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

As a local foundation, and not an NGO, VR1623 does not have administrative, logistical, secretarial, or paid staff on call, handling fundraising communications and management.
While VR1623 sometimes has access to random embassy funding, they mostly rely on local, non-paid volunteer work and private donations from international and local partners doing business in Laos. More so, now, after providing the only COVID-19 ambulance service in Laos.
Thanks to the reputation of the organisation and the unwavering commitment of their non-paid volunteers, VR1623 is not only able to provide free, 24/7 emergency services in Vientiane, as well as rescue missions in Savannakhet, they are also able to secure financing donations from international partners to support these emergency services operations.
One such lasting partner is the Acteus Group. Their activities in Laos through their charitable platform - Acteus Smiles - has provided steady support to local Lao communities by prioritising corporate engagement that fulfills sustainable development goals and social responsibility obligations. Acteus Smiles sponsors, partners with, and donates to organisations to advance local outreach in the communities where Acteus Group operates. Today, the Acteus Group announced that its Acteus Smiles charitable platform made a generous donation to VR1623 to finance the ambulance refurbishment.
Acteus Smiles’ donation will provide VR1623 with a modern, state-of-the-art ambulance - a donation that will ensure VR1623 keeps providing essential services throughout Vientiane. Acteus Smiles remains involved in local Lao life and its ongoing charitable work confirms the Acteus Group’s commitment to all Lao communities.
When asked for comment, Acteus Group’s CEO, Yann Bary, said “Acteus Smiles regularly donates to organisations like Vientiane Rescue 1623, focusing on local, community-based organisations. This ensures invested improvements are quickly realised and have a positive impact on local Lao communities.” “This is what makes Vientiane Rescue 1623 a model partner for Acteus Smiles’ social responsibility obligations. We are honoured and humbled to donate to their ambulance refurbishment project and hope that the Lao people are adequately supplied with world-class emergency services.”

By Viengdavanh Banphahaksa
 (Latest Update March 20, 2023)