Welcome!
Are you considering becoming a volunteer at Mercy Ships? On this page we tell you everything about volunteering at MercyShips. We take you step by step through all the information that is important to know and give you an idea of living and working on board our hospital ships.This gives you a good overview of what your trip with MercyShips can look like. Are you ready for a meaningful adventure?
Your volunteer trip with Mercy Ships
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We would love to meet you! Mercy Ships believes that medical care should be available to every person. We contribute to this by providing operations and training with our hospital ships, full of professional volunteers, and thus making surgical care accessible to the poorest of the poor. Are you one of the volunteers who wants to work with us on this mission? Even if you do not have a medical background, there are many opportunities to volunteer on board. We are happy to tell you more about what it means to be a Mercy Ships volunteer, what volunteering can bring you and what it involves. |
| Who is needed to crew a hospital ship? These are of course nurses, surgeons and laboratory staff, but many more people are needed to keep the hospital and the community on board running. Did you know that there are more than 150 different positions available on board? From baker to sailor, from medical technician to cleaner, and from receptionist to carpenter. Everyone contributes to the special mission of Mercy Ships. And, there is always a position that suits you! |  |
Sign up as a volunteer
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Are you ready to sign up as a volunteer? The application process before you can board is very important. We will see if the position is suitable for you, help you arrange all the necessary information and documents, and see when you can get started. Good to know: the volunteer planning on the ships is usually made a year in advance. It varies per position whether it is currently open or whether it has been filled for the time being. Because Mercy Ships is an international organization, you must submit your application in English. |
Talent Community
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After successfully completing your application, the team in Texas will see when you can start on board. This depends on your availability and the schedule on our ships. You will become part of our Talent Community until a position and data are available that suit you and your needs. As soon as a position on board is available, you will receive a date offer and after accepting it you can continue arranging practical matters. Sometimes this is immediately after your registration, but more often you are first on the waiting list. |
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It’s almost time! You have been told that you can go on board, the preparations can begin. What do you need to arrange? We are happy to help you with information and tips for good preparation. From arranging travel vaccinations and insurance on time to a packing list. And from tips on financing to great ideas to keep your network or church informed during your stay on board. You can find all the information via the button below. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us, we are happy to help you! |
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What does life on board look like? Living on a Mercy Ship means living in a unique, international community. Did you know that Mercy Ships volunteers come from more than 60 countries? All these volunteers come together to work on a common mission. Serving at Mercy Ships offers the chance to build friendships and make memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. However, living on a ship also means living in a floating house. What does a cabin look like, and what facilities are there on board? We are happy to offer you a look on board, with videos, photos and more information. You can also take a look at the crew pages. Several volunteers keep a blog about their experiences on board. |
| After working on board for a longer or shorter period of time, you will be back in South Africa. You have experienced the work of Mercy Ships up close and made an indispensable contribution to it yourself! Coming back to the South Africa can be quite a switch after special experiences you have experienced. It can be nice to share experiences with each other and to stay involved with Mercy Ships. That’s why our alumni community exists. We will keep you informed of what is going on and occasionally organize alumni days. There are also other ways to stay involved, for example by giving presentations and participating in events. Do you want to board again? Or do you want to commit yourself in a different way? |  |
Contact us!
Do you have any questions or are you considering boarding? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to contact one of our team members.