FAQ
Requirements
- You should be at least 18 years of age or maximum 79 years of age
- Be in good health,
- Have good English skills (B1)
- Be willing to volunteer, and pay for both accommodation and airfare as well as immunization.
It is essential to have sufficient knowledge of the English language to communicate with the other team members. In addition, the international maritime law to which we are subject requires it for safety reasons. The recommended level is B1.
The minimum duration depends on the respective work area. For some medical positions (surgeons, anaesthetists, OR nurses, dentists) the minimum commitment is two weeks. For all other areas, the minimum is 2, 3, 6, 12, 24 or 36 months. Generally speaking, however, we prefer assignments of longer duration and give them a higher priority.
There are 3 main areas of activity on board: Medical, General and Technical.
We need Surgeons and Nurses, but also Cooks, Mechanics, Electricians, Engineers, Photographers, Seafarers, Dentists, Bakers, Plumbers, Hairdressers, Teachers, Machinists, Receptionists, Accountants, Hostesses, Cleaners, IS specialists, Journalists and many more! You will find a complete overview of all positions to be filled on board the Africa Mercy and Global Mercy, along with the minimum commitment for each position, by clicking on the link: https://opportunities.mercyships.org/.
Health restrictions: All volunteers must be in good health and prepared for the physical demands of both living and working on board a ship in West Africa. For example, our volunteers may be required to sleep in a bunk bed in a dorm-style room with other volunteers of the same gender.
- Did you know the ship has multiple decks, and the average crewmember climbs about 30 flights of stairs daily?
- Did you know some roles primarily work off-ship (and sometimes even live off-ship), and require a different kind of physical stamina to be exposed to the heat and African climate?
- Did you know roles such as Housekeeper, Sales Staff, Dining Room Staff, Hostess, and Galley Staff are physically demanding and require heavy lifting and manual labor?
Because a maritime authority governs us, all volunteer applicants must submit a medical history and physical evaluation, which a licensed medical professional reviews. Some pre-existing medical conditions (for example, insulin-dependent diabetes, heart conditions, pregnancy, immune-suppressed conditions, etc.) may disqualify an applicant for service due to maritime regulations and lack of guaranteed access to adequate medical care. To learn more regarding medical restrictions for volunteers, click here.
Age restrictions:Currently, volunteers must be between 18 and 79 years old at the time of volunteer service. Applicants between 70-79 can serve for up to six months at a time and will be required to submit additional health documentation.
Vaccinations
The following vaccinations are required for each adult crew member:
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis B
- MMR: measles, mumps, rubella
- Tetanus / Diphtheria
Additional vaccinations may be required depending on department.
Costs (NO Crew Fees until Summer 2024)
We are aware that this can come as a surprise for some!
The reason is that crew fees help cover operational expenses on board, so we can maximize the impact of donations by spending 75% directly on programmatic expenses, such as the cost of a surgery for a patient in need.
By contributing to the costs associated with your stay on board, you are freeing up funds that will directly benefit the people who need it – our patients, and all those who benefit from our training.
Every crew member has to pay his monthly so-called “Crew Fees” as a contribution to the costs of lodging.
- For a commitment of less than 1 year: 400 USD / month
- For a commitment of 1 year and more: 200 USD / month (more details in the link above).
Other costs to consider: the airfare to and from the ship as well as the cost for getting your immunizations.
Currently, it is also necessary to add the expenses related to the Covid test which is to be done at most 72 hours before travelling to the vessel.
In addition, you should set aside some pocket money for your personal needs, so that you can go out for a meal in a restaurant or accompany friends to the beach. There is a Starbucks Café on board and a mini kiosk for drinks, chocolate, etc. We therefore recommend that you plan on spending USD 100 per month. However, this is only a recommendation and it can be less.
The biggest “challenge” is obviously your expenses in Switzerland, because even if you go abroad, you still have to be able to cover the costs in Switzerland during your absence. In a guide specially designed for our Swiss volunteers, we give you some advice on how to manage this administrative part.
Application
Go to the website http://opportunities.mercyships.org/. Select the desired position and click “Apply”. The entire application needs to be done in English! We recommend sending your application at least 6 months before your desired commitment. You can also send the form one year in advance, which can increase your chances of being accepted. After receiving your application, the US Team will contact you.
Explore our “How to apply” page for more detailed information on the application process.
The Swiss office is at your disposal at all times for information or support.
General information
Yes. In such cases, we prefer to limit assignments to a maximum of three months.
Yes, the ships are equipped with several cabins that are specially for married couples. Unfortunately, the number is limited and often not enough to accommodate all the couples applying. It could therefore happen that you have to wait for a longer time.
It is the same situation as for married couples, there is a limited number of family cabins. They can accommodate a family with up to four children and are meant for volunteers who have committed themselves for a period of two years or more. For children of school age there is an academy on board the ship.
You will certainly have many opportunities to do so!
Whether it is through your local work colleagues (Day crew) or during visits to orphanages and prisons (activities that are regularly organized and all you have to do is sign up), during your free time you will have the opportunity to discover the host country.
All those staff members who are not working in the medical field will also have the opportunity to visit patients in the infirmary and thus establish contact with them.
The main types of surgery offered are: general, gynecological, maxillofacial, ophthalmic, reconstructive plastic, orthopedic, and dental / oral care.
For a typical field service, the ships stay in the same port for about 10 months, usually. During the remaining 2 months the ships are taken to a shipyard for maintenance, often in the Canary Islands.
The Africa Mercy and Global Mercy are a smoke and alcohol free environment. However, outside the ship, there are no special restrictions, as long as it is done discreetly.
The main reason for this is a matter of safety, but one must also consider the fact that for some cultures we visit, the simple act of smoking or drinking alcohol can be misperceived or misinterpreted.
Mercy Ships is a Christian organisation and the majority of our staff are Christian believers. All volunteers, regardless of their background, are welcome on board if they are committed to the mission of Mercy Ships, if they support the core values of Mercy Ships and if they have the necessary skills. For long term commitments, belonging to the Christian faith can help with feeling comfortable in the community on board.
Yes, because many jobs do not require any specific training, such as galley and dining room staff, housekeeping, warehouse management, reception staff, etc. These positions are often filled by students who wish to take a break during their studies.
No, because we do not have the infrastructure or the facilities to offer internships. In addition, the governments of the countries where we carry out our field services require our medical staff to have recognised diplomas from their countries of origin. Another reason is that we put the focus on training local caregivers in order to leave a lasting impact.
For the majority of medical professions (nurses, surgeons, anaesthetists, laboratory technicians, etc.), professional experience of at least two years after obtaining the diploma is essential. For dental staff, at least one year of professional experience is required.
Unfortunately, no.
Unfortunately, it is not possible for any Swiss jobseeker receiving financial compensation to take up a volunteer assignment abroad.
The main reason is that an unemployed person has the obligation to accept paid work within 24 hours.
In order to be able to do volunteer work abroad, one must therefore forego benefits. For more details, we recommend that you ask your advisor at the unemployment or placement office.
No, our host countries exempt us from the visa requirement. If you are involved, Mercy Ships will provide you with documents confirming that you can enter without a visa.
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Captain John Borrow
“We provide for people who have lost hope in a very direct and purposeful way, so it just works!”
Jessica (French / English / German):
+41 21 654 32 70
Janina (German / English):
+41 31 812 40 34
Maria (French / English / Italian / German)
+41 21 654 32 01
- You should be at least 18 years of age
- Be in good health,
- Have good English skills (B1)
- Be willing to volunteer, and pay for both accommodation and airfare as well as immunization.
It is essential to have sufficient knowledge of the English language to communicate with the other team members. In addition, the international maritime law to which we are subject requires it for safety reasons. The recommended level is B1.
The minimum duration depends on the respective work area. For some medical positions (surgeons, anaesthetists, OR nurses, dentists) the minimum commitment is two weeks. For all other areas, the minimum is 2, 3, 6, 12, 24 or 36 months. Generally speaking, however, we prefer assignments of longer duration and give them a higher priority.
There are 3 main areas of activity on board: Medical, General and Technical.
We need Surgeons and Nurses, but also Cooks, Mechanics, Electricians, Engineers, Photographers, Seafarers, Dentists, Bakers, Plumbers, Hairdressers, Teachers, Machinists, Receptionists, Accountants, Hostesses, Cleaners, IS specialists, Journalists and many more! You will find a complete overview of all positions to be filled on board the Africa Mercy and Global Mercy, along with the minimum commitment for each position, by clicking on the link: https://opportunities.mercyships.org/.
