Story of Adama
Transformed lives: our patients
About 5 billion people worldwide do not have adequate access to surgical interventions. Every year, 143,000 surgeries are lacking. Behind every statistic is a story, a life – a person waiting for hope and healing.
Mercy Ships exists as a compassionate response to a world in need. Together we are part of one race on our planet, irrespective of country, creed or colour.
Discover the stories of lives transformed through hope and healing!
Story of Fudia
The 10-year-old can now walk by herself without struggling and is set to resume school, with hopes for the future set high: “I want to be a doctor, so that I can help other people,” she shared.
Story of Lucy
In 2021, Lucy suddenly experienced unbearable tooth pain. Although the tooth eventually fell out, the pain persisted. Her face became swollen, and it was discovered to be a tumor. Unfortunately, the cost of medical treatment was beyond the family's financial means.
Story of Mamadou
Shortly before his first birthday, Mamadou's mother realized that he was having difficulty grasping objects and that he regularly stumbled. Mamadou suffers from cataracts.
Story of Naserry
Naserry, a little 5-year-old girl, stumbled into a fire and knocked over a boiling pot: suddenly her whole childhood was shattered.
Story of Umu
“I was afraid to see the tumor on her face,” Yei remembered about the day she gave birth and saw Umu for the first time.
Story of Samba
After enduring 56 years of hardship and exclusion, a mere two hours proved transformative, radically reshaping Samba's life and bestowing upon him a newfound sense of dignity.
I want to volunteer!
Volunteer testimonies
Our volunteers are selfless servants. They deliver the highest quality care to individuals who otherwise would have little access to medical services. And they pay their own way, so every franc donated to Mercy Ships can go directly to helping the world’s forgotten poor.
Our last blogposts
From Fine Dining to Humanitarian Service: Anouck’s Path
For four years, Anouck dedicated her talents and skills aboard the Africa Mercy. Starting as dining room manager and later as Operations Director, she shares with us her unique volunteer experience on board.
Gary Parker: A Life Dedicated to Volunteer work
Dr. Gary Parker, a surgeon with 40 years of service aboard, was honored with the prestigious Humanitarian Award from the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (ACOMS) for his exceptional contribution to global health. This esteemed distinction was awarded for the thousands of transformative free surgeries he has performed aboard the Global Mercy.
Guinea: expansion of public dental school with support from Ardentis and Mercy Ships
Guinea’s only public dental school has opened a dental training and treatment clinic. Mercy Ships, founded in Switzerland, and the French-speaking company Ardentis SA actively support the school.