Change Lives, Including Your Own.
Every Mercy Ships volunteer plays a vital role — from medical care to everyday support that keeps the ships moving. Take our quick volunteer quiz to match your passions with opportunities.
Find a New Purpose
A Platform for Hope
A Place to Grow
The Opportunity of a Lifetime
Make a Lasting Impact
Live Out Your Faith
45+ years of hope and healing.
Why serve?
Why serve?
Why a ship?
Why Africa?
Why you?
Life on board.
Our Mercy Ships community is unique and special. Compassionate volunteers from all over the world join together, living and working toward a common mission and following the model of Jesus together.
Community life is one of the most rewarding aspects of life onboard. Joining Mercy Ships offers the chance to serve and grow together with friends, experiencing impact that will last a lifetime.
Not only will your service with Mercy Ships make a difference in the lives of others — it will impact your own life, too.
Faith
Mercy Ships follows the model of Jesus, bringing hope and healing. Our unique community includes people from many different backgrounds, including a diversity of Christian faith traditions. You’ll see that integrated into life and work aboard, where we work, play, relax, pray, worship, explore, and grow together. We also welcome those who don’t share Christian faith to serve with us. We want to be transparent about who we are, and we welcome participation in the mission and the transformation that happens on our ships!
Adventure
When you join Mercy Ships, adventure awaits. Each country we serve has its own unique culture and beauty, making every field service a remarkable journey. Our crew is encouraged to engage with the communities we have come to serve and even learn new languages! You can explore the local markets, attractions, restaurants, and even attend a local church.
Challenge
It’s not only the patients who leave a Mercy Ship changed. Our work is not easy, and living in a close-knit community has both joys and challenges, but it is a rewarding experience like no other. If you love doing hard things for people you love, alongside a diverse team who share common purpose, you’ll find serving with Mercy Ships to be a great fit.
Housing
Our cabins are small, but cozy. Most of our Crew will share a cabin and a bathroom with multiple ‘cabin-mates’, with a bunk and a small closet to call their own. Each cabin is equipped with WiFi and A/C, with magnetic wall space. Couples and families have their own cabins, and single cabins for our Maritime Officers.
Dining
Food Services serves delicious and nutritious meals three times a day in the dining room aboard each ship. When the occasional craving for a homemade dish strikes, cook whatever you like in the crew galley. Limited groceries can be purchased at local markets or from the Ship Shop, our onboard convenience store.
Amenities
Our ships are like small cities, equipped with anything our volunteers might need. Both ships contain a laundry room, hair salon, bank, post office, weight room, internet café/wifi, a lending library with movies and board games, a swimming pool, and even a clinic for crew medical and dental care.
Education
From kindergarten to high school, the Academy students learn everything they would discover in schools on land — and more. The Mercy Ships Academy is an internationally accredited school that meets educational standards of quality. It is a place where children can experience the unique aspects of life on board our ships with people from all over the world.
Family
Mercy Ships accommodates volunteers with families for many of our long-term roles on board. From family cabins to an accredited school, both of our ships are home to multiple families from around the world. The whole family gets to be involved in the mission of hope and healing as they interact daily with crew and patients.
Training
While bringing hope and healing to those in need is our primary mission, volunteering can also broaden our crew members’ professional goals. Many areas offer ongoing training opportunities as a way of investing in the future of our crew.
Safety
We take the safety of our crew and patients very seriously. Mercy Ships has created a team of experienced security officers who are committed to keeping everyone safe and secure. In addition, each volunteer will be trained in emergency protocols and measures.
How to apply.
Just five simple steps.
Mercy Ships needs volunteer medical professionals, maritime officers, teachers, administrators, I.T. specialists, accountants, cooks, and so much more. Find your place on board! Applying is easy and secure, and it’s only together that we are able to bring hope and healing.
Apply with us
Find a position that interests you here to start your application. The more details & documentation you can provide upfront, the faster the rest of the steps will take! These include your CV or resume and copies of any relevant licensure and certificates. The application length varies by role, but if you ever need to step away, don’t worry – you can always log backin and finish your application later. Once your application is submitted to Mercy Ships, you’ll be directed to your online Portal for the next steps.
Application under review
The team at Mercy Ships will review your application and documentation submitted, and will let you know if we need any further details from you. During this step in the process, you may receive a request for a video pre-screen via our online tool, Spark Hire. Some positions and circumstances also require an interview with someone from our Human Resources team. At this point in the process, we collaborate to ensure you’re qualified for the role for which you’ve applied and whether Mercy Ships is a good match for you!
Waiting period
If the position for which you’ve applied is not immediately available, you can join our Talent Community of volunteers who are awaiting their opportunity to join us! We keep you informed of any updates with the position and will give you some insider information so you can stay on top of Mercy Ships news!
Acceptance letter
Once the position and your availability align, the application team will work with you to tie up any loose ends and will send your acceptance letter and information! This will outline all the details you need to know regarding your commitment onboard – your confirmed volunteer dates, any costs, required training, and outline your next steps. In between receiving your offer letter and joining one of our ships, you may be contacted by others from Mercy Ships with resources for fundraising, On Boarding, and preparing for your time with us!
Get onboard!
This is, of course, the most exciting step in the process – when you travel to join one of our ships. Nothing beats the feeling you get from walking up the gangway for the first time, and we’re excited to take this journey with you – bringing hope and healing.
Step into Purpose.
Start With the Quiz.
Volunteering is about more than filling a role — it’s about stepping into your calling.
This guided 8-step quiz is designed to uncover where your strengths can meet the world’s greatest needs. As you move through each step, you’ll be matched with opportunities that align with your unique skills and experience. By the end, you’ll have a clear sense of the roles that fit you best — helping you understand exactly where you can make the biggest impact.
