At Mercy Ships, we place a strong emphasis on the importance of family and strive to support a healthy life/work balance for all our staff and crew. If you have a family and wish to volunteer with us, there are several important matters to consider.

Firstly, we define a “family” as a spouse, children under the age of 16, and/or vulnerable adults under your care. We have many volunteers serving on board our ships who have families back at home. We also have many whose spouse and children to live with them on board while they volunteer, making use of our family cabins and school to facilitate family life on our ships.

Mercy Ships acknowledges the various family structures and make-ups of our volunteers, and whether you serve with or without your family determines how long you can serve with us, so please read the following carefully:

Serving WITHOUT Your Family

If you intend to serve without your family, you must follow our family separation policy. This stipulates that to maintain the importance of family commitments, our volunteers can not be separated from their family for more than six months at a time.

Volunteers who are separated from their family for six months or more will be required to return home for at least three months before serving without their family again. Mercy Ships will avoid such requests generally, though sometimes this may be required to maintain operational effectiveness or safety standards.

If Mercy Ships requests a volunteer to travel or extend their commitment, which would cause them to be separated from their family for more than six months at one time, Mercy Ships will reimburse the volunteer for a trip home or a visit from their spouse to their location. If housing is available, other family members may be allowed to accompany the spouse, but their expenses would not be reimbursed by Mercy Ships.

Exceptions

Any exceptions to this policy will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may require consultation with the Member Care Chaplain. For parents (single or otherwise) who can show proof of extended family caring for their teenage children, an exemption may be warranted.

Serving WITH Your Family

We welcome married couples and families for many of our long-term roles. Both of our hospital ships are equipped with family cabins and offer a supportive, family-friendly environment. Children on board can attend the Mercy Ships Academy, an accredited international school, where they will get the very best education during your service.

Lastly, unmarried partners are also welcome to serve together on board Mercy Ships. However, please note that you will be allocated separate cabins, and both of you will need to familiarize yourselves with and agree to abide by our Code of Conduct, especially as it relates to relationships and community life. Romantic relationships among volunteers are permitted, provided all interactions align with the organization’s values and professional standards. Mercy Ships fosters a respectful, supportive environment where the mission to serve those in need remains the primary focus.