Volunteer Day

More than 1,200 volunteers who have served on board the world’s largest charity hospital ship in Liberia this year are being recognised tomorrow (5th December) as part of International Volunteer Day.

The Africa Mercy relies entirely on volunteers who serve on board from as little as two weeks, with some crew having been with the charity for more than 20 years.

The ship houses up to 450 volunteers at any one time, ranging from medical staff to engineers and cooks.

Dr. Nigel Barker, an anaesthetist from Sheffield, who volunteered on board the Africa Mercy for seven months this year with his wife, said:

“The work that Mercy Ships does is amazing and really does make a big difference to the lives that are touched.   Liberia was like nowhere I had visited before and seeing the poverty was quite overwhelming but being part of an organisation that was helping was astonishing and uplifting. 

“Life on the ship is extremely challenging and hard work at times but I gained experience in surgeries and extreme pathology that I will never see in the UK. I would advise any of my colleagues in the UK to volunteer with Mercy Ships”.

Judy Polkinhorn, Executive Director of Mercy Ships, UK said: “We would not have had the amount of success we have had in Liberia over the past 10 months had it not been for the surgeons, nurses, chefs, engineers, electricians, cleaning staff and others, who give up their lives and volunteer on the ship.   Our volunteers are the true story behind Mercy Ships.  They even pay for their own flights and the cost for their time on board. 

“Volunteering is hard work and it takes bravery and commitment to give up your life in aid of another person.  Recognising this selfless act shows to all our volunteers that we appreciate all that they do”.