Photographers, writers and videographers tell our patients' life-transforming stories
On board each hospital ship, our communications team walks the healing journey with our amazing patients. These writers, videographers and photographers produce the raw content through patient and crew interviews and visits, that help Mercy Ships across the globe share the transformation stories of our patients, and the remarkable volunteer crew who serve them.
We’ve got a Big Ask – but say yes and your courage and compassion will change lives and bring essential surgery to West Africa. Come with us to be part of communicating a message of hope.
If you are ready to put feet to your faith-journey, volunteering your creative skills in our on board communications team may be your next adventure
Maybe you are ready for a professional reset, or have long service leave that you’ve been waiting to do something meaningful with. Joining the crew on board our hospital ships in sub-Saharan Africa will be the do-good professional adventure of your life.
If you are motivated by your faith, have a creative track record and the heart to help the vulnerable, then volunteering on board the world’s largest civilian hospital ships could be the next fabulous career move you make.
Communications role details
Our Communications team communicates uses words and images to create a message of hope.
Minimum volunteer period: 1 to 2 years
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in a related field of study, professional experience (with portfolio), successful completion of Mercy Ships OnBoarding orientation programme.
Communications opportunities on board
FAQ
Mercy Ships will supply all the required equipment, but you are able to bring selected items for your use if you wish.
English proficiency is required for all positions in Mercy Ships, and fluency is required for some positions. French is hugely beneficial, but not required unless stated on the job description.
All volunteers must be over 18 to join, must be in good health with a BMI <35, and be aware of both the physical demands of living on board and in Africa, as well as any physical demands of the role for which they want to join. For example, our volunteers may be required to sleep in a bunk-bed, sharing a cabin with other volunteers of the same gender.
The ship has multiple decks, and the crew members could climb about 30 flights of stairs per day.
Communications roles often work off-ship (and sometimes even stay off-ship), and require a different kind of physical stamina to be exposed to the heat and African climate.
While we strive to prepare and serve healthy meals on board, our supply and galley (kitchen) restrictions mean we cannot cater to specific diets (i.e. gluten-free, vegan, celiac, etc.). We do have a Crew Galley on board, open 24/7, for any crew member to cook and prepare their own food when desired.
We require several different inoculations for all crew members coming on board.
- Yellow Fever
- Hepatitis B
- MMR
- Tetanus / Diphtheria
- COVID-19
- Tuberculosis testing
ABOUT MERCY SHIPS
Mercy Ships is an international humanitarian organisation based on Christian values. Our mission is to improve access to health care in low-income nations.
By deploying the world’s two largest non-governmental hospital ships, the Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy, Mercy Ships works with host countries to help them improve their health care systems.
Each year, more than 1,200 volunteers from over 60 nations donate their time and resources to support the Mercy Ships vision.
Mercy Ships’ surgical specialties include maxillofacial, plastic reconstructive, orthopaedic, ophthalmic, general, and gynecological (obstetric fistula) surgery.
Simultaneously, we provide training and mentoring to upskill local health professionals, strengthening the host nation’s health care capacity.
I love talking to people about finding their fit on board, and I’m here to answer your questions about volunteering.
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