Lausanne, Switzerland—1 July 2011
Mercy Ships, an international, faith-based non-profit, gives you the opportunity to participate in the European Year of Volunteering 2011. The European Commission designates this year as the year of volunteering with the purpose of encouraging citizens and organizations in the European Union to participate in more volunteer activities. According to the Commission, volunteering is a way for citizens to strengthen Europe’s values and beliefs. The Commission hopes to increase awareness and involvement in volunteering.
Since 1978, Mercy Ships has mobilized people and resources worldwide to provide free health care and sustainable development in the developing world. Each year volunteers from over 40 nations bring their own unique skill sets onboard the Africa Mercy. Volunteer positions include physicians, medical personnel, engineers, maritime crew, galley cooks, engineers and teachers.
The current ship, the Africa Mercy, is docked in Freetown, Sierra Leone, one of the poorest nations in the world. On board are six operating theaters, a 78-bed hospital ward, a CT Scan, an X-ray machine, and laboratory services. The ship has capacity to perform 7,000 surgical interventions per year. Staffed by over 400 volunteer crew members, the humanitarian work done by Mercy Ships is truly an act of love for people in need.
Don Stephens, the founder of the organization, leads the charge in bringing hope and healing to Sierra Leone and other West African nations. Recently, the Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Washington, D.C. recognized Don Stephens as the recipient of the Diamond Award for his contribution to the development of Sierra Leone in the field of health.
Mercy Ships has encouraged people to become involved in volunteer activities since the organization was founded. This year specifically, Mercy Ships supports volunteers from around Europe to invest their free time in civic participation by joining their mission.
ABOUT MERCY SHIPS: Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free world-class health care services to those without access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 70 countries providing services valued at more than $808 million, impacting more than 2.5 million lives. Each year Mercy Ships has over 1,200 volunteers from over 40 nations. Professionals including surgeons, dentists, nurses, health care trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists donate their time and skills to the effort. Mercy Ships seeks to become the face of love in action, bringing hope and healing to the poor. For more information click on www.mercyships.org
