FAQ: Families
Frequently Asked Questions: Families
How many kids are on board?
About 55 (ages 1 - 18)
What are some challenges kids face living on board living on a Mercy Ship?
- lack of freedom
- lack of facilities or extracurricular activities (gym, sports, dance or music classes, etc)
- smaller group of friends
- boredom issues
- Making friends and then having to say "good byes" when they leave.
- Over-stimulation, lots of very friendly crew members wanting to talk to them.
- Living with other kids who come from different cultures.
- Living with other kids whose parents have different parenting and discipline styles than their own.
What are the advantages?
- exposure to many different cultures and nationalities
- Opportunities for the whole family to serve: visiting patients on the ward, visiting orphanages, churches together, etc.
- Great Christian school with small classes
- lots of people around, therefore there are many very positive role models for kids to interact with.
- A vibrant youth ministry that organize off ship outings, retreats, games and studies.
What is there to do as a family on our off time?
Depending on the location, there are typically local hotels with pool facilities. There are a few local beaches however most are not safe for swimming. There are other crew activities arranged, days out to different local places of interest, markets, nice restaurants etc. There is a children's covered play area on Deck 8 and a much smaller one on Deck 7, there is a new pool on Deck 8. There is an internet cafe, and also a well stocked library of books and DVDs. There are also plenty of opportunities to travel and see the country we are serving in.
What would our cabin be like and how big are the beds?
The cabins vary in size (6-berth and 4-berth) according to how many in your family.
A few of the six berth cabins have 3 small bedrooms (2 rooms for the kids with bunks) and a master bedroom. Some 6 berth cabins while the others have 2 bedrooms (2 small bedrooms for the kids with bunks) and a pull out couch in the den for mom and dad. Each has their own bathroom and kitchenette and ample storage space.
Please note cabins are either very warm or very cold depending on where they are located so having a sweater and/or blanket is a good idea.
Is there a movie room on board?
Yes, we have a small room on board which crew use to watch movies. We recommend each family having their own TV, portable DVD player or computer to play movies in the cabin too – especially for the kids.
We also have 3-4 satellite TV stations, which sometimes include cartoons, National Geographic channel or Animal Planet. These channels can be watched in the lounges or on your own TV in the cabin once you’ve been set up to receive it.
Can you bring a Wii or PS2?
Yes but be sure and check the power source. The American Wii must have a step up converter whereas the PS2 just needs an adapter plug.
Do people share books and movies?
Yes, many of the crew allow others to borrow their movies or books.
Is there a loaning library?
Yes, the Africa Mercy has a very nice library on board which has current books, magazines and movies to check out.
Is it better to buy appliances like hair dryers, coffee pots, etc. once you arrive?
It depends -- appliances can be rather expensive in West Africa. Please keep in mind though that the Africa Mercy was fitted in the UK, so all appliances need to have UK plugs or adaptors. Crew often stock up and purchase new items when the ship is in Tenerife or sell items between one another as they leave or upgrade.
Can families have items shipped to them on the container?
Mercy Ships is willing to ship personal items on any container leaving from the IOC. However, we can’t guarantee exactly when it will be shipped because ship supplies have to take priority. Typically, containers are shipped to the ship from the IOC once a month and the transit time is approx 8 weeks to the Africa Mercy.
For more information, please contact the Procurement Department at 903-939-7117
How does one obtain permission to drive one of the ship’s vehicles?
Permission to become a ship’s driver is managed through your department head. If they approve you becoming a Ship’s Driver, you fill out an application and take a test. There are a limited number of people that can be on the ship’s insurance at any time, so not everyone can become a Ship’s Driver. Please note: an International Driver's License is required and if possible, should be obtained before arriving on board.
Is it possible to rent one of the Mercy Ships vehicles to go on a trip with a family or other singles?
If you are assigned to be a Ship’s Driver, you can sign out a vehicle for up to 4 hours during weekend time, and another 4 hours on a weekday evening. You can combine hours with other Ship’s Drivers to do a day-trip. For overnight trips, you’d generally need to rent a car locally or take a taxi.
Is there a piano (and other instruments) that crew members can use on board?
There are 2 pianos – an upright in the café area, and a grand in the International Lounge, as well as a keyboard. There is also a drum kit. (These are for people who already know how to play / use the instruments, to minimize wear & tear!) Other instruments you would need to bring or borrow as they are privately owned.
Is there anywhere to cook on board?
There is a ‘Crew Galley’ which has several work stations & ovens can be used any time. It is equipped with pans, utensils, cookie sheets etc. You can buy basic ingredients in the Ship Shop. For safety reasons you need to stay with your food as it cooks / bakes, and also while your oven heats up. If you have special pans or cooking utensils you especially like to use, it's a good idea to bring them (special cake pans, measuring cups and spoons etc).
Are there many restrictions and rules for the kids or can they go around the ship without supervision?
On the whole it is a safe and family friendly environment. There are some guidelines for their protection and of course parents are ultimately responsible for their children. Younger children (under 10) do need to be supervised at all times, and cannot wander around the ship without an adult. This also applies to the deck "play" areas and in the dining room.
What about the Academy on board? What are some of the pros and cons?
The great thing is the small classes mean the students get more attention with such a small student to teacher ratio. It can be challenging for students and teachers to live and work together in the kids to know their boundaries as the teachers live on board, so they live where they work, the kids live were they go to school.
How long is the school day is and how much homework do they usually have?
The school day starts at 8am and finishes at 3:20. Amount of homework depends on the age of the kids and their grade level.
Preschool is 8-12 or 9-12, depending on the age / preschool year.
How are the classes divided?
Nursery, Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th, 9th and 10th, 11th and 12th
What is the average size classroom?
6-8 kids per class
What curriculum does the Mercy Ships Academy use?
We are in the process of developing an international standard-based curriculum.
What do kids do during the summer or when the Academy is closed?
There is a Summer Program which consists of lots of fun activities and field trips.
When are the school breaks scheduled?
Typically there is a mid-school break for approximately 4 weeks from the end of December to the end of January and there is a summer break for about two months. The school calendar changes based on the ship maintenance schedule.
Can we bring bikes for the kids?
You can, but it might be difficult to find somewhere for them to ride them during the months of field service. Depending on where we’re docked, it’s usually extremely unsafe for children to ride bikes on the dock (heavy traffic, containers being moved around, etc.) and traffic out on the streets can be dangerous. Bikes would be great while we are in the shipyard though. Roller blades and collapsible scooters are popular alternative for them and may be easier to bring.
Is there an orthodontist on board (to tighten braces?)
We have a crew dentist on board who cares for our dental needs. He can also help with making minor adjustments to braces as long as the patient has clear directions from their orthodontist on what needs to be done. However, he is not an orthodontist, so the overall treatment will need to be supervised by somebody at home.
If you would like to be connected to a family on board with children of similar group to yours, please contact the HR Manager at hr.manager@afm.mercyships.org.
