Exploring the world of Mercy Ships: The Academy!
Did you know there is an academy aboard the Africa Mercy? An entire school, and I'm not talking school of fish (too punny to leave that out).
From preschool through high school, students receive a top-notch and incredibly unique education on decks 6 & 7 of the ship. They have math and science and history just like you and I did. But they also learn French and then practice it mere steps off the ship in the port of the French-speaking Congo. They study anatomy four floors above a fully functioning hospital. They hang out with new friends during the hospital's "Deck 7 time" or participate in the 'Befriend a Patient' program, coming down to the hospital wards after their homework is finished to play Jenga and Uno. They have extra-curriculars like cooking, ballet, karate, soccer, piano and guitar lessons. Most importantly, they do awesome things like ship-wide turkey hunts.
Here are some photos from one of my friend's classes. I had the privilege of reading at story time and partaking in making gingerbread houses near Christmas! It's a small class (compared to those back home), but even with a class of five students, 3 continents are represented-- plus one little boy who has spent his whole life on this ship! Thanks to one of the best teachers at the academy (may be a little biased), Ms. Shea, for letting me be in first grade again!
**See, you don't have to be medical to volunteer on the ship! The teachers are required to volunteer at least 2 years of their time to making the ship an excellent learning environment for the children of the crew on board. Other positions, however, may only have a minimum requirement of 2 months. Check out THIS webpage to see Mercy Ships' volunteer opportunities. The ship currently needs a principal, head housekeeper, electrician, hair stylist, and HR manager, as well as many medical positions for the next field service, including a senior pharmacist, dentist, hospital physician, PACU and OR nurses, and a Rehab Team Leader.
From preschool through high school, students receive a top-notch and incredibly unique education on decks 6 & 7 of the ship. They have math and science and history just like you and I did. But they also learn French and then practice it mere steps off the ship in the port of the French-speaking Congo. They study anatomy four floors above a fully functioning hospital. They hang out with new friends during the hospital's "Deck 7 time" or participate in the 'Befriend a Patient' program, coming down to the hospital wards after their homework is finished to play Jenga and Uno. They have extra-curriculars like cooking, ballet, karate, soccer, piano and guitar lessons. Most importantly, they do awesome things like ship-wide turkey hunts.
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| A glimpse of what "Deck 7 time" looks like |
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| Academy students reading with patients on Deck 7 |
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| The ship's preschool class playing with patients on the dock |
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| Academy students helping with the ship's patient screening day |
Here are some photos from one of my friend's classes. I had the privilege of reading at story time and partaking in making gingerbread houses near Christmas! It's a small class (compared to those back home), but even with a class of five students, 3 continents are represented-- plus one little boy who has spent his whole life on this ship! Thanks to one of the best teachers at the academy (may be a little biased), Ms. Shea, for letting me be in first grade again!
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| Ms. Shea's 1st grade class... I wish they knew how to have some fun. ;) |
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