Growing Up on the Global Mercy: A School, Family Lounges, and Even a Playground!

Some people I’ve spoken to are surprised to learn that children live on board the Global Mercy. In fact, about half of Deck 10 is dedicated to a school called The Academy. It can accommodate up to 110 students, and I believe there are currently a little over 40 children on board.

The entrance to The Academy

The children’s parents work in a variety of roles, both in the hospital and in the many other departments that keep the ship running. Typically, one parent works while the other serves as the primary caregiver or works part-time.

It has been fun catching glimpses of the kids’ lives on board. On weekends, you might find groups of boys gathered in the computer lab playing Minecraft, or enjoying a game of ping-pong. During operating room days, I would sometimes look out through our porthole and spot the children having recess or PE on the dock.

Seeing children around the ship brings a different energy to life on board. Amid the serious work of providing medical care and transforming lives, there is also the laughter, activity, and everyday business of children growing up. Some families stay for a year, while others stay even longer.

I spent just one month on the GLM, and I found the experience fascinating. I often wonder what it must be like to grow up here, going to school on a hospital ship, making friends from different countries and backgrounds, and watching your parents help bring hope and healing to people around the world. What a unique childhood that must be!

Want to Take a Peek Inside The Academy?

As they should be, the staff are fiercely protective of the school and do not allow visitors inside. After all, we don’t generally allow visitors into our operating rooms either! Both are spaces where privacy and safety are important.

But if you’re curious to see where the children learn, you can explore the ship through the Virtual Tour – Mercy Ships.

Here’s how to find The Academy:

1. Open the Virtual Tour - Mercy Ships website and select “Self Guided Tour” on the left-hand side.
2. Open the menu in the top-right corner and select Deck 10. You’ll arrive at the bridge, where Captain Perez is keeping watch!
3. Click the floor plan icon in the bottom-left corner of the picture.
4. Find and select The Academy Library. This is the first space you enter when walking into the school.
5. From there, you can explore the classrooms and labs.

Happy exploring!

A Place for Families to Call Home

The Gonin kids on their first day of school! I work with their father, who is an anesthesiologist.  Their family will be serving on the GLM for two years!

While you’re exploring the virtual tour, head down to Deck 9, where most of the families live in larger family cabins. The ship isn't just their parents’ workplace; it's their home, too.

Deck 9 has a family lounge and a separate teen lounge, giving the children spaces of their own to relax, play, and spend time with friends away from the general crew areas. These dedicated spaces help the families build a community and give the kids room to enjoy life outside the classroom.

And Don’t Forget the Playground!

Finally, head up to Deck 11 to explore the playground and pool area!

Unfortunately, we aren’t allowed to take photos of the ship’s exterior areas while we’re in Tema Port. Otherwise, I would share some pictures of this space with you. The playground looks a little different at the moment, too, with swings recently added that hang from the rafters.

Sadly, the pool has been closed for most of the month I’ve been here. Then again, in all honesty, I haven’t had much time to wander up to Deck 11 myself! Between everything happening in the operating rooms and all the interesting things to discover around the ship, there never seems to be enough time to see it all.

Between the school, family and teen lounges, playground, and pool, the GLM offers children much more than a place to live while their parents work. It provides spaces to learn, play, build friendships, and grow together as a family—all while being part of a mission that brings hope and healing to people around the world.

It’s a side of life on the Mercy Ships that many people never imagine, and one I’ve really enjoyed discovering during my month on board.