Seamen's Missions (GER-28)

Type: Sport/Culture: Outdoor activities - Country: Germany

Brief description and main aims

Seamen’s missions are located in cities with harbours. They offer support to seamen that come with the big transport ships from all over the world to the harbours. In many cases, the seamen only stay for a short time in a harbour, although they have been on the ship for months. So they have no possibility to go to the city centre, to a shop, a bar or an internet café.

The seamen missions help them with these kinds of things. The co-workers visit them on the ships and bring newspapers and other things to them, or the seamen can come to the seamen’s club in the harbour, where they can buy things for their daily need, watch TV, play billiard, use the internet, etc. The co-workers in the seamen’s missions are also there to listen to the seamen when they need someone to talk to about their thoughts and problems. Sometimes the seamen’s missions also provide accommodation for seamen. Since seamen’s missions have a Christian background, they offer also the possibility to take part in prayers and sermons.

Project example: Internationaler Seemannsclub Hamburg-Altona

Main Activities

The project offers different services, e.g. post service, money sending a bus service and a bar. The seamen's club is supported by the church and donations from companies and people. 

Volunteer tasks

The volunteer will be driving, working at the bar and in the shop to exchange the money and take care of the post service. The volunteer will be responsible for the shopping for club, do cleaning chores and answer the phone. For the visitors the volunteer can be an advisor (when seamen have problems), social worker, hospital visitor or tourist guide. 

Volunteer requirements / Skills

Location

Seamen’s missions are located in cities with harbours.

Hosting Situation (Board and Lodging)

You will have your own room on the same floor as other German and international volunteers.

More Information

When you are interested in working in a seamen’s mission you should be open towards people from different cultures and interested in the special situation of seamen. Their life can be hard most of the time. They are far away from their families and spend long periods of time isolated on the sea. You should have a good knowledge of English and it is an advantage to have a driver’s licence.