Image: Airo (left) presents Joshua from the USA with the parcel of essential medication that followed him around the world!
Happy National Volunteer Week! Thank you to the many amazing people who help our tiny team to serve over 10,000 seafarers each year in a wide variety of ways!
To give our supporters a small insight into why volunteers join our team, former seafarer and multi-skilled volunteer Airo kindly agreed to share his story.
Airo is passionate about seeing seafarers treated with dignity and respect. He values the often hidden benefits of our work so much that on top of his commitments lecturing and training in Community Service and Development, he sets aside time to volunteer once a week at our Mission.
He helps out with a wide variety of tasks from serving in the Centre to sharing seafarers’ stories on our social media. He recently collaborated with grateful seafarer Liberato to share his amazing story of survival from a brain tumour operation with the support of our Chaplains. See Airo’s video on our YouTube channel at: https://tinyurl.com/LiberatoMtS /
Airo Tells His Story:
“In 2019 as a navigator on a bulk carrier, I was in my second month of a 10-month contract when homesickness began to weigh on me. When our ship docked, the Mission to Seafarers team in Bunbury, WA, came and they welcomed me warmly. They provided transport from the pier, Internet access to reach my family, gifts – just small gestures but they made a big difference, giving comfort and a sense of home when I needed it most.
Even years later, when I moved to Melbourne to pursue a Master of International Community Development, the memory of their kindness stayed with me and inspired me to volunteer at the Melbourne Mission.
There, I witnessed firsthand the unwavering dedication to supporting seafarers – ensuring they felt seen, valued, and cared for. I saw the gratitude and the great impact this organisation has on so many lives. While working full-time at the Filipino Community Council of Victoria Inc., I remained connected with the Mission, collaborating to arrange ship visits and outreach activities. Being able to bridge these two communities—one dedicated to seafarers and the other to Filipinos in Victoria — was a truly fulfilling experience that reinforced the power of collective compassion and service.
When I relocated to Sydney at the end of last year, I knew I wanted to continue supporting this remarkable organisation. No matter where I am, my respect for the Mission to Seafarers remains unwavering. Their steadfast dedication to the wellbeing of seafarers is a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion and community. Wherever they operate, the Mission provides not only practical support but also a deep sense of belonging – offering seafarers the comfort and connection they need to face the challenges of life at sea with dignity and resilience.
I am forever thankful for their help when I needed it and proud to be part of their mission to help others. I am happy to have joined the Mission to Seafarers Sydney team!”
Find out how you can get involved at: https://missiontoseafarerssydney.org.au/donate/#volunteer
