That was until he spent seven months volunteering as a tradie on board the world’s largest civilian hospital ship earlier this year. The New Brighton resident travelled to Guinea, West Africa, to join the Mercy Ships technical crew. Mr Jansons believes tradies are often hidden heroes, and on the Mercy Ship they fill essential roles that do not often come to mind when people think of hospitalships. His work as an electronics technician is vital to the Mercy Ship functioning as a floating first-world hospital in the developing nations the charity serves. Mr Jansons was personally impacted by the faith-based charity’s mission to deliver free essential surgery to West Africa poor, as well as being challenged professionally.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 27, 2019 16:52 UTC