Though most of the crewmembers are single men and women who have dedicated two more years of their lives to serve on the Doulus, the ship is also a home to real families who opt to stay in the ship without any pay. They are simply satisfied to live and work together the different communities where they dock.

Reka Borsiczky, the ship’s media relations officer, is quick to clarify though that they also have a full complement of qualified volunteer crew as required by the international maritime regulations.

“Besides the real families onboard this ship, we are each assigned to a group we call family whom we truly live with as a family. We work together, serve together, eat together, pray together, celebrate birthdays together, despite different colours and culture,” elaborates Borsiczky, who is now the third year as a volunteer.

And like any ship, the Doulus has a captain by the name of Ashley McDonald, who is onboard with his wife and child.

Since volunteers are not paid, everyone onboard has to raise the money to cover the expenses of their time onboard. Most of the volunteers get help from their real family, relatives and friends, thereby building a bigger circle volunteers, not necessarily onboard the ship.

Borsiczky recalls how she was able to survive the first year of service: “I was a professional graduate working outside the ship until I decided to join the "MV Doulus". Much to my surprise I never thought that it would be this hard because I was assigned in the kitchen at first. There were times when I would just cry while doing my task, like cleaning a sink full of plates. I’d ask myself why am I here? But then I saw the higher purpose of serving others and I just enjoyed the whole experience.”

Approximately 92 years old now, the "MV Doulus" was built in 1914, two years after the Titanic. The Guinness Book of World Records, has recognized the ship as the world’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship.

What makes it different according to www.doulos.org is that although it is considered a passenger ship, it has no commercial passengers but only a crew and staff of volunteers.
Built in the United States to serve as a freighter called Medina, it was turned into a passenger ship and sailed under the names Roma and Franca C. In 1977, the ship was acquired by the German non-profit charity organization, Gute Bücher für Alle (Good Books for All). It was permanently named Doulos, which a Greek word meaning servant and synonymous to the spirit of promoting knowledge, help and hope for all.

To spread knowledge through the books they sell and encourage education is already a significant fulfilment for any group of volunteers. But the crew always wants to do more. They also aim to help the less fortunate in the communities where they dock, which now totals 100 ports in Asia, America, Africa, Australia, Europe and the Middle East. While each country has different needs and circumstances, the Doulus projects always centre on education, health care and the construction of houses.

With Manila as their homebase in their last visit, the volunteers also visited Valenzuela, San Juan, Makati and other areas in Metro Manila to do their work. The ship is now in Cebu where it will stay until February 19, which it will move on to Batangas from February 22 to March 5.
Isabel Tobias, secretary-general of the Presidential Council for Values Formation, beautifully put into words how grateful the Philippines is for the fifth return of the "MV Doulus": “The government of the Philippines recognizes your efforts to bring about positive changes in this country. Like us, this ship will one day be put to the test, but even then it will remain alive because of the outcome of its meaningful service, the lives it has touched, shaped and changed for eternity.”

Source: www.shiptalk.com