Davies, who is completing her last year of nursing studies at the University of Wollongong, served in the housekeeping department on board the hospital ship Africa Mercy.

“I think some people thought it was very strange to pay money to go to Madagascar to sweep the floors and clean the toilets.

“But it is important that the public areas and the hospital are kept very clean as infection can spread very easily on a ship with 400 volunteers as well as the patients living on it,” Claerwen said.

THE Africa Mercy arrived in Tamatave, Madagascar in October 2014 and plans to provide approximately 1,700 surgeries for adult and child patients onboard, to treat approximately 8,000 at a land-based dental and eye clinics renovated for those purposes, and provide holistic health care education to Malagasy health care professionals and community leaders during its eight-month stay in port.

“I have a passion to serve those in need as well as people of different cultures and I thought that this was a good opportunity to do that.  

“I’ve been able to visit the homes and families of the local crew and seen the way they live.

“I have been confronted and saddened by the poor health care available to the people.

“It has made me appreciate the level of care and resources that we have here in Australia.”

“I enjoyed visiting the patients in the evenings after dinner.

“I would just sit with the patients or play with the children.

“Often someone would be playing a guitar and we would sing Malagasy songs.

“People around me were singing and laughing, and while this happened they were also healing.

“I felt as though I could have stayed in that moment for a long time,” Claerwen said.

“I saw a young woman arrive with a large tumour who was very withdrawn and her eyes were so sad. “Throughout her time on the ship she transformed into a radiant woman with the most beautiful smile I’ve seen.

“It seemed her heart, as well as her body, was healed.”

Using her time off to participate in activities provided outside the ship, Davies was able to travel through local communities.

This included going on a 3-hour boat ride down the canal to an orphanage.

“I also went to the local hospital most Tuesdays to visit the patients and I visited an old age home in which we sat with the residents and did some craft with them.

“They are warm, kind and joyful people.”

Davies, 21, said she would love to return to Mercy Ships when she becomes qualified as a nurse.

“I was able to meet people from all around the world serving together for one purpose, to bring hope and healing to the poorest of the poor.

“I hope that this experience will enable me to have a greater view of this world and people that live on it,” she said.