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Melinda J. Irvine

Professional writer, designer, and blogger. When she’s not publishing eBooks, designing embroidery patterns, or blogging — Mel’s out in the sunshine finding new stories.

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Home » Children

Tag: Children

disabled girl with her money

Losing Rosemarie

by Melinda J. Irvine4 October 20194 October 20194 Comments

Our beloved Rosemarie died suddenly on Sunday morning. If you have been following my blog anytime over the past 5 years you'll have seen many photos of Rosemarie and her family. Her mother had taken her to hospital Saturday night,…

Read More Losing Rosemarie

Giving Back Children, Poverty

Testing Positive for TB

by Melinda J. Irvine17 August 20181 Comment

The Philippines ranks #4 in the world for reported incidences of tuberculosis. And yesterday Jerry become one of those statistics. Children who grow up in poverty and experience malnutrition are especially vulnerable to TB, as they often live for years…

Read More Testing Positive for TB

Children, Family Children, Tuberculosis
snake in the room

The Stories We Tell Children

by Melinda J. Irvine15 August 201815 August 20181 Comment

In the corner of our dining area is a door with a broken lock. I've stuck a red plastic bag inside the hole where the lock used to be, and put a couple of plastic stools in front to casually…

Read More The Stories We Tell Children

Children, Culture Children, Stories
ants on a pandanus seed

The House of Ants

by Melinda J. Irvine4 May 20184 May 2018

I met a man today on a wooden ferry boat and between the two islands he told me a story. His story, of two boys once seven and once nine when their mother who died. Unable to make a sound…

Read More The House of Ants

Free Verse, Poetry Adoption, Children, kindness, Poetry
Ronalin's hat to hide a head lice infestation

Ronalin’s Hat

by Melinda J. Irvine13 March 2018

If you remember my tale from last week about a little girl with severe head lice, this is the sequel.

Children, Giving Back Children, Poverty
little boy using a microphone

Replay: World Literacy Day Livestream

by Melinda J. Irvine10 September 20179 February 20187 Comments

If you missed the livestream of our World Literacy Day celebrations you can watch the replay here. Children's author and poet, Dr June Perkins joined us live via Skype and the children of Botongon sang and performed too. Please note…

Read More Replay: World Literacy Day Livestream

Giving Back Children, Dr June Perkins, LiteracyDay, Purok4Literacy
boy looking for scrap metal amidst an oil spill in the Philippines

The First Boy in His Family to Finish School

by Melinda J. Irvine13 June 201713 June 20175 Comments

A very excited Jerry started grade 3 last week, an opportunity denied to most of his brother's and sisters. This is particularly poignant today on World Day Against Child Labour. Like the other 2.1 million+ Filipino kids already working, Jerry's…

Read More The First Boy in His Family to Finish School

Activism, Finding Jerry ChildLabour, Children, DailyPrompt, Poverty

Forty-one Kids

by Melinda J. Irvine22 October 201625 February 2020

I had to send the kids home today. The cable that connects my tablet to the amp is busted and I couldn't play music or amplify the TV so forty-one kids could hear the movie over the sounds of the…

Read More Forty-one Kids

Giving Back Children

Can I open just one eye?

by Melinda J. Irvine8 August 201618 October 2016

Yesterday afternoon four little friends of Jerry came over to play and watch Disney Movies. The toy library has a very cool little cooking set so they all insisted on 'cooking' for me. I had to close my eyes for…

Read More Can I open just one eye?

Family, Finding Jerry Children, Finding Jerry, games

Happy Birthday Baby Roseann

by Melinda J. Irvine5 May 20165 August 2016

Enid Blyton's 'Land of Birthdays' was the most excellent place I could imagine when I was a kid. Climbing to the top of the faraway tree to celebrate your birthday: just awesome. So it's no big surprise that I have created…

Read More Happy Birthday Baby Roseann

Giving Back Birthday Parties, Birthdays, Children, Happy Birthday

Bad Me

by Melinda J. Irvine3 March 201618 October 20162 Comments

bad me’ i heard his little voice say ‘bad me’ small head turned into the pillow ‘bad me’ i had scolded him for breaking a yellow colouring pencil he stomped it into two pieces discarded for garbage i found it…

Read More Bad Me

Finding Jerry, Free Verse, Poetry Children, Finding Jerry, Parenting, Poetry

Free creative activities for impoverished children

by Melinda J. Irvine26 February 201629 June 2016

© 2016 Melinda Irvine

Giving Back, Photo Essay Children, Creativity, estancia

Tuition and employment

by Melinda J. Irvine19 February 201618 December 2016

Yesterday some of the dreams and visions for my life here in the Philippines manifested into reality: tuition for street kids and employment for families battling poverty. For the last two years I have been helping Shelia Gedalanga and her…

Read More Tuition and employment

Finding Jerry, Giving Back Children, education, Poverty

Rebuilding the children’s playground

by Melinda J. Irvine16 February 20166 August 2016

Saturday (yeah the next one coming) is the beginning of a series of art and creative activities for the children of Botongon, Estancia. Twister tournaments, giant puzzles, painting and poetry. I really can't wait. For the last few weeks I…

Read More Rebuilding the children’s playground

Giving Back Children, Creativity

Decisions

by Melinda J. Irvine15 February 201618 December 20162 Comments

Arriving in the Philippines over two years ago to help out after Typhoon Yolanda, I never expected I would still be here. The amazing, crazy and tragic things that have happened over the past two years have left me drained…

Read More Decisions

Finding Jerry, Giving Back Australia, Children, Finding Jerry, Philippines

Botongon Fiesta Parade 2015 (purok 4)

by Melinda J. Irvine27 December 20152 September 2016

© 2015 Melinda Irvine.

Photo Essay celebration, Children, Fiesta, New Year

Finding sponsors for little boys

by Melinda J. Irvine6 December 20158 October 2016

I have a little boy of seven (7) permanently in my care now. More stories will appear in the blog about him with time. This blog is about finding sponsors for his little friends, there are literally hundreds of thousands…

Read More Finding sponsors for little boys

Giving Back Children, Humanitarian Aid, Poverty

Jian

by Melinda J. Irvine2 December 201515 February 20171 Comment

Two years older protects little brother; baby man. Superman at three. © 2015 Melinda Irvine

Little Poems, Poetry, Senryu Brothers, Children, Poetry, Senryu

You are never alone in the Philippines …

by Melinda J. Irvine30 April 201417 November 2015

Sometimes that is great and sometimes it is a bit hard to handle. Like when you're sick. I had the worst flu I'd had in years and had completely lost my voice. I'd range between sleep and sweat. I woke…

Read More You are never alone in the Philippines …

Giving Back Children, typhoon yolanda

How can I help?

Melinda J. Irvine Professional Writer
+61 438 409 779
irvine.melinda@gmail.com
PLEASE NOTE: I am unavailable during Holy Week and Easter 2021.
Sharing stories of real people, everyday magic, and the places I held my breath as a child.

About Mel.

Melinda J. Irvine is an Australian writer, designer, and musician living between the Philippines and Australia. Mel is adopted mum to Jerry, a Filipino boy she met while volunteering after Typhoon Yolanda. All the money she earns as a professional writer is used to support Jerry’s recovery — plus help the other kids from his village go to school.

neXtDRAFT zine # 68.

neXtDRAFT 68. February 2020

Community Giving.

When I'm not writing, designing or playing music, I'm actively building an online learning centre for the kids of Botongon (Philippines). If you'd like to help out, please make a donation via PAYPAL. You'll get a proper tax receipt and regular project updates. More info.
2021 Melinda J. Irvine
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