Tag: poverty

Dengue fever is a recurring problem in the Philippines as the country has one of the highest dengue infection rates in the Western Pacific region.  In 2015, the Philippines saw more than 100,000 cases recorded. Augustin, at just 12 years old, was one of them. Augustin was in desperate need of a blood transfusion of fresh frozen...

Last November, Janice noticed her middle daughter Carla Mae’s mouth and eye were swelling. Lips that were just cracked a few days previously, were now swollen and blistered. The single mother of five was concerned, but searching for enough work to feed her family was a higher priority than solving what seemed a small medical...

My name is Yuxuan Su and I recently intern at ICM for around two months. Over this period of time, I have had the privilege of working alongside some of the most dedicated, motivated and fun people I have ever met. One morning, I set out with a group of ICM trainers in our signature blue...

“I’m tired of being a mother.” With five children at home and an unemployed, unmotivated husband, Cheryl spent most of her days desperately trying to find a way to feed her family of six. Selling oysters, when she could find them, was Cheryl’s only job, but most days, she found only the rising tide of...

Arlene has all the energy and enthusiasm that a kindergarten teacher requires. The 34-year-old is a high achieving English graduate and has been teaching for 12 years. For the past three years, Arlene has taught at ICM’s Malayang Mangarap (Free to Dream) Jumpstart kindergarten, sponsored by ESF South Island School in Hong Kong. Arlene has...

June 4, over 120 people battled the worst storms in decades to gather at The Shore School Hawkins Foyer for ICM’s annual Sydney Dinner. The diverse guest list included attendees of all ages, established ICM supporters and those keen to hear about ICM for the first time. Board of Director Malcolm Wood warmly welcomed everyone to the...

Angel found herself alone in the world after her mother died in childbirth and her father felt unable to support her.  It wasn’t just the thought of caring for an infant that overwhelmed Angel’s birth father, it was the fact that Angel was born with a blocked (imperforate) opening to her anus that would require...

A mother of a Jumpstart kindergarten student was admitted to a hospital due to complications in her pregnancy. Hinie Jean had severe oligohydramnios  (deficiency of amniotic fluid) which was endangering the development of her baby. Although Hinie Jean was in dire need of treatment, she was referred to another hospital in General Santos City because...

Anyone who attended the 2015 ICM Banquet will remember the remarkable story of Susan Entong. In 2002, Susan was just 11 years old when her drunken father threw a kerosene lamp at her, extensively burning her face and body. For three years, she suffered from festering wounds because the medical treatment she required was not available...

Sunday, May 8 is Mother’s Day.  ICM is proud to share the story of Michelle and Jeffty as a symbol of a mother’s sacrifice and love. Jeffty is a two-year-old boy born with cleft lip and palate. Due to his condition, Jeffty was not able to breast or bottle feed. To give him nourishment, his...