Melissa Hekkers

Melissa Hekkers (born 1981) is a Belgian journalist,[1] author,[2] translator and humanitarian[3] based in Nicosia, Cyprus. She is known for her children's literature, creative nonfiction, and educational colouring books that explore the cultural and natural heritage of Cyprus. Her work often addresses themes related to silenced communities, migration, and environmental awareness.

Early life and education

Melissa Hekkers was born in Brussels, Belgium in 1981. She has a BA in Communications at Intercollege.

Career

Hekkers began writing for local Newspapers, including the Cyprus Mail[4] Newspaper and the Cyprus Weekly Newspaper[5] as well other publications in Cyprus in the early 2000s. Since 2015, Melissa has been teaching creative writing to children and adults.[6]

She also focuses on silenced communities in Cyprus: she writes about migrants, both as a reporter and an author; creates audiovisual exhibitions[7] to raise awareness on minorities,[8] teaches creative and script writing skills through European-funded programmes[9][10] and internationally recognised humanitarian organisations such as UNHCR.[11]

Following her involvement in migration and volunteering[12] in Lesbos, Greece in 2020, she published her first creative non-fiction, Amir's Blue Elephant (Τι Θα’λεγε η Μεσόγειος)[13][14]. The book is a tribute to the difficulties faced by peoples on the move, and Hekkers used it to advocate for refugee and asylum-seeking communities, including through a TEDx talk at TEDx Nicosia[15][16]

Selected distinctions

  • Crocodile/ Κροκόδειλος,[17] illustrated by visual artist Anna Fotiadou, her first book was awarded the Cyprus State Illustration Award in 2007.[18]
  • Flying across Red Skies, an experimental approach to literature based on paintings by Cypriot artist Marlen Karletidou,[19] was nominated for the Cyprus State Literary award 2012.
  • Pupa/Πουπα,[20] illustrated by Louiza Kaimaki, was commented by the Cyprus Ministry of Culture and Education in the Literature Awards 2014[21] and adapted as a theatre play in 2019, directed by Christos Yiangou.[22]
  • My Cyprus Mandala,[23][24] a three part series of colouring books focusing on the natural and cultural heritage of Cyprus. The series explores the island's historical and cultural richness through the art of mandala creation, colouring and facts. The books have been used as an educational tool in both school and private workshops for children and are presented as calming and mindful activities suitable for all ages, raising awareness of Cypriot heritage.

Selected publications

  • 2007 Crocodile/ Κροκόδειλος, Pantheon Cultural Association (Cyprus) ISBN 9789963864430[25]
  • 2012 Flying across Red Skies/ Πετώντας σε Κόκκινους Ουρανούς, Pantheon Cultural Association (Cyprus). ISBN 9789963864492[26]
  • 2014 Pupa/Πουπα, Pantheon Cultural Association (Cyprus) Pantheon Cultural Association (Cyprus). ISBN 9789963978946[27]
  • My Nicosia Mandala, Bookworm Publication (Cyprus). ISBN 9789963268030[28]
  • My Akamas Mandala, Bookworm Publication (Cyprus). ISBN 9789963268061[29]
  • 2018 My Cape Greco Mandala, Bookworm Publication (Cyprus). ISBN 9789963268092[30]
  • 2020 Amir's Blue Elephant/ Τι Θα’λεγε η Μεσόγειος, Armida Books (Cyprus) ISBN 9789925573318[31]

References

  1. ^ "Melissa Hekkers". cyprus-mail.com. 2025-08-23. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  2. ^ "Hekkers, Melissa". www.goethe.de. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  3. ^ unic_editorial (2020-08-18). "One woman's journey into the lives of Europe's refugees | Cyprus Mail – University of Nicosia". www.unic.ac.cy. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  4. ^ "Cyprus Mail". cyprus-mail.com. 2025-08-28. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  5. ^ "Cyprus Weekly Newspaper – Surge of Online Casino ohne Anmeldung". www.cyprusweekly.com.cy. Archived from the original on November 28, 1999. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  6. ^ "Cyprus : Writing a story, out of nowhere – Melissa Hekkers". www.cyprusevents.net. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  7. ^ "AUDIO-VISUAL EXHIBITION | Island in the Sun | KISA". 2016-11-09. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  8. ^ "Island in the Sun". Manifest Media. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  9. ^ Παράθυρο (2018-09-13). "Where is Ηome?". www.parathyro.politis.com.cy (in Greek). Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  10. ^ madamelefo (2018-09-26). "Αναζητείται σπίτι... από νεαρούς μετανάστες • MadameLeFo". MadameLeFo. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  11. ^ "The refugee documentary "7 lives, 7 stories" available online after its successful launch". UNHCR Cyprus. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  12. ^ "Adventurous writer looks back on three weeks in a refugee camp – Cyprus Mail". Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  13. ^ kasiani (2020-08-25). "Amir's Blue Elephant by Armida Books". UNESCO Chair. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  14. ^ "Melissa Hekkers, τι θα 'λεγε η Μεσόγειος;". avant-garde.com.cy. 2021-07-14. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  15. ^ TEDx Talks (2016-10-05). I'm not a volunteer, I'm Human | Melissa Hekkers | TEDxNicosia. Retrieved 2025-08-28 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ "TEDxNicosia | TED". www.ted.com. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  17. ^ Hekkers, Melissa; Φωτιάδου, Άννα (2007). Κροκόδειλος. Αθήνα: Πολιτιστικός Σύνδεσμος "Πάνθεον". ISBN 978-9963-8644-3-0.
  18. ^ "Άννα Φωτιάδου". www.thoc.org.cy. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  19. ^ "Marlen Karletidou". www.gallerykypriakigonia.com.cy. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  20. ^ "Επανέρχεται με το τρίτο της βιβλίο και μια… κάμπια". Επανέρχεται με το τρίτο της βιβλίο και μια… κάμπια. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  21. ^ "Louiza Kaimaki". louizakaimaki.com. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  22. ^ "'Pupa' at Dionysos Theatre children's stage". in-cyprus.philenews.com. 2025-08-28. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  23. ^ patsalidoukaterina (2018-10-13). "My Cyprus Mandala – Book presentation | 23 Nov. 2018 | 6.30 pm | Cyprus High Commission". SEPT2018. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  24. ^ madamelefo (2018-03-25). "Melissa Hekkers, ο δημιουργικός νους των κυπριακών Mandalas". MadameLeFo. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  25. ^ Hekkers, Melissa; Φωτιάδου, Άννα (2007). Κροκόδειλος. Αθήνα: Πολιτιστικός Σύνδεσμος "Πάνθεον". ISBN 978-9963-8644-3-0.
  26. ^ Hekkers, Melissa; Καρλετίδου, Μάρλεν (2010). Πετώντας σε κόκκινους ουρανούς. Λευκωσία: Πολιτιστικός Σύνδεσμος Πάνθεον. ISBN 978-9963-8644-9-2.
  27. ^ Hekkers, Melissa; Καιμάκη, Λουίζα (2014). Πούπα. Λευκωσία: Πολιτιστικός Σύνδεσμος Πάνθεον. ISBN 978-9963-9789-4-6.
  28. ^ "Completing the circle – Cyprus Mail". Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  29. ^ "Colouring in Akamas – Cyprus Mail". Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  30. ^ lbadmin (2018-11-21). "'My Cape Greco Mandala' book launch: Rediscovering Cape Greco through colouring in". BirdLife Cyprus. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  31. ^ kasiani (2020-08-25). "Amir's Blue Elephant by Armida Books". UNESCO Chair. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
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