Jamie France-Meconi, age 10, has just visited his 100th country, travelling to Saudi Arabia to watch Anthony Joshua v Kristian Pranga. His journey began in May 2023 when his mum Hayley, 47, packed up their home in Preston and took him on the road to travel full-time.
Since then, Jamie has waded through forests in Borneo, swam with whale sharks in Madagascar, visited the pyramids in Giza, and lived off-grid with the Maasai tribe — experiences Hayley believes will teach him something school never could.
Real-World Learning
Hayley says: 'Children [need] to get out of the classroom. When these kids were planting cress in plastic cups, Jamie was planting trees in Borneo. His friends were learning about Charles Darwin, and he was in the Galapagos Islands.'
Hayley's passion for travel began in 2017 after the death of Jamie's dad. After her 'little boy lost one parent', she 'didn't want to be that mum who went to work at 7am and came home at 7pm'. She hopes that travelling so far at such a young age will teach her son the importance of staying 'humble and compassionate.'
Memorable Adventures
One adventure that has stuck is Tanzania, where the family lived for a brief stint in 2020. Originally on a week-long trip, when the UK went into Covid lockdown, Hayley was in no rush to go back. They stayed for around seven months and were even invited by a Maasai man to meet his family. What was meant to be one afternoon with the tribe ended up lasting four months. The family stayed in a dung hut and 'shared a bed with lots of goats, lots of dogs…and that's probably [Jamie's] first memory,' Hayley laughs.
Balancing School and Travel
In the past, prioritising travel has meant Jamie has missed school, but now Hayley tries not to plan trips during term-time. Jamie has ADHD and autism, she explains, so the 'routine and structure he gets from school is massively important'. 'I don't believe the classroom is everything, but it provides friendships,' she says. 'He wants to be playing football with other 10-year-olds, and school is a great place for that.'
Jamie's attendance rate is currently 96%, and every 10 weeks, he's allowed a week that runs for four-and-a-half days, rather than five, which makes more time for jet-setting. Under UK law, parents can be issued with a fine of £80 if they miss school without a good enough reason.
Future Goals
Hayley wants to travel to every country in the world, an achievement that would make her a United Nations Master. She'd also like to become the youngest mother and son duo to achieve joint UN Master status. Jamie says he'd love to set the record for being the youngest person to travel to every country in the world, a title currently held by 12-year-old Filipino, Wyatt Maktrav Bedura.
Over the years, Hayley has faced judgment about how much Jamie travels. But she refuses to let it bother her. She says: 'My view is really simple – we only get one life, and it's ours to live. I refuse to live based on what other people think we should be doing. I know my son better than anyone. I know he's happy, safe, loved. If travelling isn't for you, that's completely okay. Every family is different. But this is our life, and it's the best decision for us.'
