An eight-year-old boy has sipped hot chocolate in front of Paris’s Eiffel Tower, camped in the snow in Antartica and helped build a school in Tanzania – all before his eighth birthday
A fearless eight year old has sailed into the record books, becoming the youngest person from the UK to set foot on all seven continents.
Jamie Meconi reached this remarkable milestone following an expedition which saw him step onto the ice of Antarctica on November 13. The globetrotting kid, who has already journeyed through 85 countries, started his world travels with his mum, Hayley Meconi, aged 45, when he was just a tot. His incredible escapades include planting trees in Borneo’s rainforests, building a school in Tanzania, and enjoying hot cocoa with views of Paris’s Eiffel Tower.
Even as he traverses the globe, Jamie keeps on top of his education, including shipboard chats with scientists in the South Atlantic Ocean. Speaking of his outstanding achievement, Jamie, hailing from Preston, Lancs, said: “Visiting all continents has been amazing. Antarctica was so much fun camping in the snow and seeing so many penguins.
“It was cold there so I think I want to go somewhere hot next, maybe Africa. But we are having a Christmas at home first. I loved going on safari in the Serengeti and seeing the big five.”
He also enthused about immersing himself in the life of a Masai warrior, describing it as an “amazing time.” Hayley spoke about their inspiration for such an adventurous lifestyle, tracing it back to the tragic loss of Jamie’s dad, Danny, when the intrepid traveller was only six months old.
Hayley opened up about their heart-wrenching start and how it inspired their adventurous life, saying: “Our journey with travel began eight years ago with the most tragic of starts when Jamie’s dad sadly gained his angel wings at just 36 years young and Jamie was only six months old.
“I have watched my little human grow into the most wonderful and kind little boy and I am so incredibly proud to be his mum. Jamie’s adventures have seen him plant trees in the Borneo rainforest and to help build a school in Tanzania. We have built a whole lifetime of memories together and now we share more precious moments with my new husband too. Life is not always perfect, but we are and always will be our perfect.”
Launching a successful holiday agency, Making Travel Pay, with her friend Hayley Light turned their lives around. Previously trapped in a tiresome nine-to-five job, she feared not having enough time for Jamie as a single mother until fortune smiled upon them.
Hayley reminisced about her earlier struggles and the drive to be there for Jamie: “I was working full time and had a long commute to work in rush hour traffic. Jamie had already lost one parent so I wanted to ensure I would be present to hear his first words and to see him take his first tiny steps.
“I discovered a way where I could turn my passion for travel into a pay cheque. I have been able to generate a multiple six-figure annual income which fully supports our family’s love for travel and for our globetrotting around the world.”
The adventurous family, including Hayley and Jamie, made it to Antarctica on the HX Hurtigruten Expeditions ship. Even though they were far from Britain, Hayley shared that Jamie kept up with his education, explaining: “Aboard the HX Hurtigruten Expeditions ship heading for Antarctica…they have the most specialist research laboratories and top scientists.
“So Jamie is having his science lessons on the open sea and will shortly get to witness the dramatic effects of climate change on Antarctica for himself.
“We had always tried to fit our travels as much as possible around the British education system and school year. But it proved impossible to do, hence why we have decided to ‘world school’ Jamie.
“He now has the best of both worlds with a personal tutor to help him with his maths and English then learning from those we meet on our adventures.”
