Jamie France-Meconi, a 10-year-old from Preston, has achieved a remarkable milestone: visiting 100 countries. His mother, Hayley, 47, believes these travels have provided an education that school alone could never offer, from planting trees in Borneo to living with the Maasai tribe in Tanzania.
A Life of Full-Time Travel
Jamie's journey began in May 2023 when Hayley packed up their home and took him on the road full-time. Since then, he has waded through Borneo's forests, swum with whale sharks in Madagascar, explored the Giza pyramids, and lived off-grid with the Maasai. Hayley told Metro: '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 was sparked in 2017 after the death of Jamie's dad. She said she 'didn't want to be that mum who went to work at 7am and came home at 7pm' after her 'little boy lost one parent.' She hopes these experiences teach Jamie to stay 'humble and compassionate.'
Memorable Adventures and a 100th Country
One standout memory is Tanzania, where the family initially planned a week-long trip in 2020 but ended up staying seven months due to the UK Covid lockdown. A Maasai man invited them to meet his family, and what was meant to be one afternoon turned into four months. They lived in a dung hut, 'shared a bed with lots of goats, lots of dogs,' which Hayley laughs is probably Jamie's first memory.
This month, Jamie celebrated his 100th country by traveling to Saudi Arabia to watch Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Pranga. His travels span every continent, including countries like Albania, Zimbabwe, and Vietnam.
Balancing School and Travel
While Jamie has missed school in the past, Hayley now avoids planning trips during term-time. Jamie has ADHD and autism, so 'routine and structure he gets from school is massively important.' She added: 'I don't believe the classroom is everything, but it provides friendships. He wants to be playing football with other 10-year-olds, and school is a great place for that.'
Jamie's attendance is currently 96%, and every 10 weeks he gets a four-and-a-half-day week to accommodate travel. Under UK law, parents can be fined £80 for unauthorized school absences, and legislation could require parenting classes.
Future Goals and Facing Criticism
Hayley dreams of visiting every country in the world, which would make her a United Nations Master, and she hopes to be the youngest mother-son duo to achieve joint UN Master status. Jamie aims to become the youngest person to travel to every country, a title currently held by 12-year-old Wyatt Maktrav Bedura from the Philippines.
Despite facing judgment, Hayley remains resolute: '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.' She concluded: '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.'
