Mali's journey

Mali Charles, 8

Ysgol Cynwyd Sant, Maesteg

Mali looked at the old photographs of her family’s journey across continents, her heart swelling with pride. It had been a long time since that adventure, but Mali could still remember it vividly. She was eight years old then, with bright ginger hair that bounced with every step she took. Mali’s little brother, Osian, was only one year old at the time!

Mali’s Dads, Dadi (Dylan) and Dada (Andrew), had decided to embark on an incredible adventure to mark the 75th anniversary of the Empire Windrush. Mali didn’t really understand what that meant at the time, but her Dads had explained to her that it was an important ship that had brought many people from the Caribbean to the UK after World War II.

Their journey began in Wales, where they lived. Mali, Osian, and their Dads packed their bags and headed to the train station. They boarded a train that took them to London, where they saw the famous sights like Big Ben and the London Eye. Mali had always wanted to see these places.

Their next stop was the Royal Mint. Mali’s Dads had heard a rumour that there was a magical coin hidden somewhere in the building. It was said that whoever found the coin would be granted a wish. Mali was very excited about this and hoped they would find the coin. They searched the building from top to bottom, but unfortunately, they didn’t find the coin.

Mali and her family continued their journey, travelling through Europe and then on to Africa. They saw so many amazing sights and met so many interesting people. Mali especially loved the markets they visited, where they could buy all kinds of exotic fruits and vegetables.

Finally, after months of travelling, they arrived in the Caribbean. Mali was amazed by the crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches. They attended a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Empire Windrush, and Mali’s Dads gave a speech about the importance of remembering the people who had travelled on that ship.

As they were leaving the ceremony, Mali felt something hard under her foot. She looked down and saw a shiny silver coin. It was the magical coin they had been searching for all along! Mali picked it up and showed it to her Dads. They were all thrilled and couldn’t believe they had finally found it.

Mali closed the photo album and smiled. She was so grateful to her Dads for taking her and Osian on such an incredible journey. Mali knew that they had crossed continents to remember an important moment in history, but they had also created memories that would last a lifetime.

As she looked at the photos, Mali knew that she wanted to travel the world someday, just like her Dads had done. She knew that there were so many more adventures to be had, and she couldn’t wait to start her own journey using the magical that she had found!