Niky Francisco, the nine-year-old Italian child who has to live on or close to the sea for health reasons, is in Malta on the purpose-built yacht Walkirye. The vessel was built by his parents with the assistance of relatives and friends.

Niky, who is here with his family for a month, is a UNICEF Ambassador and is visiting at the invitation of Foreign Minister Michael Frendo, who met him in January at Mazzara del Vallo. During his stay he will be meeting Maltese children.

With the cooperation of the Italian authorities, Niky is continuing his studies with his school friends in Mondello, Sicily, by means of a daily teleconference with his friends, in which he participates in their studies.

This is what led UNICEF to promote the right of education for all Mediterranean children, nominating Niky Junior Ambassador in Italy and launching the project Niky and the Wandering School.

After Malta, and a stop also at Gozo, the Walkirye, which has already been to Tunisia, will also visit Libya, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia.