CHILD MIGRANTS MEMORIAL

The concept for the child migrants memorial was to provide a vessel to hold feelings, memories and hope for the child migrants who suffered in a country far from their home. The 7m long ‘paper boat’ is magically balancing on the water surface pointing out towards the Valletta Grand Harbour breakwater opening. One may read the boat as leaving for Australia; or returning to Malta. The concept of a solitary paper boat may evoke memories of the possibly lost childhood and of the premature voyage from Malta to Australia. At early stages in the design process, inspiration was drawn from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale Thumbelina and the water lily voyage. The white paper boat is also symbolisng a vessel of hope and opportunity to start afresh and connect with the inner child, regardless of age.