Cape Breton's 'Flat Najim' travels the world virtually

A Cape Breton boy who was born in Timbuktu, Mali, is travelling the world virtually in an effort adjust to his new surroundings in Nova Scotia.

The inspiration for seven-year-oldNajim Dodd andhis mother Mirandacame from a school project on thebook Flat Stanley, in which the main charactergets mailed to various locations around the world.

"When he had to do the Flat Stanley project here, we decided why should Stanley have all the fun?" Dodd said.

Dodd,Najimand her husband, a tribal chief from Timbuktu, returned to her home community ofWhycocomaghin 2012 after fighting broke out in the African country ofMali and a coupthere made it unsafe.

Dodd said it's been difficult for Najim to adjust to life in rural Cape Breton. So she modified theFlat Stanley story in an effort tohelp Najimsee family scattered around the globe.

She began mailing and emailing the image ofNajimto friends, family and strangers. Theytake pictures of the "FlatNajim," email them back toDoddand she posts them to aFacebookpage.

FlatNajimhas been photographed all over the world, including Algeria, Scotland, Ireland, India, Antarctica and the Arctic circle.He's even visited the throne from the television seriesGame of Thrones.

Dodd said the project is helping Najimfit in atschool and get more interested in his schoolwork.

"It's one of the times I see him really getting engaged and kind of excited about something that's school related," Dodd said.

"He's always looking at the map we have and wanting to put the places himself on to the map. He may not realize he's doing schoolwork but I think he's figuring out that learning is fun."

Children are flexible, but there are challenges adjusting to new places, Dodd said.Simple things, such as getting used to using silverware or sitting at a table and chair. Many schools in Mali, she says, are without basic equipment, with children sitting on the floor and writing on a wooden board or slate.

"Things are a lot less formal in many cases than schooling here," she said. "So having to sit still and listen and not be able to carry on conversations at the same time and expect people to follow you, is all challenging for him."