It Began with A Children’s Magazine
Cocoa Girl is the United Kingdom’s first Black children’s magazine which was quickly followed by the release of Cocoa Boy. The popular magazine was launched in 2020 by Serlina Boyd, who was inspired by her daughter to create a publication that celebrated Black girls and culture. The magazines allow children seven to 11 years old to share their unique stories and become published writers.
The magazines are distributed in 500 schools across the UK.
Boyd said Cocoa Girl is expected to make its arrival in the United States by next year’s Black History Month.
“It’s really about allowing children to see themselves within a magazine, and they also write and create the content which is brilliant,” said Boyd.
According to a 2020 study by City University and the Sutton Trust, only 0.2% of journalists in the UK are Black. As someone who created a platform for young Black children’s stories, Boyd wanted to take it a step further.
In April of 2024, Boyd opened the doors to the UK’s first Black-owned journalism school for children, the Cocoa School of Journalism and Creative Arts, to improve statistics, and empower the next generation of Black writers.
The Cocoa Dream is an extension of Cocoa Publications, the official name that Cocoa Magazines are published through where followers can donate to support the Cocoa School of Journalism and Creative Arts.
Teaching the Next Generation of Journalists, Writers, and Creatives
Cocoa School of Journalism and Creative Arts originally began as an easter club, providing children the opportunity to create their own stories after school. After a partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing that allowed the club to hold a writing contest where the winner got to become a published writer, the thoughts of creating a school focused on storytelling began to grow.
Located in South London, the school operates during holidays and vacations for children, and adults, to learn the basics of journalism. The school hosts workshops that teach storytelling, news reporting, video editing, illustration, magazine creation, and graphic design. The content is then published in the Cocoa Girl and Cocoa Boy magazines.
“When you go to schools and you ask who wants to be a journalist, a lot of the kids aren’t putting their hands up, and if you say who wants to become an author, again, they’re not putting their hands up,” said Boyd. “So this was an opportunity for them to explore an area that now they love.”
Recently, the school added a new workshop that covers fashion design and journalism to allow children to explore various creative outlets while fostering journalism skills that can be used throughout life.
A year ago, two girls enrolled in Boyd’s journalism school interviewed singer and actress Halle Bailey about her role as the Little Mermaid. Boyd is ensuring her students continue to have opportunities like this one.
“It was important to do a school that not only focused on journalism but creative arts,” said Boyd. “Yes it’s good to do more serious subjects, but every person needs to have some sort of creative things they’re doing as well.”
The workshops are open to children five to 17 years old. Separate sessions are held for adults.
Community Efforts Fund the Future
The journalism school is a personal investment for Boyd with a majority of the funding coming from community donations and fundraising efforts. Sessions cost £25 ($32.19) but through the school’s “Sponsor a Student” program, low-income families can enroll their children for free.
Boyd has a background in publishing and is the author of the children’s book “Cocoa Girl Awesome Hair”, a book guiding young Black girls on how to care for and style their natural hair.
“This is a love project. It’s all about the community and children,” said Boyd. “I didn’t want to wait until I got lots of funding and then start it. I needed to start it now.”
Community donations also support equipment and staffing.
The school serves around 25 to 30 students in its workshops.
Students looking to sign up for classes should email admin@thecocoadream.com.
Maria Peralta-Arellano is a Milwaukee-native journalist who focuses on sharing news from her local communities. She dedicates her work to accessibility and producing bilingual coverage focused on arts, culture, and politics. She looks to explore her community through a journalistic and creative lens.
