If you were walking around New York City between September 14th to October 2nd, you might have bumped into the 12-foot-tall puppet, Little Amal.
In Arabic, the word amal means hope. Symbolically, Little Amal embodies her name as she spreads awareness and a message of hope to globally displaced people and children. She was created to raise awareness about refugee children and children separated from their families, especially those who flee their country in order to escape war, violence, or human rights violations. According to CNN, organizers of Little Amal’s project, “The Walk”, claim that Little Amal specifically represents a 10-year-old Syrian refugee searching for her uncle.
Furthermore, artistic director Amir Nizar Zuabi writes:
“It is because the attention of the world is elsewhere right now that it is more important than ever to reignite the conversation about the refugee crisis and to change the narrative around it. Yes, refugees need food and blankets, but they also need dignity and a voice. The purpose of The Walk is to highlight the potential of the refugee, not just their dire circumstances.”
Since July 2021, Little Amal has journeyed across 13 countries, becoming an international symbol of compassion and human rights – her message being “Don’t forget about us”. Welcomed by over 85 cities and featured at 240 events, she has reached over 1 million people.
Most recently, Little Amal walked the streets of New York City reaching sites like Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge and Grand Central Station. She also happened to arrive at the same time thousands of migrants were arriving in the city by bus from Texas—many of who had trekked across numerous countries from Venezuela in seeking asylum. Director Zuabi also told CNN that he hoped NYC crowds would keep reality in mind as they welcomed Little Amal, and extend their welcome to families and children who are entering the city daily.
The Walk has initiated change as it celebrates and brings attention to migration and cultural diversity, and also in perceiving the refugee story through a different light—as one of potential, success, respect, empathy and kindness. In sharing the stories of real people—all with different pasts—organizers of Little Amal’s walk help rewrite the refugee narrative and bring attention to the reality that so many migrants and refugees are children.
The Walk’s Amal fund, funded by Choose Love, was built off of the reality that half of all refugees are children, and that half of all school-age refugee children have lost their opportunity of to formal education. Thus, the Amal Fund supports grassroots groups that provide academic training and education, as well as other support including food, shelter, and medical services— furthermore aiding young refugees in reaching their potential wherever they build their new home.
To donate to the Amal fund:
https://donate.chooselove.org/campaigns/walks-amal-fund/
To learn more about the migrant crisis in NYC and how to aid:
https://www.6sqft.com/heres-how-to-help-asylum-seekers-in-nyc/
References
Shoichet, C. E. (2022, September 28). Why a giant puppet is walking the streets of New York. CNN. Retrieved October 22, 2022, from https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/28/us/new-york-little-amal-puppet-refugee-cec
Zuabi, A. N. (2022). Little Amal – The Walk (little Amal). The Walk. Retrieved October 22, 2022, from https://www.walkwithamal.org/about-us/little-amal/