Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet representing a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl, has come to visit New York City, making her way across the five boroughs through October 2nd. After travelling over five thousand miles around the world since July of 2021 to find her mother, Amal landed at JFK airport on September 14th to spread her message of “solidarity for displaced people” and search for her uncle.
The brainchild of a group of English theater and film directors and producers who sought to put a human face on the global refugee crisis, Little Amal was brought to life by The Handspring Puppet Company from South Africa. “Little Amal coming to New York is Little Amal coming to the biggest stage on earth,” said Yazmany Arboleda, the New York City Artist in Residence and creative producer of "Little Amal Walks New York." “She is transforming all of our streets, our plaza, our parks, into theater.”
As Little Amal brings the refugee crisis around the world to our awareness, The Walk highlights “the potential of the refugee, not just their dire circumstance.” Susan Feldman, the artistic director at St. Ann’s Warehouse, who brought Little Amal to our neighborhoods and consciousness, notes “I felt we needed her here in this country to remind us to be kind and welcoming people in need, especially children.”
On September 26th, Little Amal came to Bryant Park and was welcomed through performance by The Classical Theatre of Harlem. Drums and dancing ushered Little Amal into the crowd, as onlookers shouted words of encouragement and solidarity, such as “Find your home here,” and “Amal, you are safe now.” Little Amal interacted with her environment, dancing along to music and showing a face of confusion when ambulances and firetrucks loudly passed by. She even reached down to hold the hands of the youngest members of the audience. Amal’s presence and actions serve as a reminder of the palpability and urgency of the refugee crisis, and push all who see her to consider the humanitarian heart of an issue which is too often brushed off as a political one with which one cannot be concerned or involved.
Little Amal, whose name means “little hope” fills us with the optimism and knowledge that we can and will open our minds and hearts to welcome those faced with considerable hardships in their home countries. We are all invited to join Little Amal as she spreads her message of solidarity through the five boroughs.