Warm welcome from residents as Little Amal refugee puppet reaches Deptford High Street
Little Amal, a puppet of a young Syrian refugee child, has received a ‘warm welcome’ from residents as it reaches Deptford High Street.
The three and a half metre-tall puppet has journeyed across Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and the UK to focus attention on the urgent needs of young refugees.
The artwork, created by Handspring Puppet Company, shines a light on the stories of the millions of young refugees who are displaced and the many who are forced to risk arduous journeys for the chance at a better life.
The name Amal means ‘hope’ in Arabic.
She has arrived! Little Amal is making her way down Deptford High Street, amazed by the warm welcome from local residents #LittleAmal #LewishamWelcomes #TheWalk pic.twitter.com/2o4N4LBesG
— Lewisham Council (@LewishamCouncil) October 22, 2021
Adrian Kohler, one of the founders of Handspring, said: “The story of refugees is so important for the whole world.
“Many countries are on the move because of conflict, climate change, farmers that can’t work anymore through lack of rain.
“It’s the big story of our time. Because it’s an outdoor event, The Walk has the potential of bringing people together again.
“At a moment when theatres are struggling to re-open this is something everyone can be a part of.”
Amal is loving South London Samba 🎶 #LittleAmal #LewishamWelcomes pic.twitter.com/tivDvrk8mc
— Lewisham Council (@LewishamCouncil) October 22, 2021