Little Amal, the internationally acclaimed 12 foot puppet of a ten-year old refugee girl, will visit Yorkshire this September as part of the Yorkshire Integration Festival celebrations.
Little Amal’s Yorkshire journey will take place over the weekend of 21 and 22 September. It will begin a series of events raising awareness of the experiences of refugees and celebrate the resilience of refugee communities.
In Calderdale on Saturday 21, she will lead a procession from Halifax Town Hall to the Yorkshire Integration festival at The Piece Hall. There she will be greeted by refugees, schoolchildren and dignitaries from across the region. The procession and festival will feature contributions by many artists and performers including Bhangra dance and drum sensation Punjabi Roots Academy.
On Sunday 22 her journey will take her to Pearson Park in Hull where she will help celebrate the diversity of the city’s communities. Among those participating in the event will be Hull’s renowned Freedom Chorus, children from local schools and youth organisations, volunteers from the city’s many voluntary organisations. There will be stalls, games, food, music and dancing evoking the culture and heritage of many of Hull’s refugees.
Dave Brown, Head of Migration Yorkshire who are hosting the Yorkshire Integration Festival said: “It is our privilege to welcome Little Amal to Yorkshire. Her visit is a powerful and poignant reminder of the struggles faced by refugees around the world, and why it is important that we do all we can to support them in our communities.”
Cllr Danielle Durrans, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, said:
“Calderdale is proud to be a place of kindness and a Valley of Sanctuary that welcomes refugees. We are excited that Little Amal is part of our varied Year of Culture 2024 programme, CultureDale, sending a clear message of inclusion. One of our aims for CultureDale is to celebrate diversity and inspire everyone to enjoy and take part in Calderdale’s distinctive culture and communities.”
Hull’s Lord Mayor, Cllr Mark Collinson said:
“As a City of Sanctuary with a long and proud history of supporting people who have had to flee from their homes through war, persecution, or natural disasters, we are honoured to welcome Little Amal to Hull. She is a symbol of hope, understanding and solidarity. Hopefully, she will help to raise awareness of the obstacles faced by refugees to live in safety and make a positive contribution to their new communities. I hope to be able to meet her myself.”
Amir Nizar Zuabi stated:
“Amal represents millions of children and turns a mere walk into an action filled with deep significance. When a community unites to walk with Amal through the streets, it embodies an act of togetherness and a collective human spirit.”
David Lan, the producer of The Walk Productions, said:
“We’re very happy that Amal will be making her way to the great cities of Halifax and Hull. As she travels, crosses borders, forms new friendships and unites people, she contributes, even if just a little, to global well-being.”
These events are part of ‘The Walk’, an artistic production which, since 2021, has travelled to 166 towns and cities in 17 countries. Amal has been welcomed by two million people on the street and by tens of millions online. She has become a global symbol of human rights, especially those of refugees.