Little Amal walks to the UK

A super-sized puppet representing a 9 year old Syrian child, named Little Amal, has arrived in the British coastal town, Folkestone. Little Amal has walked 8,000 kilometres since beginning her journey. She represents over 30 million child refugees who have no choice but to flee their homes unaccompanied.

Little Amal's journey, called 'The Walk', is an international arts festival. In each of the 8 countries she has travelled through, she has been met with music, song and different cultural events.

However, not all refugees are welcomed with such joy and excitement as they make their challenging journeys. British actor Jude Law was in Folkestone to support Little Amal and raise awareness of what child refugees face as they travel.

Jude Law: "It just seemed the most brilliant way to celebrate, try and raise awareness and share with the people who have taken a similar path to little Amal. So I'm just here to support all of that and I'm really proud to be one of the first to welcome her here in the UK, which is my home."

Little Amal stands at 3.5 metres, which is hardly little! She was created by Amir Nizar Zubai, artistic director of the Handspring Puppet Company. Kevin Fitzmarurice, executive producer of 'The Walk' is keen to underline the humanitarian purpose of her journey.

Kevin Fitzmaurice: "Amal, she is an art project at heart really, but I think the artists who have designed and built her and designed the whole project, I think it's really important for them that the humanitarian issues don't get forgotten in the political noise that's going on across the country and across the world at the moment."

Meaning 'hope' in Arabic, Little Amal's arrival in England coincided with her 10th birthday. Celebrations were held in London. A fund has also been established by the organisers of 'The Walk' with the aim of helping young refugees like Amal find a settled future.

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