Little Amal, the 3.5m puppet of a refugee Syrian child who is recognised globally as a symbol of human rights, will return to London for a festival of welcome, celebration and friendship on 29 March and 2 April 2023 – and her trip will culminate in a ticketed but free Open Iftar in Granary Square, King’s Cross.
As Easter, Passover and Ramadan coincide, Amal will lead an interfaith celebration on 2 April as the London Borough of Camden becomes a ‘Borough of Sanctuary’. She will visit JW3, Lymington Road Estate, Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate, Somers Town Estate and the British Library, in partnership with the London Borough of Camden, JW3 and the Ramadan Tent Project.
In the City of London, major businesses will join Amal on 29 March for a day to raise urgently needed funds for displaced children across the world. As she finds her way through the bustling, ancient streets, Amal will discover the Tower of London, Paternoster Square, Leadenhall Market and Bloomberg Arcade, in partnership with Choose Love, Schroders, City of London Corporation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Paternoster Square, Leadenhall Market and Historic Royal Palaces.
Since her now celebrated 8,000km journey from the border of Syria and Turkey began, Little Amal has become an international symbol of human rights. She has come to represent the millions of refugee children including those who have been separated from their families. Her urgent message to the world is “don’t forget about us.”
Amal’s events include:
• In King’s Cross, she will lead a parade of Ramadan-inspired lanterns through Somers Town Estate into Granary Square where she will be welcomed to an Open Iftar, with Ramadan Tent Project and Dishoom and with music from the Muslim arts collective, WAW Creative Arts. Booking is required online for the free Open Iftar and tickets will be available to book from 24 March.
• At JW3 and Lymington Road Estate, a range of Jewish communities will introduce Amal to the story of Passover and the flight from Egypt. Directed by Amy Hodge.
• At Rowley Way in the Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate, Amal is serenaded by folk musicians, steel pan bands and gospel choirs, reflecting some of the many Christian communities that have made London their home. Directed by Matthew Xia.
• At the Tower of London, Amal will receive a special welcome from the Yeoman of the Tower.
• At Paternoster Square and St Paul’s, Amal will be welcomed with spoken word and music by young refugees who have settled in London over recent years.
• In Leadenhall Market and Bloomberg Arcade, Amal joins business people from across the City to raise funds for displaced children across the world.
Amal previously visited London in 2021 on her journey from Syria to Manchester (Best Public Art, Time Out London) and again in 2022. Her current visit follows her 2022 visits to Ukraine and to New York City (Best Art Event, Time Out NYC, ‘a city-wide party in honour of a refugee’ New York Times).
Her international visits in 2023 will be announced shortly.
Information on all the other events as well as updates will be sent directly to media and will be available to the public at walkwithamal.org and on Amal’s social platforms.