Little Amal is the 12 foot puppet of a 10 year old Syrian refugee child. She has become a global symbol of human rights, especially those of refugees, and she will be in Toronto this coming Wednesday, June 7th, inviting everyone to walk with her in solidarity with displaced children everywhere.

Walking with Amal is a community-driven initiative that carries a message of hope for displaced people everywhere, especially children who have been separated from their families.

Since July 2021, Amal has travelled over 9,000 Km in 13 countries, including Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom. Most recently, she has been in Lviv, Amsterdam, New York City, London, and Brighton. She has traveled all these countries looking for her mother.

She has been welcomed by more than a million people on the street, including hundreds of artists and civil society and faith leaders, as well as by tens of millions online.

Her journeys are festivals of art and hope that draw attention to the huge numbers of children fleeing war, violence and persecution, each with their own story. Her urgent message to the world is “Don’t forget about us.”

The puppet of Little Amal was designed and built by Handspring Puppet Company, who created the puppets for the international hit play War Horse, establishing them as one of the most important puppet companies in the world.

The event will feature various activities, including guided walks, informative sessions, and interactive displays, all designed to engage and educate participants about the cause at hand.

By participating, we not only support a noble cause but also contribute to fostering unity and compassion within our community.

The Toronto Walk

• Date: June 7, 2023
• Start Time: 5:00pm
• Location: Union Station Plaza, Toronto

Little Amal will be greeted with welcome gestures when she arrives at Union Station, then led through the Financial District to Nathan Philips Square by drummers and butterflies.

Indigenous leaders will honour Amal with a poem and a round dance, honorary grandmothers will offer words of advice, and the community will rejoice with music in the excitement of Amal’s arrival in Toronto.

All of Amal’s events are suitable for children and families.

Butterflies from the FCJ Youth Network

To add a touch of creativity and show our support visually, the FCJ Youth Network has worked on crafting butterflies that will be flying with Amal during the walk, symbolizing our support and solidarity.