Derry has welcomed a giant puppet of a child refugee to the city during the latest leg of her tour of Northern Ireland.
Hundreds of people greeted Little Amal, a 10-year-old Syrian refugee whose name means ‘hope’ in Arabic, to the city on Monday afternoon.
Created by the Handspring Puppet Company, she stands at 12ft (3.7m) tall.
The project is designed to celebrate human migration and cultural diversity.
It also aims to raise awareness about the difficulties faced by child refugees.
The project has been taken across the world since 2021.
The puppet’s journey symbolises the stories of millions of young refugees who are forced to leave their homes and often travel alone without their parents.
UAR spokesperson Davy McAuley described the reception those involved in the Little Amal Walk Project received in Derry as truly heartening:
“Our city stands with open arms and hearts full of warmth, embracing diversity and the rich tapestry of cultures that refugees bring.
“We stand united against racism, celebrating the courage and resilience of those who journey far from home in search of safety and a better life.
“The visit of this striking art project is a powerful reminder of our shared humanity and the strength found in community.
“We must continue to say it loud and say it clearly, refugees are welcome here.”
Artistic director, and Amal’s creator, Adrian Kohler said she represents the world’s many “isolated children, parentless children”.
“She does not speak, she does not understand English,” he explained.
“The audience projects onto her their knowledge of a child that may be abandoned or in need of assistance. That’s how we hope she works.”
Amal is the centrepiece of a performance art project, The Walk.
Organisers of the project say it aims to highlight the stories of the millions of displaced refugee children she represents.
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