Erdington to welcome Little Amal - the giant puppet of a Syrian refugee travelling across Europe

A giant puppet of a Syrian refugee girl will be in Birmingham as she nears the end of an epic journey across Europe.

Little Amal, the 3.5m high puppet representing a nine-year-old from the Middle Eastern country which has been torn apart by brutal conflict, arrives in Erdington at 3pm this afternoon (Thursday October 28).

Ahead of her visit there will be street games, art and live music on the pedestrian area of the High Street and around bus stops.

Little Amal is expected to join in with the street games and will be presented with a friendship bracelet.

She will be leaving at 4pm to make her way towards her final destination - Manchester on November 3.

Yesterday she visited Coventry and was welcomed to view the City of Culture’s activities.

Who is Little Amal and why is she coming to Erdington?

Little Amal is a huge puppet representing a nine-year-old refugee girl from Syria, where a civil war has been raging for years.

She has been doing The Walk since late July, when she set off from Gaziantep in Turkey.

The huge public art project has been put together by Good Chance, led by its artistic director Amir Nizar Zuabi, in collaboration with Handspring Puppet Company which is famed for creating and bringing to life the four-legged members of War Horse’s cast.

Little Amal has travelled from the Syrian border across Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium in search of her mother.

In 65 villages, towns and cities along the way she has been welcomed by artists including dancers, singers, film makers and painters as well as civil society and faith leaders.

Her journey represents those taken by the millions of people who have been violently displaced by war or persecution, especially children, and urges the public not to forget about refugees and asylum seekers at a time of multiple conflicts around the globe.

Who has helped organise the Birmingham event?

Active Arts Castle Vale is helping to organise the festivities in Erdington along with the Cultural Development Service at Birmingham City Council and the Birmingham 2022 Cultural Festival (Commonwealth Games).

The event is supported by local MP Jack Dromey, local Councillors Robert Alden and Gareth Moore, local BID Manager Terry Guest who will all be present. Partners consist of a large number of organisations in the locality, all of whom who work together through the Erdington Emergency Task Force and the Erdington Neighbourhood Network Scheme. Delivery partners are Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham, Centrala, Open Theatre Company, Mama Dojo, Surge Forward Music & Arts, Vortex Creates, Autin Dance Company and Urban Audio Productions.

Other guests include the Lord Mayor, BCC’s Chief Executive Debra Cadman, guests from Birmingham 2022 Festival and the Commonwealth Games team. The Leader of the Council, the Cabinet and Councillor’s with links to the area or the themes of the event. Midlands Mayor Andy Street has been invited and also expected to attend. Leaders from organisations who work with and support those seeking sanctuary including Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Migrants. Other local leaders and community representatives.

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