Little Amal comes to Camden – a festival of hope and art - Camden Rise

Children, young people and residents joined Little Amal in Camden for a festival of welcome, celebration and friendship over the weekend. Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee child carries a message of hope for displaced people everywhere, especially children who have been separated from their families. 

There was a range of exciting activities for children, families and local residents to get involved in. This was a wonderful way to celebrate Camden becoming a 'Borough of Sanctuary', which recognises Camden as a place where everyone is welcome. Events on the day included:

• At JW3 on Finchley Road and Lymington Road Estate, a range of Jewish communities introduced Amal to the story of Passover and the flight from Egypt
• At Rowley Way, in the Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate (pic above), Amal was serenaded by folk musicians, steel pan bands and gospel choirs, reflecting some of the many Christian communities who have made London their home
• In King’s Cross, she led a parade of Ramadan-inspired lanterns through Somers Town Estate into Granary Square where she was welcomed to an Open Iftar, with Ramadan Tent Project and Dishoom, and with music from the Muslim arts collective WAW Creative Arts.