The Lab x Little Amal

The Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics at Georgetown University welcomes Little Amal to the Nation’s Capitol

Amal walks through a sea of emergency blankets. A river of shoes appears, carrying the stories of millions of children on the move, who seek safety within and across borders. Amal brings them to the feet of U.S. Representatives.

This special celebratory event begins with music at Freedom Plaza with a collective and performative procession alongside Amal, leading to her ultimate destination: the Capitol, where a group of bi-partisan legislators are invited to greet her.

Everyone is welcome to walk with Amal.

Date

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2023

TIME: 4:00 PM

Location

Starting Location: Freedom Plaza, Washington D.C. 20004
End Location: U.S. Capitol Grounds, 3rd St, SW, Washington D.C.

The walk will be followed by Children on the Move: A Policy & Learning Workshop on campus on September 22, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm in Copley Lounge, Georgetown University organized by The Collaborative on Global Childrens Issues.

This workshop provides an opportunity to consider what child-sensitive policies and responses would look like within U.S. foreign and domestic policy contexts. CoSponsored by The Georgetown University Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues, InterAction’s Forced Displacement Working Group, International Rescue Committee, KIND, Save the Children, UNICEF-USA

Little Amal is the 12 foot puppet of a 10 year old Syrian refugee child at the heart of The Walk. She has become a global symbol of human rights, especially those of refugees.

September 7th to November 5th, she will journey 6,000 miles across the United States in one of the largest free public festivals ever created.

Amal walks for the hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced people of all ages roaming the world in search of safety, half of whom are children. When she walks, Amal brings people together. She gives voice to marginalized people (although she does not speak), and she is welcomed by ordinary people and people of power.

"Don't forget us .”

We’re looking for groups and individuals to participate in key actions. Opportunities to engage include everything from spreading the wor

We’re looking for groups and individuals to participate in key actions. Opportunities to engage include everything from spreading the word, to collecting shoes, to singing along! To get involved, signup here and we’ll send you all the information you need to participate in the ways that work for you!

Little Amal is known for bringing communities together as she travels alone through unfamiliar territories. Her visit in Washington will include multiple welcome events with a variety of local partners, with a central visit to the Capitol on September 19, organized and produced by The Lab. Artists and supporters in D.C. will welcome her with music and ritual, sending her with their messages of hope to carry to the Capitol, where a bipartisan group of legislators will be invited to greet Amal. Everyone is invited to attend and to participate in her walk to The Capitol.

This collaboration is a major achievement in our continuous endeavors to bring attention and encourage open discussions regarding the challenges and experiences faced by displaced children and refugees worldwide. As a part of our 2022 event, The Gathering, we organized a workshop titled “The Walk: Artists Engaging Migration and the Refugee Experience.” During this workshop, we facilitated conversations among various projects and artists who are actively involved in addressing migration issues and exploring ways to transcend boundaries and borders. They shared excerpts of their work, discussed their approaches and techniques, and envisioned a better future. Little Amal played a significant role in these discussions.

“Like millions around the world, I have been so deeply moved to meet Amal, to witness firsthand her power to bring people together across generations and cultures to engage with compassion. We at Georgetown and The Lab are deeply honored to be among those who welcome Amal, as she so indelibly symbolizes hope for displaced people around the world, and for the countless children who have been forcibly separated from their families. - Lab Artistic and Executive Director Derek Goldman

For More Information and to amplify Amal’s walk Visit WalkwithAmal.org

Connect With Amal:
#LittleShoesBigJourney #ChildrenOnTheMove #AmalWalksUS #LittleAmal #WalkWithAmal

Amal Walks Across America is produced by The Walk Productions in association with the Handspring Puppet Company. U.S. Producing Partner THE OFFICE performing arts+film. Impact + Outreach The Soze Agency. Marketing Cause Lab. PR + Communications DKC.