Don’t let the name fool you — there’s nothing small about Little Amal.
Meaning “hope” in Arabic, Little Amal is a 12-ft tall puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee and was created by Handspring Puppet Company to raise awareness about the experiences of displaced people.
Since July 2021, Little Amal has traversed 6,000+ miles across 97 cities in 15 countries and hosted ~300 free events on her “The Walk” tour. The 38-city North American leg of her tour — starting in Boston and ending in Tapachula, Mexico — will add an additional 11,000 miles to her trek once complete.
Get ready Austinites, she’s making a stop in the Capital City on Friday, Oct. 20 with two free events. Here’s where to catch her:
Get ready, get steady, DANCE! | 5 p.m. | Huston-Tillotson University, 900 Chicon St., Austin
Amal is running late for a dance class in Austin. After a quick health check-up with the Interfaith Action of Central Texas, she will join a beautiful welcoming dance with Ballet Austin.
An honor of bravery from Bat City | 6:30 p.m. | Texas State Capitol South Lawn, 1100 Congress Ave., Austin
In partnership with Glass Half Full Theatre, Cave Lady Studios, Creative Action, and American Artists Project, Amal will discover the cloud of bats that live and migrate through Austin’s community.
Want to walk a little further with Little Amal? You can follow her south to San Antonio, where she will host four more events on Saturday, Oct. 21 and Sunday, Oct. 22.