War Child Canada spotlights 36.5 million refugee children with Walk with Amal at the Luminato Festival Toronto

On Sunday, June 11, War Child Canada will  participate in the Canadian premiere of Walk with Amal, produced by The Walk Productions and Luminato Festival Toronto, in association with Handspring Puppet Company, to raise awareness of the 36.5 million refugee children worldwide.

Little Amal is a 12-foot-tall puppet that has become a global symbol of human rights. She has travelled across 13 countries in unique events that tell the story of her search for her family which mirrors the experiences of refugee children escaping from the severe impacts of war.

Amal will continue her journey in Canada on June 11, when she arrives at Yonge and Dundas Square at 3 p.m. EST. Her search will take her away from the bustle of Yonge and Dundas to College Park, where she will meet War Child’s 10-foot-tall African Crested Crane puppet.

The Crane is featured on Uganda’s flag and carries special meaning as an African symbol of hope and resilience. The puppet’s feathers will be adorned with personalized messages sent by refugee children from War Child’s programs in Uganda to highlight the organization’s work to support children and their families affected by war and conflict. The interaction between Amal and the Crane will embody the shared experience of 36.5 million refugee children across the world and highlight War Child’s tireless efforts to provide these children with a better future.

“We are honoured to have the opportunity to bring more awareness to the plight of  children in conflict zones with Walk with Amal,” says Dara McLeod, Executive Director, War Child Canada. “Amal represents refugee children everywhere who are in search of protection from the persecution of war and for whom our organization has advocated for more than two decades. Featuring Amal in this unique experience at the Luminato Festival Toronto aligns with our mission to work directly on a community level to bring attention to this important issue.”

This artistic public engagement aligns with the launch of War Child Canada and Oxfam Canada’s new project, Geared for Success, which is funded by the Government of Canada. The project intends to raise critical awareness and understanding amongst Canadians of the important role that organizations such as War Child and Oxfam have in international assistance.

Little Amal’s stop in Toronto is part of a five-day walk across the GTA to raise awareness around the global refugee crisis.

About War Child Canada

War Child Canada is an internationally acclaimed humanitarian organization that works in war-torn regions to accelerate peace and disrupt the cycle of violence by investing in and empowering local communities to build brighter futures. War Child is globally recognized for its grassroots, community-driven model of humanitarian action supporting children and families in areas of conflict that’s rooted in collaboration and entirely locally led.