That’s the question that a little girl called Amal is asking this month. You might soon be able to meet Amal in person. In July, she set off walking from Turkey and she’s heading for Manchester in England, 8,000 kilometres away. She’s in Italy right now and will soon travel through France, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium.
Oh, and yes, did I mention … ? Amal is 9 years old. And three and a half metres tall! You see, Amal, is a giant puppet. (That’s her in the picture.)
But she’s walking the route that a real little girl walked from Syria. There was a war in her country and she had to get away to safety. Amal is a refugee. And she’s walking through Europe to help people understand refugees.
Claire Béjanin, who’s one of the organisers of Amal’s walk, says people have often been afraid of refugees, even of children, because they don’t understand their stories and why they have had to flee their homes. So Amal has been visiting dozens of towns across Europe to introduce herself to people and to help them understand.
Amal also wants all children to have a think about what you would like to change in the world – for yourself and for kids like Amal.
Claire told WoW! : “I’d really love if WoW!‘s young readers took part by writing a letter in their own language. Amal will take all the letters to the European Parliament in Brussels on October 7.”
Do you have pen and paper? Then let’s get going! Your letter needs to arrive before October 1 at the theatre in Brussels where Amal’s friends are collecting them. You should address your letter to Amal at :
Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles
111-115, Boulevard Emile Jacqmain
1000 Bruxelles
Belgium
Or you can email your ideas to her at : hello@goodchance.org.uk
For more details: https://www.walkwithamal.org/education/youve-got-mail/
