STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Little Amal, for one, did not neglect “the forgotten borough.”
It was a sight to behold as hundreds gathered at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center early Friday evening to catch a glimpse of the 12-foot-tall puppet as she walked the pathways while being greeted with music, paper butterflies and smiling faces along the way.
“Snug Harbor is such a gathering place for all of the arts and culture in the community so I think it’s a perfect space for Amal to come and visit,” said Jessica Vodoor, President and CEO of Snug Harbor.
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee greets a girl in a wheelchair at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee visits the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Members of the Tottenville Marching Band lead Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee which visited the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee visits the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee visits the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Attendees prepare paper butterflies for Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee visits the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Members of the Tottenville Marching Band practice ahead of the arrival of Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee which visited the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
A child checks out a paper butterfly in anticipation of Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee as it 'walked' the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee visits the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Members of Girl Scouts Troop 5101 from Castelton Corners pose for a picture before the arrival of Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee which visited the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee visits the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee visits the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Members of the Tottenville Marching Band lead Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee which visited the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee visits the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee visits the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee visits the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee visits the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Jessica Baker Vodoor, President and CEO of Snug Harbor speaks to the crowd ahead of the visit from Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee that visited the Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee makes her first appearance at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee visits the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee visits the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
A closeup of Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee visits the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee visits the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Members of the Tottenville Marching Band lead Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee which visited the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee is controlled by four total puppeteers. Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee makes its way through the crowd at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 as part of a 17-day tour of New York. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)
Amal, which portrays a 10-year-old Syrian refugee child, has visited 85 cities since 2021 with the aim of raising awareness of the plight of child refugees.
Four puppeteers control Little Amal, according to Walk with Amal spokespeople: “One on each arm, one supporting her back and one inside, walking on stilts. This fourth puppeteer also controls ‘the harp’, a complex tapestry of strings that animate Little Amal’s face, head and eyes.”
The combination gave a lifelike, yet still gentle appearance which delighted the children and adults alike.
Staten Island was the latest stop in its 17-day tour of New York.
Amal had originally been slated to ride to the Island on the Staten Island Ferry but plans were scrapped due to logistical reasons.
Those who missed out on the Staten Island visit, can still catch her in Manhattan and Brooklyn this weekend. Details could be found on walkwithamal.org.
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