The Little Amal Team with RSGS Trustee David Henry

RSGS presented it's Livingstone Medal to Little Amal and the team behind her this week, recognising their work in raising awareness of refugees and human rights.

Many will recognise the striking image of Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a ten-year-old Syrian refugee child, walking down streets packed with people, her height making her a beacon through the crowd.

Little Amal in London (c) David Levene

Little Amal is the creation of The Walk Productions, designed with the aim to communicate a message of resilience and hope to anyone around the world who has been forced to leave their homes, and draw attention to the experiences of young refugees. The puppet of Little Amal was designed and built by Handspring Puppet Company, who created the puppets for the international hit play War Horse, establishing them as one of the most important puppet companies in the world. 

At COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, her walk down by the River Clyde was joined by hundreds of people, to draw attention to the interconnected issues of climate change and migrant justice. Little Amal has travelled thousands of miles, visiting 165 towns and cities across 17 countries, from Chile to Ukraine, raising awareness of the refugee crises and becoming a global symbol of human rights.

Presenting the team with their medal as The Walk Productions are about to launch their next equally ambitious project The Herds, RSGS Trustee David Henry commented, “RSGS has been awarding its Livingstone Medal for outstanding humanitarian service since 1901, not long after David Livingstone’s eldest daughter Agnes helped found the Society. Despite only being presented occasionally, it has built up a remarkable legacy and has been presented to inspiring people from all over the world, from diverse backgrounds and fields of work.

“The fact that we are here today to award the RSGS Livingstone Medal to Little Amal is a testament not only to the vital message she represents but also to the brilliant team behind her creation.”

On receiving the RSGS Livingstone Medal, Little Amal and the team join a list of previous recipients that includes Neil Armstrong, Annie Lennox and Sir David Attenborough.

Amir Nizar Zuabi, Artistic Director of the The Walk Productions commented, "we are deeply honoured that Little Amal has been awarded the prestigious RSGS Livingstone Medal. This recognition affirms the impact of her journey in raising awareness for displaced communities and human rights. To stand among such esteemed past recipients is truly humbling and inspires us as we continue our work with The Herds to tell urgent stories of our time."

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Full caption of group photo (left to right): 

Sam Moore, Production Manager, The Walk Productions 

Joanne Dixon, Logistics Producer, The Walk Productions 

David Lan, Producer, The Walk Productions 

David Henry, Trustee of RSGS

Emma Stevenson, Deputy CEO, Choose Love

Amir Nizar Zuabi, Artistic Director, The Walk Productions 

Sarah Loader, Executive Producer

Josie Naughton, Co-Founder and CEO, Choose Love

Lucy Woollatt, Trustee, Walk To The Horizon 

Alice Evans, Associate Producer, The Walk Productions