Little Amal

The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (15:57): Last week, Little Amal was welcomed by Adelaide for the first time during the 2024 Adelaide Festival. She is part of a project named The Walk, which celebrates human migration and cultural diversity. At the heart of The Walk is Little Amal, a 3.5 metre puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl, who has become a global symbol of human rights. Her journey began in 2021, when she walked from the Syria-Turkiye border to the United Kingdom. Since then, Amal has travelled to 160 towns and cities in 16 countries and has been welcomed by millions on the streets and online.

Her travels draw attention to the millions of children fleeing war, violence and persecution around the world. Her urgent message to the world is: don't forget about us. The project has not only raised $1 million to provide urgently needed support for refugees and displaced children globally but has also inspired hope for displaced people everywhere.

The impact of Amal's journey to tell the refugees' story of potential hospitality and kindness was made especially clear to me when I attended an event on behalf of the Hon. Zoe Bettison, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, at the Adelaide Secondary School of English. The school was chosen by Little Amal for an extra special visit and for good reason. Adelaide Secondary School of English is a government school that offers intensive English language programs to prepare secondary aged migrant, refugee and newly arrived international students for entry into mainstream high school, study pathways or work. The school comprises over 50 different languages and cultural groups, including students from Columbia, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine. Sometimes students even speak a mixture of languages to better understand each other.

We heard stories from a number of students, some who had entered Australia as refugees fleeing conflict and others as migrants in search of a better life. One student recounted her journey fleeing Afghanistan and living in Pakistan as a refugee, where she described losing hope for the future as she was denied the right to education. When her family moved to Australia in 2023, she said it felt like she was being given a second life.

Another student, from Syria, recalled being denied basic rights as well as being bullied at school due to her refugee status while living in Jordan. When her family arrived in Adelaide in 2022, she said that it was wonderful to have her basic human rights restored and that she is grateful to call this beautiful city her home.

Every student who spoke shared the feeling of hope, resilience and optimism, despite adversity. Every teacher working at the school shows extraordinary understanding and dedication to making the students' transition into Australia easier. Through changing the narrative surrounding refugees and migrants towards the contributions and potential they carry with them, little Amal invites communities to embrace and honour refugees and migrants.

Ensuring everyone has access to basic human rights, dignity and respect, especially those belonging to vulnerable and marginalised communities, is crucial. I am so pleased that the Malinauskas government is offering support to any new arrivals fleeing conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine. The assistance covers financial support in accessing health services, education, housing, food and transport, as well as mental health funding to support issues arising from conflict. It is great to see Australia open its heart to people coming to our nation seeking safety and opportunity. Let us continue to embrace and strengthen awareness, empathy and conversation.