"Don't forget about us." That was the message brought by Little Amal, the 12-foot puppet representing a 10-year-old girl fleeing war in Syria, when she visited Flint. Half of all refugees are children, and according to the UN High Commission on Refugees, there are currently more than 33 million refugees who have fled their homelands in search of safety. There are an additional 62 million internally displaced people who have left their homes but are within their country's borders. In 2022, 19% of all refugees in the world were from Syria, followed by 16% each from Ukraine and Afghanistan.

 

Since July 2021, Amal has traveled to more than 6,000 at events in 15 countries around the world. In each community, she is warmly welcomed and her visit is a catalyst to raise awareness about the needs of refugees and ways we can be good neighbors to them. In Flint, the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library hosted Amal and hundreds of residents who took part in a half-mile walk around the Flint Cultural Center campus. Children made their own puppets, painted rocks, and enjoyed a meal before the walk. Flint Rotarians supported the event by preparing the craft materials, serving food, and helping keep the walking route clear of traffic. The Club also made a donation of $100 to the library to help cover the cost of the event. 

 

Rotary International does significant work in the area of refugee support. In the past few years, Rotary clubs have used more than $3 million in global grant funds through Rotary International to address the needs of refugee communities. Projects range from providing clean water and sanitation in refugee camps to sponsoring families to come to their own community and helping them find a sense of belonging there. More examples of Rotary's work to support refugees can be found here.