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Little Amal – a big symbol of hope for young refugees, and not just from Syria

Amal’s 8,000 kilometre journey is designed to represent the stories of millions of young refugees who are forced to leave their homes and often travel alone without their parents. She comes from Aleppo and is looking for her mum, who went off to find food and never returned.
In total, around 6.8 million Syrians are now refugees or asylum seekers and another 6.7 million people have been forced to leave their homes since the Arab Spring protests began a decade ago, and now live in poor conditions within Syria. Together that's more than half of the country's population. About half of the people affected by the crisis are children.
And given last month’s takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in the wake of the bungled US withdrawal, focusing on the principal human victims – especially the youngest – makes perfect sense.
The Walk project was meant to have taken place between April and July but was delayed by the Covid pandemic. The journey of Little Amal, from Gaziantep, near the Turkish-Syrian border, has been taking place since late July. It aims to draw attention to the refugee experience by following a route similar to that taken by Syrians who escaped their bloody civil war. It combines art, music and faith.
The 3.5 metre giant (11 foot) - twice as high as an average person - was designed by Handspring, the South African-based creator of the War Horse puppets. It is being operated by three teams of four puppeteers: one for each arm, one for her back, and one inside her body, walking on stilts and also operating a contraption called "the harp," a complex system of strings that control the puppet's facial expressions.
Little Amal’s body is made from moulded cane and her head, arms and legs made from carbon fibre. “She can convey shock, shyness and curiosity through the lowering of her eyes and the graceful undulation of her arms,” wrote one journalist who encountered her.
About 250 partner organisations and artists are involved in the project, with more than 80 free events taking place in countries along the way. Over 70 towns, villages and cities will welcome Little Amal with art, from major street parties and city performances to more intimate community events.
In Gazientep, excited children held up lanterns to guide Amal through the city. And on the Greek island of Chios, choirs sang to welcome her as an orchestra played. Elsewhere in Greece Little Amal encountered hostility – from Christian communities hostile to Muslims.
In Naples she was tired, had had enough and will have a tantrum which, Vesuvius-like, releases energy, which brought hundreds of dancers and musicians to join her. Little Amal visited the Vatican City and was even received by Pope Francis.
"Amal is big and beautiful, and meeting her is a pleasure," said Cardinal Michael Czerny, who also met her. "But she immediately reminds us that meeting vulnerable migrants, insecure workers and asylum seekers in our midst requires more than just a glance.”
In Cologne, Amal was scheduled to share apple pie with elderly people and hear their stories of growing up after the second world war. In Marseille she will join hundreds of dancers in life jackets in a commemoration of all the refugees who have died at sea.
In Paris, a refugee camp installation will be created outside the Insitut du Monde Arabe close to the Seine, and Amal will explore the tents – with shadow art and sound installations – for signs of home.
In late October, Amal is due to arrive in the English port of Folkestone. She will celebrate her 10th birthday in London with a dawn chorus performance at the Royal Opera House and a party at the iconic Victoria and Albert Museum, to which children will be invited. She will then make her way through Oxford, Sheffield, Coventry and Birmingham before ending her journey in Manchester where, it turns out, her mother has settled.
Amir Nizar Zuabi, a Palestinian playwright , and this impressive project’s artistic director, has commented that the purpose of The Walk was to highlight refugees’ potential, not only their dire plight. “The attention of the world is elsewhere right now, which makes it more important than ever to reignite the conversation about the refugee crisis and to change the narrative around it,” he has said. “Yes, refugees need food and blankets, but they also need dignity and a voice.”
The Walk project is a major contribution to belief in the humanity of ordinary people faced with a global humanitarian crisis. Every one of them, with their baggage of suffering and dreams, needs and talents is waiting for a generous response from others. It really matters for the simple but inevitable reason that refugee children are not going to disappear any time soon.
by: IAN BLACK

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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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