Saama the little girl giant rises for #embraceequity

The little girl giant puppet of Sri Lanka empowered the audience to #embraceequity for International Women’s Day 2023 at CR and FC on 4 March. This was part of the CR and FC centenary year celebrations and the event was attended by the CR and FC members, sports teams and public invitees. 

In a country where women have achieved massive feats but still face daily discrimination in private and public spaces – Power of Play believes that all girls can be giants – if raised and supported to be so.

At 14 ft, Saama – the little girl giant of Sri Lanka – is the tallest female puppet of Sri Lanka. She pays homage to the females (both known and unknown) who have achieved herculean feats while facing equal challenges. Her presence is a reminder for every girl and woman to unapologetically tap into their full giant potential and for allies to extend their fullest support for them to do so. 

Saama was inspired by Les Grandes Personnes (a giant puppet company from south of France) and was built in Sri Lanka in 2018 by Felix Norgren, a Swedish puppeteer in collaboration with Power of Play Ltd., and Dilmah’s MJF Foundation as an income generation project for youth. She toured schools in 2018 and 2019 with the support of British Council Sri Lanka and performed to spread the importance of #genderequity. Big or small – Saama will inspire them all.