Meet Hope, a young Nigerian boy who was once left behind by his parents and the villagers, who unjustly labeled him as a witch. However, through the intervention of a charitable organization, Hope’s life has taken a remarkable turn for the better. Not only is he now in good health, but he has also discovered his extraordinary talent in the arts.
In early 2016, an adorable 2-year-old Nigerian boy captured the hearts of people around the world through a photo shared on social media platforms. The image depicted a petite, malnourished baby sitting on a dusty street, being kindly nourished and hydrated by Aunty Ringer Loven, a compassionate Danish volunteer and the founder of the charity DINNødhjæl.
Hope, a young boy, was abandoned by both his family and the villagers due to the false accusation of being a witch.
“When we saved him, Hope was in a dire state. He was extremely undernourished and afflicted with numerous illnesses. During the initial fortnight of his hospitalization, his condition was critical. We weren’t even able to catch a glimpse of him. I’m uncertain if I can endure this,” expressed Anja.
Aпja brought Hope back to her charity after Aпja had taken care of many abandoned ?????reп for the past eight years. During the four years since being raised and nurtured, Hope has undergone an incredible transformation. “Hope is now very healthy and enjoys attending school. He is incredibly intelligent and has a passion for art. Hope is exceptionally talented at drawing, and many of his paintings have been successfully sold. We affectionately refer to him as the little Picasso,” Aпja added. Since returning to DINNødhjæl, Hope has not been able to see her parents again, and the organization has been unable to reach any of her relatives. Despite a difficult start, Hope can now happily look back at the photo taken when Aпja found her.
“He would often gesture towards the photograph and wear a proud smile,” remarked Anja, now serving as an ambassador for Universal Peace Federation International. “But I understand that it’s not genuine pride. Children are born with the remarkable ability to forgive and without prejudice. We raised Hope to embrace eternity, despite her parents abandoning her and accusing her of wrongdoing. They left me on the streets to perish, for I am a witch, surrounded by corruption. No society can flourish if its people are deprived of fundamental human rights such as education, healthcare, and social protection.”
Accusations of practicing witchcraft often arise in situations involving death or illness within a family, crop failure, unemployment, or infertility. In some cases, children are wrongly labeled as witches and abandoned by their own communities, becoming easy scapegoats. A remarkable individual named Anja and her team have dedicated themselves to providing care and support for over 300 children who have been accused of witchcraft. They currently operate at DINNødhjæl, which happens to be the largest children’s center in West Africa. Among the children under their care are 9-year-old girls who have endured unimaginable suffering, including torture, sexual abuse, and even being buried alive.
“Education is a highly valuable investment in society and a powerful weapon against ignorance. In order to solve a problem, human interaction and communication are necessary, rather than relying solely on judgement. We approach our work in a professional manner, aiming to assist individuals in changing their perspectives and enlightening them through advocacy programs in rural regions,” Apanja expressed.
