Anja Ringgren Loven has expressed her delight on sending a group of her “witch children” to pursue their higher education. Seven children who have remained associated with Land of Hope for the last decades are leaving their home to pursue their education. The preparation for this occasion is ongoing for the last few days.
The seven fortunate ones-Michael, Idong, Charity, Mary, Emem, Essien and Rita- will pursue the subject of their desire in the university starting this year. The founder of Land of hope shared a post bidding them farewell and extending her best wishes to the children.
- Michael to study Electrical & Electronics Engineering
- Idong has opted for study Anatomy
- Charity is up for History and International Studies
- Mary goes with English
- Emem chose to study Medical Laboratory Science
- Essien is going to study English
- Rita looks forward to study at Eket School of Nursing
Founder Anja Loven confessed on her social media account that she is feeling sentimental about seeing them leave. She reflected on the growth that she has seen all these children attain, in the last decade of their life. She expressed that she is ready to see them start a new and exciting chapter of their life.
Exclaiming in pride, Anja said, “I have cried happy tears because these specific children have been under our care for more than 10 years.”
Currently Anja and her husband, David co-founders of Land of Hope are responsible for taking care of more than ninety children. However, when they started this NGO, aiming to protect the children from abuse and neglect, stemming from unfounded superstitious beliefs, they had only a handful of children.
Reminiscing on the past, Anja shared, “They were only 8 and 9 years when we rescued them.” She also added that “David and I literally picked them out of bushes and of from the streets.”
The respective communities of these children abandoned them, beat and accused them of being witches. Many of the children that Land of Hope rescue are found in pitiful and desperate conditions. Often, these children have been starved for days on end and beaten to the point of them having life threatening injuries.
Over the last decade, Land of Hope took many children like this under their wing and gave them a life of security and love. Many children, who were previously living in loveless homes and abused in the name of superstition got the chance to experience warmth and familial love.
For years, the Non-Government Organization has remained responsible for providing the children an opportunity to transform their lives. Through provision of quality education, Land of Hope gave many children a life that would not be possible for them to have in their previous circumstances.
Anja Ringgren Loven was happy to see seven of her oldest “witch children” standing tall, healthy and full of so much strength, confidence and courage. She remembered that at one point, she used to carry all of them around, but now it is not possible. “They are all much taller and stronger than me.” Said Anja and shared several images of hers and the children, from Land of Hope.
