Hope, a Nigerian boy who was once abandoned by his parents and community, left to fend for himself due to being accused of sorcery, b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y. has flourished into a thriving and talented artist after four years of receiving care and support from a charitable organization.
At the start of 2016, a photograph of a 2-year-old Nigerian boy touched hearts worldwide as it spread across social media. b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y.The image depicted a malnourished and unclothed toddler, sitting on a road, being cared for and nourished by Anja Ringgren Loven, a Danish volunteer and the visionary behind the charitable organization.
The boy, named Hope, was abandoned by his family and villagers, shunned for being a witch.
When we rescued him, Hope's condition was dire. He was severely malnourished and afflicted with numerous diseases. During the first two weeks of his hospitalization, he was in critical condition, and we were not even allowed to see him. b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y. The situation was so overwhelming that I didn't know if I could endure it.
Hope was brought back to the charity by Anja, where she has been caring for hundreds of abandoned children over the past eight years. b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y. After four years of nurturing and support, Hope has undergone a remarkable transformation.
Now, Hope is in excellent health and enjoys attending school. He is exceptionally talented in art, particularly drawing, and many of his paintings have been sold. Anja affectionately refers to him as the little Picasso.
Since his return, Hope has not been reunited with his parents, and the organization has been unable to contact any of his relatives. b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y. Despite a challenging start, Hope can now look back on the photo of when Anja found him and be content with the progress he has made.
He would often point at the photo and smile like he was proud," said Anja, who is now an ambassador for Universal Peace Federation International. "But I know that's not pride. Children are born with the ability to forgive and without prejudice.b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y.
We raised Hope to understand that his parents, who abandoned him and accused him of wrongdoing, were victims of superstition and corruption. b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y. No society can thrive if people are deprived of basic human rights such as access to education, health care, and social protection.
Accusations of witchcraft often arise from unfortunate events like death or illness in the family, crop failure, unemployment, or infertility. Children, in turn, b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y. become scapegoats and are labeled as witches, leading to abandonment by their own communities.
Anja and her team have raised more than 300 children and currently care for 76 children at West Africa's largest children's center.b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y. Among them are 9-year-old girls who have experienced torture, sexual abuse, and even being buried alive.
Education is the most potent investment in society and the most effective weapon against ignorance. To solve a problem, we require human interaction and communication, not judgment.b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y-b-a-b-y. Our approach is professional and focused on helping people change their perspectives and enlightening them through advocacy programs in rural areas.
