In 2006, a photo shocked the world and spread across social media: a frail, malnourished Nigerian boy being given water and biscuits by a foreign woman. That image was not only a painful reminder of the millions of abandoned children in Africa, but also the beginning of a miraculous journey that would last nearly two decades.
The woman in the photo was Anja Ringgren Lovén, a Danish humanitarian (often mistakenly reported as British), founder of the non-profit organization DINNødhjælp. For years, she dedicated her life to rescuing Nigerian children who had been labeled as “witches” and abandoned on the streets.
The boy in the photo was only about two years old at the time. Rejected by his community, he had been wandering for months, emaciated and close to death. When Anja found him, she immediately brought him to her rescue center and gave him a new name:
Hope – with the belief that his life could change.
From little “Hope” to a vibrant young boy
Years later, the world saw another image that went viral: in 2013, Hope sat beside Anja, smiling brightly, healthy and full of life, wearing a sports jersey. The transformation touched millions of hearts and became proof of the power of love and persistence.
