On January 30, 2026, it will be exactly ten years since the boy Hope was rescued.

On the same day in January 2016, founder Anja Ringgren Lovén and a rescue team were on their way to help two girls who had been accused of witchcraft. The mission was unsuccessful, and the situation escalated and became dangerous. While leaving the area, Anja recalled another call they had received earlier that day – about a small boy who had also been abandoned.

The cars were turned around.
And that decision led them to Hope.

The image of the severely malnourished ‘witch boy’ receiving water and biscuits from Anja spread across the world and drew international attention to accusations of witchcraft against children in Nigeria. For Land of Hope, the rescue of Hope also became a milestone that helped define the organization’s work and mission in the years that followed.

Hope Has Now Been Given a Unique Opportunity

Today, Hope is no longer the small boy the world came to know through a single image. He has grown into a loving, creative, and curious child who enjoys learning and creating – and who has developed significantly since his rescue.

However, Hope lives with a disability. He is deaf and non-verbal.

In a country where educational opportunities for children with disabilities are extremely limited, it has long been difficult to foresee what Hope’s future as an adult might look like. Would he be able to live a life with the same opportunities and independence as the other children growing up at Land of Hope?

After completing Primary School last summer, Land of Hope began searching for a school that could meet Hope’s specific needs.

That school has now been found.

Hope has been accepted into a special school in Nigeria for children with visual and hearing impairments. Here, education is tailored to children like Hope, giving him the opportunity to develop both academic and personal skills in a safe and supportive environment.

The school requires students to live on campus.

This means that the costs include not only tuition, uniforms, and books, but also accommodation and meals. To ensure that Hope can accept the school placement, Land of Hope has therefore launched a fundraiser.

A Symbol of Hope – Even 10 Years Later

Ten years ago, few believed that the abandoned boy accused of witchcraft would survive. Today, Hope stands as a living example of what protection, care, and education can achieve – and why the fight against witchcraft accusations and for children’s rights remains essential.

The rescue of Hope marks not only an anniversary, but also the beginning of a new chapter.

Would you like to help send Hope safely on his way to his new school? You can support Land of Hope’s fundraiser. Your donation will help cover the costs of Hope’s continued education in the years to come.