Anja Ringgren Lovén Explained

Anja Ringgren Lovén
Birth Date:4 September 1978
Birth Place:Frederikshavn, Denmark
Occupation:Charity worker
Known For:Founding DINNødhjælp
Fighting witchcraft accusations in Nigeria
Spouse:David Emmanuel Umem Jr.[1]

Anja Ringgren Lovén (born 4 September 1978) is a Danish humanitarian and founder of the charity organization DINNødhjælp. Since 2012, the organization has been dedicated to protecting and rescuing children in Nigeria accused of witchcraft—a practice stemming from deep-rooted superstition that often leads to ostracism, abuse, or death.[2] Lovén gained global recognition in 2016 when a photo of her rescuing a severely malnourished boy, later named "Hope," went viral, shedding light on her efforts to combat child abuse linked to witchcraft accusations.[3]

Career

Lovén graduated from Frederikshavn Gymnasium in 1998. Following high school, she traveled to the Middle East, including a stay in Israel at a kibbutz. In 2001, she trained as a stewardess with Maersk Air but left the position to care for her terminally ill mother, who died shortly thereafter. Subsequently, Lovén pursued a career in retail, eventually working as a store manager in Aarhus.

Her journey into humanitarian work began in 2009 with a three-month stint in Malawi as an observer for the Danish National Church Aid. Inspired by her experience, she initiated a fundraising project to renovate a school in Tanzania, where she traveled independently. In 2012, Lovén founded DINNødhjælp, initially while working as a salesperson in Aarhus.[4] A year later, she sold all her possessions and dedicated herself fully to aiding so-called "witch children" in Nigeria.

In collaboration with Nigerian law student David Emmanuel Umem, Lovén co-founded the African Children's Aid, Education and Development Foundation (ACAEDF) in 2014 to establish infrastructure for vulnerable children.[5] Together, they acquired land in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, and, with the support of Engineers Without Borders, built the Land of Hope Children's Center. The center spans three acres and includes a children’s hospital, a business school, and facilities to house up to 100 children, offering a safe and nurturing environment while addressing superstition through education and advocacy.[6] [7]

Since 2014, Lovén has delivered lectures about her humanitarian efforts, emphasizing the personal sacrifices she made and the significance of her work at the Land of Hope Children’s Center. Her lectures focus on raising awareness about superstitions in Nigeria and inspiring others to pursue meaningful change.[8] She is one of Denmark's most in-demand public speakers.[9]

Personal life

Lovén was born and raised in Frederikshavn, Denmark. Her partner, David Emmanuel Umem, is her co-founder in humanitarian work. The couple has one child, David Jr., born on August 13, 2014.[10]

Documentaries

Lovén's work has been featured in various documentaries, including:

In 2018, her meeting with the Dalai Lama was documented in Anja's Orphanage (DR2), highlighting his recognition of her efforts.[16]

Awards and recognition

Additionally, Lovén has been nominated for Dane of the Year 2017[22] and the Nordjyske Initiative Award 2015.[23]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://landofhope.global/en/anja/
  2. News: Busari . Stephanie . Woman who rescues 'witch children' receives top honour . CNN.
  3. News: February 3, 2017 . Care worker who rescued starving 'witch child' recreates photo for his first day of school . subscription . live . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/nigeria-witch-boy-photo-anja-ringgren-loven-facebook-images-first-day-of-school-a7561581.html . 2022-05-07 . The Independent.
  4. Web site: November 20, 2015 . Anja hjælper børn i Afrika . TV2 Nord.
  5. News: February 18, 2016 . The aid worker who saved a 'witch child' from starvation speaks out . subscription . live . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/aid-worker-who-rescued-a-boy-from-starvation-reveals-how-she-is-working-to-save-nigerias-witch-a6881101.html . 2022-05-07 . The Independent.
  6. Web site: August 10, 2016 . Hun reddede lille Hope: Nyt børnehjem vil hjælpe flere børn som ham - TV 2 . nyheder.tv2.dk.
  7. Web site: Læs nyhederne på bt.dk . 2020-04-17 . B.T. Nyheder . no.
  8. Web site: brev . Ulla Poulsen Journalist Indtast din e-mail adresse Ved opskrivning accepterer jeg at modtage særtilbud fra Kristeligt Dagblad på . E-Mail . Telefon Eller . December 12, 2008 . Nigeria optrævler sag om dræbte heksebørn . Kristeligt Dagblad.
  9. Web site: April 20, 2018 . Anja Ringgren Lovén - Afrikas heksebørn | Foredrag i København V | Køb billet på Tikko.dk . https://web.archive.org/web/20180420080020/http://www.tikko.dk/event/anja-ringgren-loven-31-maj-koebenhavn-2137/ . 2018-04-20.
  10. Web site: Anja Ringgren Lovén, who is she? . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210504220629/https://www.dinnoedhjaelp.dk/en/anja-ringgren-loven/ . 2021-05-04 . 2020-04-17.
  11. Web site: 2016-07-27 . Helvedes Helte på DR2 Anja Lovén i Nigeria . 2020-04-17 . YouTube.
  12. Web site: 10 April 2015 . En dansker redder verden . DR.
  13. Web site: April 20, 2018 . Anja og heksebørnene (1:3) | TV | DR . https://web.archive.org/web/20180420081057/https://www.dr.dk/tv/se/anja-og-hekseboernene/-/anja-og-hekseboernene-1-3 . 2018-04-20.
  14. Web site: 16 February 2016 . VIDEO Danske Anja redder heksebørn: Nu har jeg råbt verden op . DR.
  15. Web site: March 8, 2018 . Galileo - Montag: Hexenkinder in Nigeria: Diese Heldin rettet ihnen das Leben . www.prosieben.de.
  16. Web site: September 7, 2017 . Dalai Lama til Anja Lovén: Du er min helt . TV2 Nord.
  17. Web site: December 6, 2016 . Danske Anja kåret til verdens mest inspirerende person: Slår Obama og Paven - TV 2 . nyheder.tv2.dk.
  18. Web site: February 4, 2017 . Nigerian 'witch boy' attends school after being rescued . ABC News.
  19. Web site: Dittmer . Dorthea . May 23, 2016 . Medalje til heksebørnenes . amtsavisen.dk.
  20. Web site: Klubbens Paul Harris Fellower | Rotary . www.rotary.dk.
  21. Web site: 2017 . Hope Gala Dresden . 2020-04-17 . www.hopegala.de.
  22. Web site: Holm . Line Tolstrup . May 15, 2016 . "Jeg kan ikke redde hele verden. Men jeg kan redde et barn ad gangen" . Berlingske.dk.
  23. Web site: Würtz . Julian Drud Sørensen, Trine Mølgaard Jensen;Sarah . March 12, 2015 . Heksebørnenes nordjyske mor . www.nordjyske.dk.

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