Land of hope

Land of Hope is a non-profit organization that works independently of political, religious, and economic interests. We run West Africa’s largest Children’s Center in the Nigerian state of Akwa Ibom. Here, 93 children live, after having been accused of witchcraft and made scapegoats for difficult living conditions of adults. We advocate for these children’s rights.

Our Children

Every year, over 10,000 children in Nigeria are accused of witchcraft because of adults’ superstition. Unfortunately, we cannot save them all. But the least we can do is try. Here you can meet the 93 children who currently live at our children’s center, Land of Hope.

Hope Changed Anja's life

In the world-famous picture, you see Anja giving the little “witch child” water and biscuits. She gently picked him up and took him to the hospital, but no one believed he would survive.

“When we got him into the car, I looked at my husband, David, and told him that we should name him Hope. I didn’t want him to die without a name. He deserved to die with dignity,” Anja writes in her book about Hope.

Hope survived. He now lives with 92 other wonderful children at the children’s center Land of Hope in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Land of Hope is a loving home for the so-called “witch children” who have been abanded by their families and tortured because of superstition.

Children’s Art On The Catwalk

It took 3 years from idea to reality. But in September 2024, it finally happened: the children’s art was showcased in a new design collection at London Fashion Week.

The organization Think Ocean has created a design collection from upcycled and recycled materials, printed with the children’s imaginative and colorful drawings of the sea, our shared planet, and the impacts of climate change.

Models walked down the catwalk wearing the most beautiful dresses and blouses. It was touching to see how the children’s motifs were assembled into an artistic narrative.

“The future of our planet is in the hands of our children,” said the founder of Think Ocean, Hugo Valdes-Vera, when he presented his idea to us three years ago. He has spent most of his life as an environmental activist and is also a big fan of Land of Hope and our work to protect children’s rights.

We encouraged the children at Land of Hope to paint what inspires them in nature and what they think about when considering the environment and climate impacts. This resulted in over 20 beautiful paintings, which now make up Think Ocean’s new design collection.

Can you spot them on the clothes?

To learn more or support Land of Hope, please visit : www.landofhope.global