Support the children 
Save lives 
Wear your support This painting is created by Edet, who was rescued in 2016. The rescue of Edet was depicted in the documentary “Anja and the Witch children”.
Anja and Land of Hope Director of Child Development Nsidibe Orok were called out to a village because a mother had accused her own son of being a witch. Superstition and patriarchal structures in Nigeria are very important to highlight, if we want to understand why women are forced to accuse their own children of being witches.
The village priest, who has a lot of power, convinced her that it was Edet’s fault that she had experienced a difficult labour with his little brother. Edet’s stepfather also accused him of being a witch, so she had no other choice than to abandon him. She knew that if she allowed Edet to stay in the house, he would be killed.
Today, Edet is thriving at Land of Hope. He has such a creative mind and can make anything out of nothing. He will stay up late at night and go into a creative mode. His imagination has no limits.
Over the years, we have taken Edet on many home visits. The stepfather has left his mother, and Edet has a very close relationship with his mother and little brother. We visit them very often, and our visits have strengthened Edet’s mother’s role in the community.
Children’s Art
We use art education as a therapeutic tool in our work with the children’s mental health and emotional well-being.
For many of the children, talking about their trauma is difficult. Art classes provide a safe space where they can express feelings and experiences that are hard to put into words. Some children paint scenes from their past, while others focus on their dreams and hopes for the future.
What they all have in common is their remarkable talent. Many of the children have won art and talent competitions across Nigeria.
