Kate Monahan: How would you describe the service
work you’re doing in Nigeria?
Anja Ringgren Lovén: DINNødhjælps work on the
human nature that every child in the world has the right
to food and education, and to live a dignified life. Our
values consist of showing sheer compassion, care, and
love for those who need it the most and through that
create confidence. DINNødhjælp also believes that we
as a NGO have a responsibility to provide information
about the problems in Nigeria regarding the growing
superstition, and also to provide education in the local
communities in which we operate, and to educate the
children we take under our wings. In particular, we have
a huge responsibility to the children and thereby the
community by showing that we are present, following
our projects to the end but also that we hold them
accountable to train and develop themselves and make
the community a safe environment for the children.
When children are being tortured and abused and
left alone on the street, it gives a child a lot of terrible
trauma they carry around inside. Being rejected by your
own family must be the loneliest feeling a child can
experience, and I don’t believe that anyone can imagine
how that must feel like. Our project aims to ensure
that all children in Akwa Ibom State accused of being
witches have the opportunity to go to school. Parallel
to the orphanage and to get the children to school. Our
project is also working to promote the importance of
ANJA RINGGREN LOVÉN
COMPASSION IN ACTION
Words: Kate Monahan
Anja Ringgren Lovén, the founder of the African