The boy who was abandoned by his family in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital after being labelled a “witch” and renamed Hope will on January 30, 2021 clock five years since he was rescued.
Hope was rescued on January 30, 2016 by Anja Ringgren Lovén, a Danish humanitarian worker, and David Umem who run the African Children’s Aid Education and Development Foundation, a charity organisation dedicated to helping abandoned children.
The boy had lived on the streets for eight months, surviving on scraps and whatever he could find, before being discovered.
Hope’s story went viral after the Danish woman shared heartbreaking photographs showing an emaciated boy.
Lovén, on Sunday in a Facebook post, shared her excitement at the boy’s story, sharing more photographs of the transformation.
She wrote: “In exactly 40 days today we are going to celebrate that Hope was rescued 5 years ago. To be exact, Hope was rescued on the 30 of January 2016.
“I cannot wait 40 days to share these pictures of Hope 😂 He is simply to cute and handsome 😍.
“Last week Hope was best man at Don Udowan, our Education officer’s wedding and Hope just shined like a little star 🌟🌟 .
“Looking back, it’s hard to believe that 5 years have already passed. I remember the day we rescued Hope as if it was yesterday.
“As most of you know I have the name HOPE tattooed on my fingers. A tattoo I got many years ago even long before I ever travelled to Nigeria. Because for more than a decade now it’s been my mission in life to: Help One Person Everyday: HOPE 🌟 .
“Many of you have been following our work since we rescued Hope and witnessed his amazing transformation. He is a SURVIVOR and one day he will be old enough to travel the world and tell his story.
“We owe everything to you, our followers, sponsors, supporters and members.”
