Anja Ringgren Lovén, Founder of the Nigeria-based Non-Government Organization Land of Hope, shared the story of the first-ever rescue mission of her career. The social worker shared that she was rescuing Uduak at the time. The girl, according to Anja, is her first daughter. She shared the story of Uduak because it was her birthday.
Sharing the experience of her first rescue, Anja took to the social media account of the land of Hope. She also shared the image of the first girl she rescued. The recollected that It was a warm day, and I was eager to learn why certain communities of people accused children of being witches.
She shared that they drove some hours to a local village to find a young girl, named Uduak. Suddenly a barefooted girl came running towards me with a big smile and just hugged me. I did not know it was Uduak. It is the first and only rescue mission a child has embraced me like this and later I would understand why.
Talking about the girl, ten years later, Anja Ringgren Lovén asserted that If you meet Uduak today, she will tell you that she is my FIRST daughter. It is not a secret that Uduak has a very special place in my heart. She has been under my wing for ten years. She is the first girl I rescued, and I have been with her during the most important years in one teenager’s life. I have seen her grow, and pursue her dreams and I have often admired Uduak’s strength and courage.
Anja shared that during the rescue mission in the village, Uduak hugged me because she was not afraid. She did not know me but was not afraid, which is her strength. On the occasion of Uduak’s birthday, Anja urged the people to help her celebrate “the most beautiful young woman I know” Sharing her good wishes for the young woman, she wrote, I Love you my FIRST daughter forever and ever
