Join us for a screening of “The One with Hope,” a documentary about the remarkable life of Anja Ringgren Lovén, a Danish aid worker and the founder of Land of Hope, an organization that rescues and gives shelter to children accused of witchcraft. Martyna Wojciechowska, the film’s director, waited over seven years to meet this extraordinary woman who one day might be the one to break the spell on Nigeria. Martyna Wojciechowska will introduce the film and then be around for a Q&A
In 2016, Anja Ringgren Lovén became a household name after a photo of her rescuing a starving 2-year-old Nigerian child went viral. The boy, later named Hope by Anja and her husband David, was accused of witchcraft and abandoned by his family. Severely malnourished, he waited long for any help to arrive.
In Nigeria, superstitious beliefs are part of everyday life. Often, this is how misfortunes and accidents are explained. For those living in extreme poverty and deprived of the chance for education, witchcraft accusations serve as an excuse to reduce the number of dependents in the family. Children accused of witchcraft, often toddlers, suffer different forms of abuse and are starved or even killed. They are subjected to exorcisms by local Christian pastors or given poisonous concoctions by witch doctors.
In the documentary “The One With Hope” we get to see the remarkable life of Anja Ringgren Lovén, a Danish aid worker and the founder of Land of Hope, an organization that rescues and gives shelter to children accused of witchcraft. Martyna waited over seven years to meet this extraordinary woman who one day might be the one to break the spell on Nigeria.
The visit and presentation of film “THE ONE WITH HOPE” of Martyna Wojciechowska FN’16 at The Explorers Club is organized by Piotr Chmielinski FN’89. Piotr Chmielinski, who originally comes from Poland, is the first man who paddled the entire length of the Amazon River in 1985-86.
Consul General of the Republic of Poland in New York, Mateusz Sakowicz will be present at the presentation of Martyna Wojciechowska. Additionally, representative of the Consulate General of Denmark in New York will be present.
RESERVATIONS
This will be an in-person lecture at Explorers Club Headquarters.
In-person tickets are $20 for Members, and $35 for the General Public.
Check-in will begin at 6:00 pm, with a beer and wine reception from 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Martyna Wojciechowska
Martyna Wojciechowska is one of the most well-known individuals in Poland. She is a journalist, traveler, and social activist deeply involved in advocating for human rights. Martyna is the founder of the UNAWEZA Foundation, dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for women in Poland and around the world. She is the author of numerous reports, documentary films, and bestselling books. In 2023, she secured the top spot in Forbes magazine’s “Most Valuable Polish Celebrity” ranking, according to the Influence Power Index.
She is appreciated for her credibility and is perceived as a strong female figure, serving as an example of overcoming life’s adversities. She has been associated with TVN (currently Warner Bros Discovery) since 1998. For the past 15 years, she has been creating her own travel series called “Woman at the End of the World,” which has been broadcasted in many countries. This documentary series tells the stories of inspiring women from different corners of the globe. To date, over 100 episodes have been produced, spanning 56 different countries across 6 continents.
As a documentary filmmaker, Martyna was honored with the Golden Nymph award at the Monte Carlo Festival for her documentary film “The Ghost People”, which sheds light on the lives of people with albinism in Tanzania. The main focus of her work are human rights. She has covered stories of women in Iran, survivors of acid attacks in Pakistan, women facing long prison sentences in Salvador for miscarriages, and children accused of witchcraft in Nigeria. Additionally, she has documented the experiences of indigenous people in Ethiopia, Chad, China, Borneo, Mongolia, Panama, Canada and others.
For 10 years, she served as the editor-in-chief of the Polish editions of “National Geographic” and “National Geographic Traveler” magazines. Martyna is a lover of adventure and constant exploration of the world. She has completed the Seven Summits challenge, which included climbing Mount Everest, a remarkable feat achieved only 1.5 years after suffering a spinal injury. She is the first Polish woman to complete the Dakar Rally. Martyna is also a licensed skydiver and a technical deep-sea diver, proudly affiliated with The Explorers Club.
