Film
Jacob Mendez
Jacob Mendez

Martyna Wojciechowska: Every day she wants to change the world for the better

Martyna Wojciechowska has been observing the world with determination and sensitivity for years and tries to change it for the better every day. With her courage and dedication, she inspires new generations and proves that openness and listening to the story of another person can change a lot. The journalist is an ambassador for WWF Poland, and in 2013 she became a member of the Polish Humanitarian Action. She is currently actively involved in the organization she founded. UNAWEZA Foundation, which aims to equalize the development opportunities for women, families and children all over the world. On the initiative of UNAWEZA, there was also design “YOUNG HEADS: Opening Up About Mental Health”which strives to improve the mental and health situation of young people.

On June 11, the Max platform library was added documentary by Martyna Wojciechowska and Ewa Marcinowska – “Hope”The film is based on the story of a Nigerian boy who was saved from starvation by Anja Ringgren LovenThe boy, later named Hope by Anja and her husband David, was accused of witchcraft and abandoned by his family.

In Nigeria, one of the poorest and most famine-stricken countries in the world, superstition is part of everyday life. Misfortunes and accidents are often explained away in this way. For people living in extreme poverty and without a chance for education, accusations of witchcraft are an excuse to reduce the number of dependents in their households. Those accused of witchcraft, often young children, are abandoned by their families and left without support.

At this year’s Tofifest. Kujawy and Pomerania IFF, one could watch on the big screen both the documentary “Hope”What “I do not feel anything” about the heartless system of child psychiatry in Poland, which is a production supported by the project led by Wojciechowska “YOUNG HEADS: Opening Up About Mental Health”. In a conversation with Paulina Gandor from Interia, the activist talked about the challenges of her work, the things that drive her to continue her work and what, in her opinion, is hidden under the term “rebellion”.

How do you conduct research and find the heroines of your productions?

Martyna Wojciechowska: – I would rather say that they find me. These stories usually just come to me in some way. Of course, I don’t do it all by myself, I have a great team, tiny but very effective and proven in many corners of the world. Every time we watch news from around the world, read news on the Internet or browse photos, our radar is set in such a way that we immediately feel that a given story has some potential. I think that currently we are probably observing a hundred stories of different potential heroines in many corners of the world. They don’t even know I exist, but I keep a close eye on what’s happening in their country.

What inspired you to to tell the story of Anja Ringgren Loven?

– The story of the heroine of the documentary film “Hope”which I directed with Ewa Marcinowska, also appeared in my life unexpectedly. Eight years ago I was browsing the Internet for some news and saw a photo that immediately stopped me. There was a blond woman leaning over an emaciated and exhausted black boy and giving him water. You could see that this two-three-year-old was on the verge of life and death. It didn’t leave me alone, so I wanted to find out more. That’s how I found out about Anja Ringgren Lovén and her work on behalf of children accused of witchcraft in Nigeria.

– I admit that these types of topics are quite close to me – especially those that concern prejudice and exclusion of people. I previously worked on the topic of people with albinism in Tanzania and that’s how I met my now adopted daughter Kabula, I also showed the fate of women accused of witchcraft in Ghana. This story from Nigeria moved me very much, I wanted to meet Anja and the boy Hope, because that’s what he was named after he was saved. First we couldn’t coordinate the dates, then there was the pandemic… our meeting was getting further and further away, but I believe that everything happens at the right time. When we finally went to shoot in Nigeria and then in Denmark, I knew that this story was simply waiting for me, and I was waiting for it – me and the entire team that I have the pleasure of working with. Film “Hope” I directed with Ewa Marcinowska, Paweł Malara edited. The work, great heart and commitment of many people made this film touch hearts. Now you can watch it on the Max platform.

How big of a film crew went to Nigeria?

– The crew I went with to Nigeria consists of two cameramen, a sound engineer, a director, and a production manager. I never work in larger teams. We usually have a fixer on site, someone local to help, sometimes we need security.

How reacted to the presence of cameras? So what surprised you the most?

– The Port Harcourt region, where this practice is most prevalent and where we went to film, is not a safe place. Although, as many people do not know, Nigeria is the richest country in Africa with large oil deposits, and at the same time, people there fight for survival every day and this unequal distribution of resources is terrifying. If someone lives in extreme poverty and has no education, it is easy to manipulate them and push them to do things that are beyond their comprehension. And this is happening in the twenty-first century! Local pastors and local pseudo-healers, i.e. influential people, convince people that a bad harvest, drought or someone’s illness is the fault of, for example, a neighbor’s child, because it is possessed by evil powers and casts spells. Of course, the question arises why they accuse the youngest. Well, in many communities around the world, the targets of attacks are simply those who are the weakest and easiest to exclude from society. And children cannot defend themselves.

– We were dealing with a subject that the Nigerian government would like to sweep under the carpet, and in an area that is controlled by various gangs, so we knew that we were attracting attention and that it could be dangerous. But we thought it was a risk worth taking.

What was the hardest thing to show in this film?

– We tried not to flaunt violence, even though this topic is saturated with it. We gave up on statements and scenes that were too drastic, because we do not want to arouse sensation, but to be close to the characters. For me personally, the most moving moment is when Hope finally meets her mother after eight years. It was difficult to find her and convince her to meet, because she was very afraid, but what has happened since then is wonderful. I believe that documentaries change the world. Not only by moving consciences, but also by changing the reality of the people we meet along the way.

Especially such are extremely important. And what gives you the strength to undertake such tasks on a daily basis? However, these are not easy topics and mental endurance also seems to be key.

– But I can’t do otherwise. I can’t imagine not reacting. When we witness such cruelty that one person can do to another person, can cause so much harm and pain, when we see how many people take advantage of the lack of knowledge, education and extreme poverty of other people… then we simply have to react! I will add that in Nigeria, it is a business of accusing children of witchcraft, throwing them out of the community, and then making money on them “cleanse from evil powers” local pastors are also stirring things up. They are educated people who use their advantage to simply do business on it. So if I had known and seen it with my own eyes and had not done something, had not told this story loudly to the world, had not supported the activities of Anja Ringgren Lovén and Land of Hope (as the UNAWEZA Foundation we have set up a fundraiser to support them), if I had not transformed my anger and disagreement into action, I probably would not have been able to cope with these difficult emotions.

– The fact that I am active and not passive makes me still curious about the world, the drive to act, the need to tell new stories, to make new documentaries with my team, to work in the UNAWEZA Foundation and in the project “YOUNG HEADS: Opening Up About Mental Health”. We do all this to change something every day, even a small part of the world around us for the better. I simply do not want to be indifferent.

It is certainly also for this reason that you received an award for rebelliousness at this year’s Tofifest festival, for which I sincerely congratulate you. So what is rebelliousness to you?

– This is asking questions: “Why?” and “Can we do anything differently?”is a disagreement with the existing reality and lack of conformism, courage to swim against the current. So I couldn’t imagine a better award than the award for creative rebellion and rebellion in life! Especially since I received it in such a wonderful group as Jerzy Skolimowski and Zbigniew Zamachowski. I am honored and feel very obliged. I can also promise that this award will not make me lazy, but will motivate me to continue working.

See also: Gabriela Muskala: “You can make your debut at any age”