EUROPE IN MY HEART

EXIST has been working in Nigeria since 2009. The work began in the meeting with MeCAHT (Media Coalition and Awareness to Halt Human Trafficking) – a Nigerian NGO that was established in 2008.

Our first joint project was the film EUROPE IN MY HEART, which was shot in Nigeria and on Istedgade in Denmark. In Nigeria, the film was shown in 30 villages, on national TV and at several conferences

About the movie:

Europe in My Heart (directed by Anne Abok)
Europe in my Heart' is the story of a daring village girl who thinks there's a better life in Europe – a life that will take her family out of poverty. She soon realizes that the streets of the foreign country can also be paved with hardship and hostility, especially to an illegal immigrant like her.

Shakira's story

Hear Shakira's story about her encounter with MeCAHT and EXIST and how it changed her life.

The documentary I Wish I Knew​

I Wish I Knew is the story of four people who have experienced human trafficking, sharing their tragic stories in what could seem like the fading light of the sunset. But the sun rises again, and the light of hope leads them to freedom and the birth of new dreams. This docu-drama paints a harrowing picture of human trafficking, exposes the methods of traffickers, and shows ways to combat this heinous crime.

“I made this film because I believe that those who have experienced human trafficking should be given a central role in telling their own stories. My goal is to empower them to raise awareness and prevent human trafficking through their lived experiences. Their voices should lead the way if we want to create meaningful change in anti-human trafficking campaigns.” – Anne Abok, director and screenwriter.

On a sunny Friday in April 2025, the documentary was screened at Cinemateket. The director of the film, Anne Abok, and a team from MeCAHT were present, and the day was filled with exchanges of knowledge, thoughts and reflections. The film screening was followed by a debate moderated by Rebekka Kongsgaard with the following debaters:

• David Zepernick – Observer on the EXIST board, membership and communications director and chairman of the Safe and Alive Foundation
• Jens Ole Bach Hansen – Denmark's Ambassador to Nigeria
• Katja Gunnertoft Bojsen – CKU: Center for Church Development Cooperation
• Trine Pertou Mach – Member of the Danish Parliament

The topics of the debate included:

• The role of Danish politicians in stopping human trafficking
• What would it take for Denmark to become the first slave-free country in the world?
• The role of Danish citizens in combating human trafficking
• What it takes to create action in the fight against human trafficking
• The fight against human trafficking in Nigeria and existing measures
• What initiatives could make a difference?

Here you can see pictures from the inspiring day