Inger Ellen Nicolaisen grew up in the countryside of Northern Norway in a so-called dysfunctional home. Her mother worked outside the home and her father was an alcoholic, which meant she had to take responsibility for herself and her brothers at an early age.
On the day of her confirmation, she became pregnant with Linda, and as an all-too-young single mother, she experienced first-hand the anxiety and worry about how to make ends meet, and when she started her very first hair salon at the age of 24, a milestone was reached.
However, Inger Ellen’s journey was not to stop there. Her determination, drive and dedication to creating her own reality led her to open hair salon number fifty in 2000, and as one of the few female leaders in Norway, she led the way and paved the way for the generations that came after her.
Inger was awarded several prizes for her leadership, including “The Art of Leadership”, “Business Woman of the Year” and “Entrepreneur of the Year”.
In 2005, she hosted the TV program “Kandidaten” on TV Norway, wrote the book “Drivkraft” and in 2017 TV2 made the documentary “Løvetannmillionæren” based on the book “Det skulle ikke vært mulig” which shows her life and work, from young mother to successful businesswoman.
Inger Ellen’s heart has always beaten strongly for the weakest, especially for children. A shipment of shampoo bottles to Lithuania in 1995 was an important moment in her life.
She was sent photographs of children lying in cramped rooms with shampoo bottles to their cheeks, as if they were teddy bears. This touched the young businesswoman deeply, and together with her eldest daughter Linda, she resolutely set off for the orphanage in Lithuania.
The first meeting turned into many, and Inger Ellen visited the Globos Namai orphanage every year for two seasons.
In addition to contributing money, clothes, food and much-needed equipment, she organized excursions, activities, English lessons and gatherings for the children during each visit.
Her co-workers also became heavily involved in the work, and every November the head office was filled with pallets of clothes and toys that were packed and sent to the children at the orphanage.
In the summer, small groups of children came to Norway for summer camp and stayed with Inger Ellen.
Inger Ellen’s strong desire to help more people led her to start the private foundation “A hand to children” on her birthday, November 15, 2000.
November 15, 2000, she started the private foundation “A hand to children”. The aim of the foundation is to give orphaned and abandoned children a better life and hope for the future.
Inger Ellen has three biological children, but there are as many as fourteen children who call her mom.
Her desire to help orphans in need has led to eleven children joining the extended family over the past twenty years, all from the Globos Namai orphanage in Lithuania.
It’s safe to say that Christmas dinners and holidays are a busy time for Inger Ellen, who continues to live in her home village of Misvær in northern Norway.
The family now has grandchildren – five so far – and Inger Ellen can’t wait for the next one.
Inger Ellens received a poem from the manager of the orphanage on her first visit, which has been the foundation of her work for children, both privately and through the foundation A hand to children;
J. Paskauskiene
Your contribution helps to make a difference in the lives of children.
No one can help everyone, but everyone can help someone.
