Pandora Duyen

Pandora Duyen - The Harmony Center

 Left -Pandora working with a student at Harmony

 During the war in Liberia, Pandora’s husband traveled to Sierra Leone for a peace talk, leaving her with the children. While he was away, the rebels captured Monrovia. For fear of being killed, she hid in the  forest with her children for safety.  

They spent three months in the forest.  While in hiding, her daughter Danielette contracted a fever, but  there was no medication available.  Pandora realized that her daughter could die, so she decided to go to the town, no matter what was going to happen.  It took them two days to get to where the rebels were. 

  When they finally arrived in Kakata City, she took Danielette to the hospital.  By this time, the child could not talk nor walk.  After Danielette recovered from the sickness, she could not do anything for herself. From that time, Pandora began to do everything for her daughter.  After working with Danielette for so long and  seeing how rejected she felt when no one paid  attention to her, or when other children   refused to play with her, Pandora realized that all  children with disabilities in her community had a great need for love and care. 

  Pandora moved to Ghana in 2002 when another wave of violence broke out in Liberia. While in Buduburam Refugee Camp, a representative from a local  organization focused on disabilities contacted Pandora to register Danielette. 

Because of her passion for disabled children, she volunteered her services to work with them.   In 2006, Pandora along with a French Physiotherapist and other mothers like herself,  started a Disabled Children's School, named The Harmony Children's Center.   Pandora is the present coordinator of the organization.  Pandora wants to make the disabled children “feel as if they are not different from the others” she says.  For this, she will need the help of kind hearted people like you to help make her dream come true. 

  Pandora explained that thanks to The Niapele Project, who after hearing their story came to their aid, she is able to continue her mission. There is much more to be done, of course. Pandora would like to setup a computer room for the children, and a playground, as well as provide transport from home to school so that even the most disabled can still attend. She would also like her organization to assist with medical care, and be a provider of quality services for  families of disabled children.

This story is featured in our Newsletter! Check out Vol.1, Issue 3