GOMPA CITY (GANTA), NIMBA COUNTY — In Liberia’s northeastern commercial hub, a couple living with disabilities is rewriting the narrative of resilience, entrepreneurship, and parental devotion. Mr. Winston D. Saye, 40, who is visually impaired, and his wife, Mrs. Patricia Flomo, 31, who has a physical disability, have become symbols of perseverance in a city where opportunity and hardship often coexist.
To sustain their family, the couple produces and sells liquid soap. Despite their tireless efforts, earnings from the small business fall short of daily needs and school fees. All of their children are currently out of school—a reality that weighs heavily on them.
“We’re calling on philanthropists—individuals and organizations—to intervene and help us give our children the education they deserve,” Patricia said. “As parents with disabilities, we face unique challenges, but we believe our children shouldn’t be denied a future because of our situation.”
Winston echoed her plea: “We want our children to have the opportunities we never had. We need support to ensure they receive the best possible education and a brighter future.”
A Love Forged in Adversity
Their journey together began in 2008 in Ganta, where Patricia was rebuilding her life after a debilitating illness at age 16 left her unable to walk. She spent nearly seven years isolated and searching for remedies, a period marked by stigma and social rejection. Only her late parents, she recalled, stood by her.
“I was severely ill, abandoned, and isolated in a kitchen where I shared the night with domestic animals,” Patricia said.
Eventually, her older sister brought her to Ganta, where she started selling oranges to survive. There, Winston’s sister introduced the two, sparking a partnership grounded in mutual understanding and shared struggle.
Winston’s disability occurred later. In 2012, while working on his farm, a pepper pod injured his eye. Without access to proper medical care, his condition deteriorated; by February 2013, he had lost his sight completely.
“I hustled to get small money to buy medicine,” he said. “But I lost my sight finally at age 28.”
Business Spirit on Wheels
Despite physical limitations, Winston and Patricia built a modest soap enterprise. Their teamwork is striking: Winston pushes Patricia’s wheelchair while she balances bottles of soap on her lap or head, navigating Ganta’s streets to reach customers. Their determination has earned admiration from neighbors and market-goers, though encouragement alone cannot cover tuition or put food on the table.
“It’s been challenging, but we’re happy together,” Patricia said. “We appreciate the people of Ganta who admire our determination and business spirit.”
A Call to Action
The couple’s plea is more than a request for charity; it is a call for inclusive development and educational equity. Their experience reflects the broader barriers facing families with disabilities in Liberia, where access to education and healthcare remains uneven and support services are often limited.
As Winston and Patricia continue to push forward—literally and figuratively—they hope their children will one day walk paths paved with opportunity, not obstacles.
“Disability is not inability,” Winston said. “But we need help to ensure our children don’t inherit our limitations.”
Editor’s note: Ganta is commonly referred to as Gompa City. Names and quotes are used with the couple’s consent.
