Madam Happy was born with a heart for the vulnerable. As a child, she dreamed of building an orphanage. As an adult, she built something even more difficult — a special needs school in a community that did not initially understand or accept it.

She is the Proprietor of Happy Academy. She is also the head cook, the fundraiser, the social worker, the parent counselor, and, when necessary, the groundnut farmer.

When funds run low — and they often do — Madam Happy goes to the farm. She cultivates groundnuts with her own hands. She harvests, processes, and sells them to buy food for the children. Her husband, Awuni Adongo, works beside her.

They have sold personal belongings to keep the school running. They have gone without salaries so children could eat. They have held crying parents and welcomed abandoned children at midnight.

She does not ask for recognition. She asks for partners. She asks for people who will not let these children be forgotten.

“I never imagined I would be farming groundnuts to keep a school alive. But for these children, I would do anything. Every child here is my child. I will never abandon them.”
— Madam Happy Emmanuella Akunlibey