At a time when hundreds of young people in Margibi County are being forced out of school due to economic hardship, the Martin K. N. Kollie Foundation has stepped in with a decisive intervention, disbursing more than half a million Liberian dollars in scholarships to keep 75 students.
The scholarship program, which targeted financially struggling but ambitious students, drew over 1,500 applications from across the county. Following a competitive and merit-based selection process, 75 beneficiaries were chosen to pursue studies at three Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and Margibi University.
Of the total beneficiaries, 50 students were enrolled at the Lib Sister Youth Empowerment Vocational Training Program in Kakata, 10 at the Harbel Multilateral Accelerated Vocational Training Program, 10 at the Perfect Love Vocational Training Program in Harbel, and five at Margibi University. The recipients represent a cross-section of young people seeking skills and academic training to improve their livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to national development. The foundation’s Chief Executive Officer and Liberian exiled activist, Martin K. N. Kollie, provided a total of L$600,000 to cover tuition and related costs for the three TVET institutions, along with an additional US$285 in support for the five students attending Margibi University.
The funds were officially received on Thursday, January 8, 2025, by Liberian journalist and foundation team member Emmanuel M. Kangar, Jr., who described the intervention as a lifeline for many young people whose educational dreams were on the verge of collapse. “CEO and Comrade Leader Activist Martin K. N. Kollie, I am deeply grateful for your continued concern and commitment to the development of Margibi County, particularly your focus on empowering our young people through education and skills training,” Kangar said.
Under the program, TVET beneficiaries will earn Certificates and Diplomas in critical skill areas including Plumbing, Masonry, Carpentry, Electricity and Electronics, Automotive Repair and Maintenance, Information Technology, Agriculture, Tailoring, Food and Nutrition, Architecture Drafting, and Metal Work and Fabrication. The Margibi University recipients will pursue Bachelor’s degrees in their respective disciplines. The latest scholarship disbursement underscores the Martin K. N. Kollie Foundation’s growing role in bridging the education gap in Margibi County, offering hope, skills, and a path forward for dozens of young Liberians determined to rise above economic hardship.
