Liberian exiled activist and social justice advocate Martin K. N. Kollie has awarded ten fully funded TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) scholarships to members of the United Disabled Women of Liberia (UDWL), Margibi Chapter, as part of efforts to empower persons living with disabilities across the country.
The donation was announced on Wednesday during celebrations marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Harbel City. Kollie, who currently heads the Martin K. N. Kollie Foundation, was represented at the event by Liberian journalist Emmanuel M. Kangar, Jr.
Speaking on behalf of the foundation, Kangar encouraged persons with disabilities to remain confident and embrace their identity despite daily challenges.
“Feel proud of your condition and live a happy life,” he told the gathering. “If you defeat yourselves too soon, you’re pushing yourselves one step back.”
He emphasized the need for Liberians to show empathy rather than discrimination toward people with disabilities.
“Let’s support them, not bully them,” Kangar urged. “Because tomorrow you might be disabled too — not my prayer for you.”
The UDWL Margibi Chapter had gathered women, caregivers, advocates, and partners for the annual observance, which highlights rights, representation, and inclusive development for persons with disabilities. Kangar said the foundation’s intervention aims to create opportunities for economic independence by equipping beneficiaries with practical skills.
At the close of the program, Kangar formally pledged the 10 fully funded TVET scholarships to the organization, stressing that education and skills training remain key tools for empowerment.
The UDWL CEO Madam Deborah S. Foko expressed gratitude to the foundation for its support, noting that such gestures help strengthen their mission of advocating for dignity, opportunity, and inclusion for all persons with disabilities in Liberia.
