Liberian activist and philanthropist Martin K. N. Kollie has released a comprehensive review of the work carried out by the Martin K. N. Kollie (MKNK) Foundation during 2025, highlighting more than 31 direct interventions aimed at education, youth empowerment, social welfare, and national development.
Reflecting on the year, Kollie emphasized that activism must go beyond advocacy and protest. According to him, the real measure of impact lies in providing sustainable solutions that empower people to improve their own lives.
“More action. More work. Less talking,” Kollie stated, as he outlined a year marked by scholarships, humanitarian support, infrastructure development, and social cohesion initiatives across multiple counties.
Massive Investment in Education and Skills Development
Education remained the cornerstone of the Foundation’s work in 2025. Among the flagship achievements was the provision of full four-year scholarships to 40 Liberians at Smythe University College, including beneficiaries from county student unions, persons with disabilities, and persons with albinism.
The Foundation also extended scholarships and financial aid to dozens of students at institutions such as the University of Liberia, African Methodist Episcopal University, United Methodist University, AMEZU, and Margibi University. A total of L$300,000 was paid in entrance fees for 100 students at the University of Liberia, including visually impaired and deaf students.
Technical and vocational education received significant attention. Over 300 young Liberians benefited from full or partial TVET scholarships at institutions including AVTI, GONET Academy, AlphaTech, LYCEP, ForLife Technical Institute, and KEN Skills Training Institute. Additionally, 60 adolescent girls were supported to acquire vocational and life skills, reinforcing the Foundation’s commitment to gender inclusion.
To strengthen academic preparedness, the Foundation sponsored intensive WAEC tutorial and preparatory programs for more than 1,300 high school students across Montserrado County.
Support for Journalism, Sports, and Technology
Recognizing the role of a free press, the MKNK Foundation awarded scholarships to 10 aspiring journalists at the Peter Quaqua School of Journalism and donated 150 bags of cement toward the construction of the Press Union of Liberia headquarters.
In sports development, the Foundation donated jerseys, footballs, and training equipment to the Montserrado County Sports Team, while also supporting cultural and entertainment events that promote unity and social cohesion.
One of the year’s most notable technology interventions was the donation and installation of Starlink high-speed internet infrastructure at William V. S. Tubman High School, Liberia’s largest public high school, significantly improving access to digital learning resources.
Humanitarian Aid and Social Justice Interventions
Beyond education, the Foundation provided humanitarian assistance to vulnerable groups, including the distribution of rice to communities, elderly citizens, persons with disabilities, orphanages, and students. During Ramadan, 40 bags of rice were donated to Muslim communities and mosques.
The Foundation also supported a disabled single mother in Bong County with a new wheelchair, a sewing machine, and a small business grant, while hiring legal representation for Liberians who were abused or exploited.
Through fundraising efforts, the organization raised tens of thousands of U.S. dollars to support medical cases and other urgent humanitarian needs.
Youth Empowerment, Culture, and International Exposure
In 2025, the Foundation enrolled 65 Liberians into the first cohort of its Foreign Scholarship Assistance Program, expanding opportunities for international education. It also organized an information webinar on migration to Canada, aimed at education and anti-scam awareness.
The MKNK Foundation further promoted Liberian creativity by supporting artists S.I.O and Larry G, both of whom won multiple awards during the year, and by backing several Liberian-owned startups and initiatives.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Concluding the year-in-review, Kollie expressed gratitude to supporters and renewed his commitment to youth empowerment and national development.
“We will do more for our people in 2026,” he said, adding that a new Liberia, where every citizen can live with dignity and self-worth, is achievable within this generation.
The Foundation ended its message with festive season greetings to Liberians at home and abroad, reaffirming its optimism, faith, and resolve to continue making tangible impacts across the country.
