650 Marginalized Young Liberians to Benefit from FAWE-Mastercard Foundation Bursaries
MONROVIA, Liberia, October 9, 2026 – The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Liberia has announced that 650 marginalized young women and men across 10 counties will receive bursary support for university and technical training under Phase II of the FAWE-Mastercard Foundation Program.
Speaking at a press conference in Monrovia today, FAWE Liberia Executive Director Hon. Millias Z. Sherrif said the selected participants form the program’s first cohort. They will access higher education through a bridging program and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
“The program is designed to increase access to quality higher education, both university and TVET opportunities, for marginalized young women and men in Liberia,” Hon. Sherrif told journalists.
1,447 Applicants
The recruitment drive drew 1,447 applications: 816 for university and 631 for TVET. Of these, 763 applicants were female, 673 were male, and 11 did not state their gender. Females made up 52.7 percent of the pool.
Twenty-eight applicants were persons with disabilities (1.9 percent), and 111 were refugees or internally displaced persons (7.7 percent).
In the university stream, Cuttington University drew the most applicants with 249, followed by Stella Maris Polytechnic University with 227. Grand Bassa University received 62, Nimba University 52, the Lutheran University of Liberia (Phebe-Esther Bacon College of Health Sciences) 46, and William V.S. Tubman University 20. Twelve applicants were undecided and 148 did not name an institution.
Montserrado County led all counties with 508 applicants, followed by Bong with 248 and Lofa with 196. Grand Bassa recorded 106, Margibi 88 and Nimba 85. Smaller numbers came from Maryland, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, Grand Kru, Bomi, Gbarpolu and Rivercess, while five applied from outside Liberia. No applications were recorded from River Gee, and 134 applicants did not state their county.
“This breadth of participation demonstrates the significant demand for educational opportunities among young people across Liberia,” Hon. Sherrif said.
Rigorous Selection
Hon. Sherrif stressed that meeting the eligibility requirements did not guarantee selection. Eligible applications were reviewed by National Recruitment Selection Committees made up of representatives of government entities, educational institutions, and youth and civil society organizations.
“Meeting the eligibility requirements did not automatically guarantee selection,” he said, noting that eligible candidates could exceed the places available. He added that FAWE Liberia remains committed to a process marked by “transparency, fairness, integrity, and respect for the dignity of every applicant.”
Partners Thanked
The Executive Director thanked the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Commission on Higher Education, participating universities and TVET institutions, youth groups, the National Commission on Disability, the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. He also thanked committee members at district, county and national levels.
He expressed appreciation to the Mastercard Foundation and FAWE Africa. “This partnership is helping create pathways for young people who may otherwise face significant barriers to accessing higher education and skills development,” he said.
Message to Beneficiaries and Unsuccessful Applicants
Hon. Sherrif congratulated the selected participants and urged them to make the most of the opportunity. “Your success will not only be a personal achievement. It has the potential to inspire other young people and contribute to building a more inclusive, skilled, and educated Liberia,” he said.
He encouraged those not selected to keep going. “Not being selected for this particular opportunity does not diminish your potential, your abilities, or your aspirations. This is the first cohort,” he said.
Next Steps
The next phase will focus on enrollment and onboarding of the selected participants, along with activities to support them through to completion of their programs. Hon. Sherrif also commended the FAWE Liberia team for their work and called on the media to continue providing “accurate, responsible, and timely information” to prospective participants and their families.
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