About Maryland County Association of New Jersey

In November 2003 a group of concerned Liberians met to discuss the wave of changes taking place in Liberia. The agenda focused on how Liberians hailing from Maryland County, Liberia with residencies in the State of New Jersey, as well as friends of Maryland County throughout the Diaspora, could work together to ensure that growth and development is sustained in Maryland County. The outcome, after several brainstorming sessions, is our organization, now called the Maryland County Association of New Jersey Inc; an organization dedicated to the post-war redevelopment of Maryland County located in the southeastern region of Liberia.

Our primary goal is to promote and sustain growth and development in Maryland County throughout and beyond the immediate post-war redevelopment era of Liberia. We are continuously striving to rally more support and resources to improve the standard of living of people whose communities had been devastated by 14 years of civil unrest.

Our accomplishments over the years include a donation of medical supplies to the St Francis Clinic in Pleebo, Maryland County, Liberia, a youth empowerment symposium held at the SMA Fathers Mission in Tenafly, New Jersey in 2004 and sponsorship for students attending the University of Liberia in the capitol city of Monrovia from 2005 on to the present time. Such sponsorship is part of our organization's long ranged plan of preparing future teachers, social workers and other social and health service providers to serve in communities where they are most needed. One caveat included in the agreement signed by the students is that each will render services for at least one year to Maryland County.  

In September 2006 a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was entered into by MCA-New Jersey and the Catholic Education Secretariat (CES) of the Archdiocese of Cape Palmas. MCA-New Jersey will sponsor twenty (20) students, from grades one through twelve for the academic year 2006 - 2007.  Scholarships are awarded on the basis of need. Candidates are required to maintain a “B” average and exhibit good moral conduct.  CES will carefully track and monitor students academic progress to ensure that the program is a success.