About Us
The
Bong Kwatekeh Association II of Minnesota is a community-based organization
whose members are largely immigrants from Bong County,
Liberia, West Africa, and
residing in Minnesota, USA. Kwatekeh is the kpelle word
meaning "Let Us Work." Kpelle is the single largest tribal group in Liberia, West Africa.
The Association was founded in 2003 and is certified by the Internal Revenue
Service of the United States Treasury Department as a 501 (C) (3) non-profit
organization. The initial reason for establishing the Association was for former
residents/citizens of Bong County, Liberia residing in Minnesota to come together for the purpose
of social interactions. Since then, the organization's mission has changed to
reflect individuals’ empowerment and community social services programs. The
organization is also a chapter member of United Bong County Associations in the
Americas (UBCAA).
Mission Statement
The
Mission
of Bong Kwatekeh Association II of Minnesota is to create partnerships in developing
and implementing community-based programs that focus on the areas of education,
health, and economic empowerment and other issues and concerns common to the
Association's members.
The
Vision of Bong Kwatekeh is to build
a bridge between all interest groups and stakeholders of Bong
County both at home and in the
Diaspora and to enable the exchange of cooperation and partnership in fostering
development efforts in Minnesota, USA and Bong
County, Liberia.
The
membership of Bong Kwatekeh
Association is open and free to all persons of Bong County,
Liberia origin, their
children and spouses and all persons connected to Bong Kwatekeh Association or Bong County
through friendship, professional or humanitarian activity.
Current Projects
• Teen Pregnancy Program (MN- USA)
• Youth Violence Prevention Program (MN-USA)
• Scholarships to Needy Students ( Liberia)
• Crisis Assistance Program for Members (MN-USA)
Future Project Areas
• Computer Literacy
• Job Search and Application Workshop
• Immigration
• Agricultural
• Health
• Economic Empowerment