Freetown, Sierra Leone – September 2026
Social Workers Sierra Leone (SWSL) has marked a major milestone: Eight years of uninterrupted Sunday Meal Service for individuals experiencing homelessness in Freetown.
What began in 2018 with just 25 meals packed in plastic bags has grown into a consistent weekly humanitarian response to food poverty in the capital. From the SWSL Secretariat on Sander Street to the Central Business District and beyond, SWSL has not missed a single Sunday in eight years.
“The Sunday Meal Service is a testimony that when we unite together, we can solve a problem,” said Hassan Koroma Jr., Founder and National Coordinator of SWSL.
The service was started in 2018 in response to the persistent neglect and discrimination faced by people experiencing homelessness. Food poverty, alongside lack of shelter and healthcare, became the most urgent challenge. From a social work perspective, meeting basic human needs is a critical first step in supporting vulnerable persons to live with dignity.
In Freetown, 3 in 5 people experiencing homelessness are persons with disabilities, including those living with mental health conditions. Many with psychiatric conditions face stigma and exclusion from mainstream community life.
SWSL attributes this milestone to its partners and supporters. Special appreciation goes to: Caritas Freetown– for continued rice donations, Grant & Jones T/A Red Lion Bakery – for bread weekly donations, Freetown Keke Tour – for their regular water donations, Lift a Village – for facilitating overseas donations
– And to all individual donors and volunteers who show up every week
“We know it’s not easy — the giving, the sacrifice, the belief in this work. And we know it’s not easy for our volunteers either, showing up every Sunday,” Koroma said. “But because of you, it’s possible. Because of you, people who are struggling feel seen, loved, and respected. It is hard, but it is necessary — and you make it happen.”
The Sunday Meal Service is more than a feeding program. It affirms the dignity and worth of people experiencing homelessness. It reminds vulnerable persons that they are valued. It also serves as a platform for the social work profession, providing learning opportunities for social work interns and new practitioners from various institutions.
SWSL-Social Workers Sierra Leone is a non-governmental, non-profit organization established in 2012 to support the professional development of social workers in Sierra Leone. The organization is committed to enhancing the quality of life for individuals and communities, with a focus on serving vulnerable people.
As SWSL enters its 9th year of service, serving one hundred persons experiencing homelessness standing a chance of receiving breakfast and lunch every Sunday.The organization is calling on more partners to support and expand this work.