Sunday Foundation Launches Tuition-Free, Ultra-Modern College of Health Sciences in Makeni

The Sunday Foundation (SF), a humanitarian organisation based in the Netherlands, has opened the Sunday Foundation School of Health Sciences (SFCHS) in Makeni, providing free tuition and uniforms to enrolled students. The opening of the cutting-edge college in Maboleh, three miles from Makeni in Shebora Chiefdom, Bombali District, has been widely praised by students, community leaders, and education stakeholders, who see the initiative as a significant contribution to Sierra Leone’s human capital development.
The new institution, located on a five-acre site, is intended to provide students with modern facilities and hands-on training in a variety of health and community-related disciplines. The campus has an e-library, a skills laboratory for hands-on practical instruction, a computer laboratory, well-appointed lecture halls, administrative and faculty offices, a staff room, registrar and principal’s offices, multiple toilets, and the infrastructure needed for basic services like a water well and electricity supply. The facility also has 12 dedicated offices for administrative, faculty, and departmental staff, and the foundation has stated that it plans to expand in the future to accommodate projected growth.
SFCHS will offer diploma and certificate programs in Nursing, Public Health, Reproductive Health, Community Development Studies, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) during the 2025/26 academic year. All courses have been approved by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), the National Council for Technical, Vocational, and Other Academic Awards (NCTVA), and the Sierra Leone Nurses and Midwives Council (SLNMC). The school claims that its teachers are trained, qualified, experienced, and committed to the institution’s mission.
The current academic year has enrolled slightly more than 100 students, the majority of whom are female. Most programs will last three years, and the school administration has indicated that some courses will be upgraded to degree status in the future, subject to accreditation by the appropriate authorities. The administration is also actively pursuing affiliation agreements with established Sierra Leonean academic institutions to strengthen academic ties and ensure quality.
The student body is geographically diverse, with students coming from districts all over the country, including Kabala, Bonthe, Kambia, and Freetown. Some students attended Sunday Foundation primary and secondary schools in other parts of Sierra Leone before transferring to SFCHS. According to the founders, this vertical educational pathway is part of the Foundation’s long-term strategy to increase access to high-quality education and vocational training.
Students who spoke to reporters praised the college and its faculty. Fatmata Kamara, who is enrolled in the three-year Diploma in Nursing (Registered Nurse program), praised lecturers for their commitment, punctuality, and professionalism. She cited a strict policy prohibiting the sale or purchase of pamphlets, which can impede equitable access to learning materials, and described the free tuition and uniform provision as a “golden opportunity.” “After graduation, I hope to save lives and serve my country. “I’m passionate about nursing,” she said.
Another student, Abdul Rahman Sesay, who is studying Business Administration, stated that the lecturers are “up to the task” and that coursework includes weekly progress tests. He also mentioned some pressing student needs, such as transportation, hostel accommodations, and access to a mosque for worship. College officials acknowledged these challenges and stated that they are working to address student welfare concerns as the institution expands.
Administrators expressed their optimism about the college’s future. They believe that SFCHS has the potential to become one of Sierra Leone’s fastest-growing tertiary institutions, not just in Bombali District, and they are actively seeking accreditation and partnerships to elevate some programs to university-level offerings.
The Sunday Foundation has been involved in educational philanthropy in Sierra Leone for over two decades. Over the last 20 years, the organisation has established 67 schools across the country, providing free tuition and uniforms, as well as technical and vocational centres to expand opportunities for underprivileged children and youth.
Alimamy Sawyer Bangura, National Coordinator of the Sunday Foundation in Sierra Leone, credited the organisation’s many accomplishments to its founder and CEO, Mr Sander De Kramer, the Kramer family, and a network of supporters in the Netherlands. He praised their “huge sacrifice” and dedication to providing education to underprivileged children in rural areas of the country. “Education is the key to development and enlightenment,” Bangura said, noting that without such interventions, many children would have missed out on the opportunity to become productive members of society.
With the establishment of the Sunday Foundation School of Health Sciences, the foundation has taken another concrete step toward strengthening Sierra Leone’s health workforce and increasing access to higher education. Community leaders and education stakeholders will closely monitor the institution’s ambitious plans for growth, accreditation, and expanded program offerings in the coming years.