Rafiki Foundation provides for the physical, spiritual, educational, medical and social needs of nearly 1,000 orphan children in 10 sub-Saharan African countries. The organization is headquartered in Florida. Shown is the executive director of Rafiki, Karen Elliot, with just a few of the children served by Rafiki. Locally, the area representation is Joe Baucom of Winona Lake.

Nearly 1,000 orphan children in 10 sub-Saharan countries are currently being sheltered, clothed, fed and loved thanks to the Rafiki Foundation. Since 2001, the organization’s mission has been to provide housing, medical and educational programs for orphans and vulnerable children in impoverished African nations.

It was photos of these children, as well as a friend’s commitment to the cause, that led Joe Baucom to make Rafiki his full time ministry.

“A friend of my wife was raising support (to become a missionary) for Rafiki. She wound up selling her house, putting all she had into the cause,” explained Baucom, who lives in Winona Lake. “At first, I started a prayer group for the ministry, and eventually I started raising money and making people aware of Rafiki full time.”

Baucom is an area representative of the Rafiki Foundation, covering Indiana and other Midwestern states. Several years ago, he visited the Rafiki village in Kenya for a short-term mission trip.

“Many of these children come very, very ill and they are nursed back to health,” said Baucom. “They are given food, friends and family. Each child lives with an African Christian mother in a family group of 10 children.”

Each Rafiki village also includes an accredited school from Pre-K through 12th grade. Children and teenagers from nearby communities also attend the schools at no cost. The schools’ curriculums meet the educational standards and requirements for each country. Medical and dental care is also provided to the villages.

Baucom is currently working on a project to obtain donations of various school supplies, which will be used for the children who attend Rafiki’s schools.

Items needed include No. 2 pencils, blue and black ink pens, construction paper, colored pencils, dry erase markers, Crayola markers, small pencil sharpeners, children’s scissors and rulers with inch and metric measurements. Art supplies like paints, art posters, canvas, easels and sketchbooks as well as musical instruments and classical music CDs would also be helpful.

The local donation drop off point is the McDonald’s at 3611 Commerce Dr. in Warsaw. Donations will be accepted through the end of December.

For more information about the Rafiki Foundation, go to www.rafikifoundation.org, or contact Baucom at 574-370-2699 or [email protected].