We are so excited that you are interested in coming alongside us here at Rafiki to meet the many and varying needs of our children. The Child Sponsorship Program is a way for you to connect with us, helping to meet the needs of the ministry and the individual needs of children. This is vital to the success of our mission here in Uganda and you play an essential role in Rafiki Africa Ministries when you commit to sponsoring a child.
The following information shows more about how the sponsorship program works and what the ministry is doing on the ground to change the lives of children that have desperate physical, emotional and spiritual needs by providing love and hope through Jesus Christ. Jump on into this adventure with us and help us make an impact in the lives of children and communities in Uganda.
Why is my sponsorship important to the life of my child and what does my $35/month help provide for them?
Your support will be helping to provide children with a home environment that is enriching, safe, and fun. Your financial support is crucial in helping us meet the large and small needs of our children. This includes those of clothing items, school fees and educational needs (uniforms, backpacks, notebooks, pencils, etc.), quality medical care (vaccines, medicines, etc.), nutritional food and clean water, housing costs and household needs, as well as opportunities for educational and spiritual growth (church attendance, going swimming or to the zoo, etc.).
How much of my monthly support goes directly for the needs of my child?
Rafiki tracks every dollar donated to its mission. We take your faith in God’s work through Rafiki very seriously. We act diligently to use our resources as efficiently and effectively as possible to ensure that your financial support goes directly to your sponsored child.
Do I get to choose the child I am sponsoring?
Yes, you can choose to sponsor a boy or girl. However, we would prefer to match you to a child that is in need of a sponsor. We understand that sometimes sponsors bond with a specific child’s journey or story. If you feel a strong attachment to a specific child then please let us know.
How is a child eligible to be sponsored through Rafiki?
The children in our sponsorship program are the children that are living at the Rafiki Children’s Home. It also includes those children that have previously lived at Rafiki and have now been resettled with their families as part of our family reunification program. When we move to the Rafiki Village, we plan to provide access to education for those children in the community that are not attending school due to lack of school fees and educational costs.
How do the children come to be in the Rafiki Home?
We are notified about orphaned, abandoned, and abused children that are in need of a home. These children are referred to us by government social workers, child welfare officers, and from police. When a child is brought to the Rafiki Home, we become the legal guardians of these children through court orders approved by the family court judges. This gives us the responsibility of being the family and parents of these children. Many of these children come to us with hurtful pasts. Many have been abused or neglected. They have emotional burdens that have to be overcome. Through the love of Jesus we are able to provide them a stable and loving home environment as we work to trace and reunite them with family.
When I sign up to sponsor a child through Rafiki, how long does sponsorship last?
We wish to see children in the program complete their education through university or vocational training.
What happens to my child if I am unable to continue my sponsorship?
If you are for any reason unable to continue sponsoring your child, please contact us. We will begin to look for another sponsor for your child and ensure they are able to stay in the program and stay in school.
What happens when my child graduates or leaves the program?
When your child graduates secondary school you will be offered the opportunity to sponsor your child through university or vocational training. We strive to be a family and want to support our children no matter what age they are. We will continue to support them into adulthood until they can function in the Ugandan community on their own. We know that every child is different and we do not have an age limit set for stopping our support. We wish to be a true family to these children and act as parents and grandparents even as they grow into adulthood and start their own families.
Can I sponsor monthly more than one child through Rafiki?
The option to monthly sponsor 2 or more children through Rafiki is available. Sponsorship of each child is $35 a month, if you are sponsoring 2 children it would be $70 a month, 3 children it would be $105, and so on. You can choose to donate more than the recommended $35/month for your child. It takes more than 1 sponsor to support each child. We recommend $35/month because sharing the cost of supporting a child is affordable for most individuals and families.
Will my child have more than one sponsor? And if so, why?
Because it costs more than $35 a month to provide for everything the children need, we have multiple sponsors for each of our children. To ensure that they receive the best care possible, each of our children needs to have 8-10 monthly sponsors to provide for them sufficiently. Your monthly support combined with others is vital to meeting the needs of the children.
Can I send my child a letter? Do I send it to Uganda?
The children treasure letters from their sponsors. I can tell you from experience that your words not only help your child feel valued and important, but they can also help them heal after tragedy. We would love to encourage you to communicate with your child. Hearing from their sponsors is such an encouragement and makes them feel special. The children are very excited whenever a card comes for them and prize their treasured letters and cards. Writing to your child allows you to build a relationship with them. You are able to encourage them, show them they have worth and are valued, and support them as they are growing up. We would love to see lasting and impacting relationships being made through our sponsorship family!
In your letters you can send a photo of you and your immediate family, this helps them know a little about you and will help them write a letter to you. You can also send scripture for them to memorize, prayers for them, stickers, hand drawn pictures or colorful postcards. These are all items that the children treasure and help build a relationship with their sponsor.
You can write to your child at the following address:
Rafiki Africa Ministries
c/o Sara Hamilton Barugahare
P.O. Box 14668
Kireka, Kampala, Uganda, East Africa
Sending a letter by Email:
We realize you may have a busy schedule, making email a more convenient choice for writing. You may send an email to your child at: sara@rafikiministries.org We will print off your email and give it to your child. By using email, you have the option of typing or handwriting a letter and scanning it to us. You also have the option to attach photos.
Can I come and visit my child in Uganda?
Taking on sponsorship of a child for years is a big commitment and your child will greatly appreciate what you are doing for them through sponsorship. Committing to a trip to Uganda can be a big commitment as well. If you would like to come to Kampala, Uganda to visit your child we would love for you to. Please notify us at least 6 months in advance before you want to come so that we can work with you to make your time with us the best possible.
Do you currently do international adoptions through Rafiki?
We do NOT do international adoptions through Rafiki. The majority of children in Uganda have extended family. We work to follow the Alternative Care Framework closely and provide opportunities for children to be reunited with family. If this is not an option, then we work to find a loving, Christian fostercare family that can provide a home for the child.
I have more questions about sponsoring a child through Rafiki. How do I get those questions answered?
We would love to answer questions that you have about our sponsorship program. You can email Sara Hamilton Barugahare at sara@rafikiministries.org with your questions and we will be in touch with you as soon as we can.