Ropheka Foundation is a registered charitable trust founded by Sam and Karin Johnson in 2011. The Foundation is based in Kalimpong, India, in the foothills of the Himalayas. The term Ropheka comes from the Hebrew title ascribed to God, Jehovah Ropheka, the God who heals.
Our Founders and Board Members
Sam (Jacob) Johnson (Founder and Chairman/Managing Trustee)
I was born and raised in Kerala, in southern India. I worked for some companies and also as a pastor of a small church. I got trained and skilled in primary healthcare and community development when I was working with Youth with a Mission (YWAM). In 1995 I went to Nepal where I set up a community development project in a remote village in the north of Nepal, together with two Nepali friends. I have a compassion for the poor and love to drive long distances on bad roads to help those in need. In 1996 I came to Kalimpong where I met my wife in October 1997.
Karin Johnson (Co-founder)
I grew up in the Netherlands and completed my nursing degree in Groningen. I am also a certified nursing officer for developing countries. My compassion for the less privileged people in Asia and especially in the Himalayan region, motivated me to make a radical change in my life. In 1995 I went to India after having worked as a registered nurse for 7 years. In India I completed a very practical primary healthcare training with Y.WA.M. I met my husband in 1997. I enjoyed developing primary health care school teaching materials, workbooks for students and primary health care treatment protocols.
India.
Sam and Karin love to help people in hard-to-reach areas. In 2001 they started working in India in remote mountain villages of Sikkim and West Bengal, as well as in the plain rural areas of West Bengal. At first, they were part of Youth with a Mission (YWAM). In 2011, they founded Ropheka Foundation. As a couple they have been part of Interserve. India since 2014.
Kiran Chettri (Secretary of the Board)
I was born and raised in a small village called Pedong. I grew up in an orphanage. I feel blessed that I was able to complete my college in 2003. I got married in 2003 when I worked with YWAM. My wife’s name is Lydia and God has blessed us with four children. For the past 16 years I have been running an orphanage in Kalimpong. I have been the manager of Hope Family trust since 2005. I am happy to be a board member of RF, boosting the improvement of health awareness in the life of mountain people and serving the underprivileged in society.
Thejangunuo Tungoe (Treasurer, Board Member)
I was born and brought up in Nagaland, India. I finished my graduation from Nagaland after which I pursued my Bachelor of Theology in Pune. There I met my husband and after our studies we got married. We are settled in Kalimpong. My husband and I work in a church in Kalimpong. We have many opportunities to reach out and help people in different villages. Partnering with Ropheka Foundation has given us a platform to help the people with primary health care and also open two dispensaries in two villages where there was a great need. It gives me such joy to help these remote communities in practical ways.
Our Vision
We envision transformed rural communities in the areas where we work. A future with people who will be healthy and prosperous, who will be empowered to become compassionate agents of change.
Our Mission
Our mission is to facilitate conditions improving the well-being of people and transforming rural communities by:
- Introducing affordable primary healthcare to villages … MORE
- Training local people in primary healthcare … MORE
- Helping to set up small self- sustainable health posts … MORE
- Raising awareness and offering basic health education … MORE
- Promoting self-sufficiency via micro-credits … MORE
- Assisting with temporary relief work during natural disasters … MORE
- Offering emotional and mental care … MORE
Our Methods
- We aim for sustainability of projects and local ownership.
- We partner with local leaders, churches, village committees or village elders. We visit and work in a village on the basis that we are invited.
- We honor the needs of the community and don’t enforce our own methods of help.
- We train people as health workers and assist them in setting up sustainable health posts.
- We encourage people to use their own local resources.
- We are open to work with doctors, other health workers or NGO’s.
- We expect local people to host and protect us, as well as facilitate our work for them.
- We share our knowledge of healthcare with others so as to empower people instead of merely helping them.
- We aim to train people who will be able to train others.
- Local leaders or committees have to decide which people are eligible for receiving micro credits. Consequently, they will be responsible for the progress of the project.
Our Values
Holistic Development: We are committed to care not only for a person as an individual but also as being part of their family,community and environment. We consider their spiritual, physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.
Sustainability: Sustainability is not just about financial independence or long-term projects. We prefer to see it as an ongoing process of positive change regarding individuals and whole communities.