Interview with Dr. Mohsin Jaffer
My involvement with the Wheelchair Foundation began through Scott Ford, who was President of Broward Health Foundation while I served on its board. When he transitioned to the Wheelchair Foundation, he introduced me to its work. I immediately saw its potential and brought the idea to Mombasa, Kenya, where I have deep roots and strong connections through Rotary. When I approached local Rotarians, I told them, “We have an option—you have a need.” Their response was immediate: “We have a tremendous need.”
We shipped our first container of 280 wheelchairs, and it was distributed almost instantly. The demand was overwhelming. We followed with a second shipment, and a third is now on its way, allowing us to serve much of southern Kenya.
The need is immense, and the challenges are real. Poverty is widespread, and government corruption often prevents aid from reaching those who need it most. Too often, funds disappear into political systems rather than helping people. That’s why I strongly believe in working through organizations like the Wheelchair Foundation and Rotary. Rotary is particularly effective because it is volunteer-driven on both the giving and receiving ends, with virtually no administrative overhead. Funds raised go directly toward purchasing wheelchairs, while local Rotarians handle logistics, transportation, and distribution.
My wife Fauzia and I started The Mohsin & Fauzia Jaffer Foundation through which we made all our charity and humanitarian endeavors.
My perspective is shaped by experience. I grew up in Mombasa, and my family has lived in Kenya for generations. I studied medicine in India on scholarship and returned to work in rural Kenya, where I saw firsthand how lack of mobility traps people in dependency. Without a wheelchair, many are forced into a life of begging. With one, they can become independent and productive. It’s a simple intervention with profound impact. Later, I came to the United States for medical residency in the early 1980s. At that time, conditions in East Africa had become increasingly hostile for Asians. In America, I found something different—I was judged by my work, not my background. That opportunity allowed me to build a life and, in turn, give back.
Rotary has been a constant thread throughout my life. I !rst joined as a student in Kenya, leading an Interact Club project to raise funds for a television in a polio clinic—giving children their !rst connection to the outside world. Years later, I joined Rotary Club of Weston, Florida, in District 6990 where I remain active today. For me, philanthropy is a responsibility. Some of us are fortunate to have more than we need. The question is not how much we accumulate, but what we do with it. At the end of the day, we are measured by the lives we’ve touched. A single wheelchair can transform not just one life, but an entire family’s future. That’s a powerful opportunity to make a real difference.
“WE HAVE AN OPTION—YOU HAVE A NEED.”
THEIR RESPONSE WAS IMMEDIATE:
“WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS NEED.”
Our work now extends beyond Kenya to places like Tanzania, Zanzibar, and the Bahamas, with plans to expand further. Africa, in particular, has long been exploited for its resources while its people remain underserved. Yet the people themselves are generous, resilient, and deserving of far more support. Through partnerships with dedicated individuals and organizations, we are making meaningful progress—and I am committed to continuing this work for as long as I can. I have told my Rotary Club, anywhere you find there is a need and you want to send wheelchairs, my foundation – The Mohsin and Fauzia Jaffer Foundation – will step up to the plate and help.