Children of Rural Africa (CORAfrica) was founded by Fr. Peter "Obele" Abue, a Catholic priest who was born and raised in the village of Idum, Cross River State, Nigeria. In collaboration with his immediate community and then-Bishop of Ogoja diocese, Joseph Edra Ukpo, Fr. Abue first created a community foundation with a focus on improving the lives of rural children through education, healthcare and agricultural credit programs in rural villages in 1988. He has since been working with the diocese of Ogoja to alleviate poverty through rural education for children, based on a model of solid community ownership and technical sustainability.

In June 2006, CORAfrica was formally granted the status of a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and has since then been operating its two main offices in Nigeria and the USA. Fr Peter Abue builds upon the experiences and successes of his past work, with the collaboration of his friends like Derek Cabrera and Isatou Jack both past students and classmates at Cornell University, Stephen and Barbara Watson, of Freeville NY, and a score of other volunteers  too numerous to mention. What brings men and women of diverse origins, nationalities, religious persuasions, genders and social status to a common understanding is simple: membership in the one family of the human race, with a mission to make a difference.