The Rafiki Foundation

Episode 28: Teaching Truth in a Digital Age: Why Parents Need Classical Education

Karen Elliott — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Karen Elliott interviews Dr. Robert Littlejohn about his co-authored book Wisdom and Eloquence for Parents and explores why classical Christian education remains a proven model in an age of rapid cultural and technological change. Together, they contrast classical learning with progressive education, highlighting how it forms the mind, strengthens reading and reasoning, and cultivates lifelong wisdom. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, history, and Christian discipleship, this conversation offers parents a compelling vision for educating both the intellect and the soul.

Episode 27: More Than a Mission Trip: Discovering Classical Christian Education at Rafiki

Karen Elliott — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Karen Elliott interviews Veritas Scholars Academy teacher Corey Piper as he shares his experience leading students on a mission trip to the Rafiki Village in Kenya. Through classroom service, Rafiki Bible Studies, and friendships with African students and teachers, he witnessed how classical Christian education and daily Scripture study shape both minds and hearts. Corey reflects on the beauty of Rafiki’s model—combining discipleship, education, and community—and why he hopes more families will experience it firsthand.

Educators and families interested in classical Christian education may also explore the curriculum, teacher training, and scholarly resources published by Classical Academic Press, which serve schools, homeschools, and classical programs around the world.

Episode 26: Classical Christian Education: Going Global with Eric Cook and Dr. David Diener

Karen Elliott — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Karen Elliott interviews Eric Cook and Dr. David Diener. Together they explore the remarkable global growth of classical Christian education and the mission of the Society for Classical Learning to strengthen and expand it in partnerships with organizations like Rafiki Foundation. From Africa to India to Latin America, they explore the opportunities and challenges of translating the classical tradition across cultures while remaining rooted in historic Christian faith and the formation of virtuous leaders. Drawing inspiration from the tradition championed by thinkers such as C.S. Lewis and Augustine, this conversation casts a bold vision for leadership, philanthropy, and global collaboration to build thriving schools that form wise, virtuous students for generations to come.

Episode 25: The Good Teacher: Cultivating Wisdom, Wonder, and Virtue

Karen Elliott — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In this thoughtful and contemplative conversation, Karen Elliott interviews Dr. Christopher Perrin and Carrie Eben. Together they reflect on what makes a teacher truly “good” within the classical Christian tradition, drawing from their work on The Good Teacher and the new ClassicalU course by the same name. They explore the teacher’s sacred vocation as one who imitates Christ, cultivates wonder, and orders students’ loves toward truth, goodness, and beauty. Along the way, they share insights from their experience with Latin, their involvement with Rafiki Foundation, their teacher resources, and how classical educators can recover teaching as a formative art rooted in the Logos.

Episode 24: Logic, Language, and Love: The Mission of John and Gwen Cicone

Karen Elliott — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In this inspiring episode, John and Gwen Cicone share how classical Christian education is flourishing at the Rafiki Village in Moshi, Tanzania—right in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro. From K-12 classrooms to teacher training colleges, they describe the life-changing impact of an education rooted in Scripture, logic, and love. Discover how their students—many from rote-learning backgrounds—are becoming thoughtful, confident, and biblically grounded leaders across East Africa.

Episode 23: From Mexico to Malawi: Leading the Teacher’s College at the Rafiki Village

Karen Elliott — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Karen Elliott speaks with Anna Liebing, head of school and principal of the teacher’s college at the Rafiki Village in Mzuzu, Malawi. Anna shares how classical Christian education is transforming the lives of students, parents, and teachers in one of Africa’s most beautiful regions. With stories of student growth, teacher formation, and the launch of a new accredited college, this episode reveals the deep impact of bringing truth, beauty, and goodness into every classroom.

Episode 22: Beyond the Concert: Global Worship Through Music

Karen Elliott — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Dr. Brady McNeil shares the story of taking the Wheaton Symphonic Band on its first international tour—to Kenya and Tanzania with the Rafiki Foundation. This episode explores the power of music education, global Christian fellowship, and cross-cultural worship as students performed, taught, and partnered with local churches and schools. Hear how music became a bridge between worlds and a blessing to all who listened and played.

Episode 21: Deserts, Dante, and Discipleship: The Global Mission of Classical Education

Karen Elliott — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Brian Williams joins Karen Elliott to explore the growing movement of classical Christian education across Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. Drawing on his global experience and deep historical insight, Williams highlights how this ancient, holistic model of education forms not only the intellect but also the moral, aesthetic, and spiritual lives of students. He casts a compelling vision for the global church to reclaim its rich educational tradition in service to human flourishing—across continents, cultures, and centuries.

Episode 20: Bryan and Alexis McDaniel from Suburbs to Service: A Missionary Family’s Journey to Rafiki

Karen Elliott — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Karen Elliott speaks with Bryan and Alexis McDaniel about their unexpected journey to the Rafiki Village in Mzuzu, Malawi. The McDaniels share how God led them—from suburban life to missionary work with their three young children—through Bible study, prayer, and trust. Their story highlights the joy, challenges, and purpose found in serving through Rafiki’s classical education and discipleship programs.

Episode 19: Lori McDaniel on the Great Commission

Karen Elliott — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0400

In this podcast, Karen Elliott interviews Lori McDaniel the author of the Mission of God and You. It's an excellent resource for mission statistics, inspirational stories and practical strategies to encourage all of us to engage all the more with God's mission to be glorified in all the earth. Rafiki’s implementation of Classical Christian schools across ten countries in Africa is one of those means by which God makes disciples and fulfills that mission. Hence this episode will encourage any Christian to step out in faith to participate in God's global plan either in your own backyard or around the world or maybe as a missionary with RAFIKI!

Episode 18: What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem

Karen Elliott — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 15:27:27 -0400

Karen Elliott and Grant Horner discuss why Christians should read pagan texts and how this applies to classical Christian education in AFrica.

For a full presentation on this refer to Rafiki Foundation's YouTube channel featuring Dr. Grant Horner's presentation at the Rafiki Foundation's classical Christian conference in Kenya and Uganda October 2023.

Episode 17: Robyn Burlew on Classical Christian Education and African Learning Traditions

Karen Elliott — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Karen speaks with veteran educator, Robyn Burlew, about the distinctive features of classical Christian education (CCE) and its particular challenges and opportunities in African contexts.

Episode 16: Church Planting History in Sub-Saharan Africa

Karen Elliott — Fri, 10 May 2024 08:00:00 -0400

What does Athens have to do with Abuja? Classical Christian education in Africa is a part of church history. This episode provides stories from missionary work in nine of the countries where Rafiki serves with brief missionary biographies for both indigenous and expatriate missionaries.

Episode 15: Training Teachers for Rafiki Schools

Karen Elliott — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Karen speaks with Becky and Richard, graduates from Rafiki's teacher training college and current teachers at the Rafiki School in Uganda.

Episode 14: The Student Experience at Rafiki

Karen Elliott — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Karen speaks with a Rafiki alumnus about her experience at the Rafiki school and what she has done since graduating.

Episode 13: The Experiences of Missionaries in the Rafiki Foundation

Karen Elliott — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Karen is joined by two missionaries who serve one of the Rafiki Foundation's schools in Uganda. David and Michelle Graves, a couple that upended their lives to serve Rafiki's mission, share their story about how they came to Rafiki, what the experience has been like in Uganda, and what the Rafiki school is like.

Episode 12: Do African Teachers Think CCE Works?

Karen Elliott — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode Karen speaks with a teacher at the Rafiki School in Kenya who started with Rafiki as a day student. They discuss how Rafiki’s classical Christian education is changing the lives of young people in Africa.

Episode 11: A History of Samuel Ajayi Crowther

Karen Elliott — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 22:22:43 -0400

In this episode Karen explores the history of the first African bishop of the Anglican church, Samuel Ajayi Crowther, and describes his significance in CCE.

Episode 10: How CCE Influenced James "Africanus" Horton

Karen Elliott — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Karen describes a 19th century intellectual leader, James 'Africanus' Beale Horton, who was greatly influenced by CCE.

Episode 09: The Athens of West Africa

Karen Elliott — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Karen explores the history of classical Christian schools in Africa and how the need for such schools has developed over time.

Episode 08: The Growth of a New CCE School in Rwanda

Karen Elliott — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode Karen speaks with four members of Hope for Children Ministries, based in Rwanda where they have just opened their new school, Hope for Children International School. They discuss the mission of their ministry and the growth of their new school, in which they have implemented the Rafiki curriculum.

Episode 07: What is the Most Essential Class in CCE?

Karen Elliott — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode Karen speaks with two other missionaries who have served as heads of schools in Africa. Together, these three classical Christian educators discuss what the most important class in CCE is and how it impacts the formation of virtue in students.

Episode 06: What Do African Parents Think of CCE?

Karen Elliott — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode Karen speaks with two fathers of children who attend the Rafiki school in Africa. Together, these three discuss the universal difficulties of parenthood and offer a window into what parents see from their children who attend classical, Christian schools.

Episode 05: What Does a Kenyan Pastor Think of CCE?

Karen Elliott — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode Karen speaks with Reverend Ken Mbugua, a Reformed Baptist pastor in Kenya. Rev. Mbugua has written articles for Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization, and spoke at their national conference in 2021. Karen and Rev. Mbugua discuss the values of a classical, Christian education and the positive effect it can have in Africa.

Episode 04: What Do Kenyan Teachers Think of CCE?

Karen Elliott — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 15:04:05 -0400

In this episode Karen talks with Loise and Ann, who are Kenyan teachers at the Rafiki Classical Christian School in Kenya. Loise teaches kindergarten and Ann teaches logic, algebra, and geometry. This conversation explores the relevance and application of classical Christian education from teachers' perspectives.

Episode 03: Why Should We Be Working in Africa?

Karen Elliott — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode Karen will be answering the question of why missions like The Rafiki Foundation are necessary in Africa.

Episode 02: What Does Athens Have to Do with Africa?

Karen Elliott — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 16:13:43 -0400

In this episode Karen will be analyzing the importance of a Western civilization education in Africa.

Episode 01: Why Classical Christian Education is Right for Africa

Karen Elliott — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 08:00:00 -0400

In this inaugural episode, Karen Elliott introduces herself and the organization she serves, The Rafiki Foundation, as she explains why a classical Christian education is needed in Africa.