The Rafiki Foundation

In this episode of The Rafiki Foundation Podcast, Karen Elliott interviews Dr. Davies Owens, founder of BaseCamp Live and ZipCast, about the power of classical Christian education to shape children's hearts, habits, and loves. Owens shares how his work helps parents, teachers, and school leaders connect through accessible conversations, practical wisdom, and innovative audio resources. Together, they explore the importance of forming the next generation through truth, goodness, and beauty and how classical Christian education can strengthen families and communities in Africa and beyond.

For more information about Rafiki and classical education, visit Classical Academic Press and Rafiki Foundation.

In this episode of The Rafiki Foundation Podcast, Karen Elliott interviews Dr. Josh Herring about forming classical Christian teachers through great books, thoughtful discussion, and the recovery of the liberal arts tradition. Herring shares the vision behind the Logres Institute and discusses his new book, Sons of Adam, Daughters of Eve, which explores C. S. Lewis’s understanding of gender, creation, and receiving reality as a gift. He also reflects on his new role with Rafiki and the work of strengthening its upper-school classical Christian curriculum for students and teachers in Africa and beyond.

For more information about Rafiki and classical education, visit Classical Academic Press and Rafiki Foundation.

In this episode, Karen Elliott interviews Pastor Nate Walker about Gospel Education and why he believes education is an essential part of Christian discipleship. Drawing on his experience founding Trinity Classical School, Walker explains how churches can use classical Christian education to form students in Scripture, history, theology, the liberal arts, and a biblical vision of the world. Together, they explore why church-based schools can strengthen Christian families, serve their communities, and help cultivate the next generation of the Church. 

For more information about Rafiki and classical education, visit Classical Academic Press and Rafiki Foundation.

In this episode of The Rafiki Foundation Podcast, Karen Elliott interviews David and Michelle Graves. The Graves share how Rafiki’s Classical Christian Teachers College in Uganda is preparing a new generation of educators to teach with wisdom, creativity, and biblical conviction. Through daily Bible study, rich literature, thoughtful discussion, and integrated learning, students are discovering the joy of learning while gaining the skills to transform classrooms across Africa. Learn how teacher training, curriculum development, and church partnerships are helping lay the foundation for thousands of future classical Christian schools.

For more information about Rafiki and classical education, visit Classical Academic Press and Rafiki Foundation.

In this episode of The Rafiki Foundation Podcast, Karen Elliott sits down with Shakiyla Solomon, Kelly Fore, and Erica Robertson to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of cultivating faculty for classical Christian education in cross-cultural settings. Drawing from more than 20 years of experience operating schools across 10 African nations, the conversation explores how educators can faithfully implement classical Christian education even when teachers have little exposure to classical pedagogy, limited theological training, and significant pressure from national exam systems. The panel highlights practical strategies that have helped Rafiki schools thrive, including daily Bible study, ongoing teacher in-service training, regular classroom observations, mentorship through head teachers, and the use of a scripted classical Christian curriculum. Throughout the discussion, the speakers emphasize that transformational education is not merely about passing exams, but about shaping students’ hearts, minds, and appetites toward the good, true, and beautiful. The episode ultimately serves as an encouragement to schools around the world seeking to implement classical Christian education in challenging or resource-limited environments.

For more information about the ministry and educational work discussed in this episode, visit Classical Academic Press and Rafiki Foundation.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.