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The Rafiki Foundation

The Rafiki Foundation

Written by: Karen Elliott
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About this listen

Karen Elliott is the executive director of the Rafiki Foundation. Karen travels to Africa several times a year and oversees the work of the Rafiki Foundation which, through its 10 Rafiki Villages, is working toward bringing Bible study and classical Christian education to a thousand schools in Africa and beyond in the next decade. Karen believes classical Christian education should go global starting with some of the most marginalized children in the world – Africa. This podcast seeks to answer – “What does Athens have to do with Africa?” and much more.©TrueNorth.fm Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Episode 26: Classical Christian Education: Going Global with Eric Cook and Dr. David Diener
    Feb 23 2026

    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.

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    43 mins
  • Episode 25: The Good Teacher: Cultivating Wisdom, Wonder, and Virtue
    Jan 26 2026

    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.

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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • Episode 24: Logic, Language, and Love: The Mission of John and Gwen Cicone
    Dec 29 2025

    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.

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    24 mins
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