Allinder Mar 2020

At our classical Christian school in Zambia, we strive to have our students value truth, goodness, and beauty. What does this mean in the day-to-day operation of a school?

We teach students to value truth through our first-thing-in-the-morning Rafiki Bible Study lessons (which, by the way, are available to you, check out rafikifoundation.org for these great studies). We extend this by teaching truth in all our subjects by infusing a biblical worldview into the lessons.

We teach about virtue by dedicating one morning each week at assembly to this. We then encourage students to grow in these virtues, for example, be more dependable in completing assignments, more loving by sharing playground equipment, more honest and courageous by confessing wrongs they have done. Additionally students read about and discuss virtues through literature. This ranges from Aesop’s Fables in grade three (remember the folly of the little boy who cried wolf?) to The Odyssey (Penelope’s faithfulness as she waited for Odysseus).

Beauty is woven throughout the day and throughout the campus. Every student has weekly art lessons, beginning with the three-old-classes who learn about the color blue with the aid of Degas’ Blue Dancers.

Degas

Three-year-old’s first art lesson, Degas

Hard at work in primary art class

A sampling of art from upper school students

Our students enjoy a clean and beautiful environment for recess and relaxation time.

Primary students at recess (note the green and freshly mown grass)

Upper school students enjoyed using their art talents to enhance preschool classrooms by painting trees.

High school students’ artwork in a preschool classroom

Students have classrooms with beautiful and colorful curtains and attractive desks.

Local cloth for curtains

You may be thinking now,“Mown grass? Curtains? Art lessons? What’s so special about these?” In our community they are special. Most schools around us sadly are not able to provide any of these. It is our prayer that Rafiki students are grateful for these touches of beauty in their school.

A final note on beauty—your continued support of my work in Rafiki and for Rafiki Foundation overall is definitely a beautiful thing. Thank you very much!

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