Twelve-year-old San Francisco author and activist Stefan Lyon (right) discusses a book he wrote with children at The Children’s Book Project, Oakland, on June 19th. Photo by Ken Katz


Twelve-year-old author and activist Stefan Lyon’s mission to help improve the lives of the disadvantaged began at age 3 on the hard-scrabble, inner city streets of San Francisco.

Accompanied by his mom, Stefan handed out cookies and blankets every month to the homeless from his little red wagon. (Stefan and his mom continue this work today.)

Stefan, a San Francisco sixth grader, has funded the construction of two schools in Kenya with $45,000 raised through the sale of two books he wrote.

On June 19th he donated 400 copies of his books about his pet rats, My Adventures with Stitch and Stitch and Molly Visit San Francisco, to The Children’s Book Project in Oakland (www.childrensbookproject.org), which serves underprivileged Bay Area children.

During his visit, Stefan told the children how the $45,000 provided funding for the Kenyan schools and why many African children are not able to attend school. Stefan’s first two-room schoolhouse named Stefan’s Wing was converted from an abandoned cow shed. His second school (grade 1-8) has opened for first and second graders and will be completed this year.

Ask Stefan why he helps the disadvantaged and he’ll give you a simple, direct answer: “It’s good to help people who are less fortunate because we have so much and they have hardly anything.”

For further information about Stefan and his books, visit www.stefanlyon.com or call (415) 309-4046.