Faith, Resistance, and Literacy: Lynn Steyn's Journey from Apartheid Activism to Community Education
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A Community Connections Feature on Just Gospel Radio
Host: Carlett | Guest: Lynn Steyn, CEO of Help2Read
In this powerful episode, Lynn Steyn shares her 40-year journey from anti-apartheid activist to transformative education leader, demonstrating how faith-driven action reshapes communities through literacy.
Roots in Resistance: 1976-1977
Born in Freiburg into an educator family, Lynn's activism began in her Anglican Church youth fellowship during apartheid. In 1977, she and friends sabotaged government vehicles by putting sugar in petrol tanks during elections. More daringly, they created an underground network hiding young men like Ivan Tom (later Cape Town's medical officer of health) who refused military conscription on religious grounds, moving them throughout and out of the country to avoid imprisonment.
Faith as Foundation
Under Archbishop Desmond Tutu's leadership, the Anglican Church provided theological grounding for resistance. Lynn's principle: "You serve only one God. You're guided by the Holy Spirit." This united faith community acted boldly. "When you have unity, you become brave, strong, fierce."
Challenging Traditional Education
As a teacher, Lynn rejected rigid government systems that ignored individual children's needs. Her revolutionary methods included outdoor mathematics lessons where Grade 2 students measured and ran 50-meter tracks, and letting children choose their own library books. When inspectors questioned her approach, she'd say: "They're outside doing mathematics on the field."
Help2Read: Community-Powered Literacy
As CEO for seven years, Lynn implements a bottom-up approach. Help2Read only works where invited by school communities—principals, governing bodies, and parents must request the program.
The Model:
Recruit young matric graduates from school communities
Train them in child safety and engaging teaching methods
Employ them for 10 months as literacy tutors with stipends
Provide one-on-one support using fun, curriculum-based methods
50% of tutors pursue education careers afterward
Young tutors become community role models. The program extends to early learning centers during holidays, using children's home languages to excite them about stories. Many tutors advance to coordinator roles, proving the program transforms both children and young adults.
Faith in Action
Lynn and her spouse pray daily for their work and family. The organization has witnessed "incredible miracles" with funding. "God is never late for Help2Read, because the whole team is walking in unity and faith."
Her advice to young people: "Use your skills. Use every opportunity. Share your faith in action—even on TikTok."
Get Involved
Contact:
Phone: 079 110 5890
Email: lynn@help2read.org
Website: www.help2read.org
Social Media: @Help2Read
Help2Read operates in Western Cape (Khayelitsha, Mitchell's Plain) and beyond. The biggest challenge is funding stipends. Lynn welcomes partnerships with corporates, churches, and businesses.
Key Message: Community connection means seeing injustice and saying "not on my watch," seeing needs and saying "I'll help," seeing gaps and saying "let's build bridges." That's the Gospel lived out loud.
Host: Carlett | Guest: Lynn Steyn, CEO of Help2Read
In this powerful episode, Lynn Steyn shares her 40-year journey from anti-apartheid activist to transformative education leader, demonstrating how faith-driven action reshapes communities through literacy.
Roots in Resistance: 1976-1977
Born in Freiburg into an educator family, Lynn's activism began in her Anglican Church youth fellowship during apartheid. In 1977, she and friends sabotaged government vehicles by putting sugar in petrol tanks during elections. More daringly, they created an underground network hiding young men like Ivan Tom (later Cape Town's medical officer of health) who refused military conscription on religious grounds, moving them throughout and out of the country to avoid imprisonment.
Faith as Foundation
Under Archbishop Desmond Tutu's leadership, the Anglican Church provided theological grounding for resistance. Lynn's principle: "You serve only one God. You're guided by the Holy Spirit." This united faith community acted boldly. "When you have unity, you become brave, strong, fierce."
Challenging Traditional Education
As a teacher, Lynn rejected rigid government systems that ignored individual children's needs. Her revolutionary methods included outdoor mathematics lessons where Grade 2 students measured and ran 50-meter tracks, and letting children choose their own library books. When inspectors questioned her approach, she'd say: "They're outside doing mathematics on the field."
Help2Read: Community-Powered Literacy
As CEO for seven years, Lynn implements a bottom-up approach. Help2Read only works where invited by school communities—principals, governing bodies, and parents must request the program.
The Model:
Recruit young matric graduates from school communities
Train them in child safety and engaging teaching methods
Employ them for 10 months as literacy tutors with stipends
Provide one-on-one support using fun, curriculum-based methods
50% of tutors pursue education careers afterward
Young tutors become community role models. The program extends to early learning centers during holidays, using children's home languages to excite them about stories. Many tutors advance to coordinator roles, proving the program transforms both children and young adults.
Faith in Action
Lynn and her spouse pray daily for their work and family. The organization has witnessed "incredible miracles" with funding. "God is never late for Help2Read, because the whole team is walking in unity and faith."
Her advice to young people: "Use your skills. Use every opportunity. Share your faith in action—even on TikTok."
Get Involved
Contact:
Phone: 079 110 5890
Email: lynn@help2read.org
Website: www.help2read.org
Social Media: @Help2Read
Help2Read operates in Western Cape (Khayelitsha, Mitchell's Plain) and beyond. The biggest challenge is funding stipends. Lynn welcomes partnerships with corporates, churches, and businesses.
Key Message: Community connection means seeing injustice and saying "not on my watch," seeing needs and saying "I'll help," seeing gaps and saying "let's build bridges." That's the Gospel lived out loud.
