WACO TRIBUNE HERALD

Waco Tribune-Herald (TX) – Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Author: Kat Nelson

As a boy in the African nation of Cameroon, Kenneth Acha navigated a course of hardships, repeated setbacks and seemingly endless roadblocks in his quest for an education.

His perseverance paid off, and now he is one of the newest members of Waco’s medical community. After graduating from Texas A&M College of Medicine in May, Dr. Acha began his medical career as a resident physician at Waco Family Practice Center, which serves many underprivileged and poverty-leve patients.

The 32-year-old relies on his deep faith in Christ and works to help the needy gain care and opportunities both here as a doctor and abroad through his Shaping Destiny Ministries.

Kenneth grew up in a village in Cameroon with his parents and five siblings. With a population of about 18 million, nearly half of Cameroon’s residents live below the poverty level, according to the CIA’s The World Factbook.

His father was a kindergarten teacher who worked hard to provide for his family, Kenneth recalled.

“As I look back, my desire for knowledge and the chance to help others was shaped by my father and the example he set for us,” he said. “He was an orphan from birth and worked long hours to take care of us. He was the only one in our village that would make craft items and would walk great distances to sell them. His life was very difficult, with many sacrifices he made on our behalf. Really, he was one of the most caring people I’ve ever known.”

But when Kenneth was 9, his father — only 39 years old — died and the family spiraled into poverty. His father, whom Kenneth believes had a weakened immune system due to diabetes and high blood pressure, developed an infection and did not get to the hospital in time.

The family could no longer afford Kenneth’s tuition to attend school and he was forced to drop out in what is the U.S. equivalent of the seventh grade. He was working as a subsistence farmer when a Cameroonian grade-school teacher paid his tuition so Kenneth could resume school. The schoolhouse was a two-hour walk from his home, but he faithfully trekked the distance in the blazing tropical heat as well as torrential rains.

Passionate about learning, he was turned away again after the teacher could no longer afford Kenneth’s tuition. Hoping for a way to continue his studies, Kenneth began sitting outside the classroom, hidden from the teacher’s view, but where he could listen and see the blackboard. It was a big risk to take — he was breaking a serious rule and inviting severe and painful punishment.

“Each teacher had a cane and could whip a child with impunity,” he said. “We were all very afraid of being beaten. But I was determined not to get behind in lessons while I tried to find help with tuition.”

It was the school’s French teacher who rousted Kenneth from his hiding place and marched him to the office. Expecting harsh discipline, Kenneth instead was questioned about his actions and interest in learning. The French teacher was impressed with Kenneth’s ambition and offered to pay his tuition and give him a place to stay.

“Things really got better then,” Kenneth said. “I lived at his home, which was close. I worked doing household chores and also took care of his animals.”

Academically brilliant, Kenneth graduated as valedictorian at Presbyterian High School Batibo in Cameroon. After graduation, an uncle paid Kenneth’s travel expenses to New York, where he arrived with the clothes on his back and a few dollars. He had no jacket, and for the first time experienced the bitter chill of ice and snow.

From there, a three-day ride via Greyhound bus took him to Houston where he enrolled at Houston Community College and then later at Rice University. While in college, he worked odd jobs to support himself and took advantage of whatever scholarship and assistance programs were available.

Before completing his studies at Rice, he applied to Texas A&M College of Medicine and was one of two students in his class accepted into medical school before acquiring a bachelor’s degree.

In 2005, Kenneth said he felt called by God to help children in his native land whose plight was similar to his. Amidst the grueling courses of his first year in medical school, Kenneth founded Shaping Destiny Ministries, a nonprofit organization created to improve the futures of orphans and underprivileged children worldwide.

In order to keep the fledgling program alive, he used money from his student loans to sponsor the first three children. Friends and classmates donated money and talents to help get the organization off the ground. Within a year, Shaping Destiny was sponsoring 70 children, providing them with food, clothing, medical care and tuition.

Today, the Shaping Destiny orphanage at Cameroon is home to 41 children. The focus of its care goes beyond food and shelter to include an atmosphere of faith and fellowship, medical care and education, as well as vocational or professional training. Including those in the orphanage, Shaping Destiny now sponsors approximately 150 children.

“Our purpose is to nurture, educate and care for these children, to train them for employment, self-sustainability,” he said. “In turn, they will be living examples of hope and opportunity to their friends and neighbors. The best way to impact a community is to live and work there.”

Every two to three months, a member of the Shaping Destiny team goes to the Cameroon orphanage and stays for a few weeks. Kenneth plans to make the trip in the next six months. As funds allow, the organization will expand its program not only into other provinces within Cameroon, but into other countries.

Kenneth’s family in Waco is growing as well. He and his wife, Ellen, a registered nurse, welcomed their first child — Joshua — to their family on Sept. 6.

Remembering his own struggles growing up, Kenneth offers words of hope to those dealing with hardship and despair.

“In my experiences, I learned to look at adversity as an opportunity to grow in character and inner strength,” he said. “The more difficult the goal, the more people will honor and respect you. That is an extra reward. And if you quit, give up — you miss out on the chance to overcome and the possibility of achieving greater success and happiness in your future.”

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SHAPING DESTINY

For more information about the

orphanage and program