Stephane Fonkam was born and raised in Cameroon West Africa. He successfully completed his medical school studies and earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) at the University of Niamey in Niger. He afterwards practiced medicine as a physician thru Contec Global, a highly prestigious and top-rated private clinic located in Niamey Cameroon. During this time frame, he also worked with the well-established international organization Doctors without Borders. This greatly inspired him to help local impoverished individuals throughout Niger West Africa.

While in medical school, Stephane served as President of the Cameroonian Student Association. This association governed all of the Cameroonian students whom were pursuing collegiate studies in Niger.

Stephane also has an extensive background in youth mentorship. While in Niger, he successfully launched two non-profit ventures. The first organization was a tutoring program called SYANN3. Its mission was to individually partner top undergraduate college students side-by-side with elementary, middle and high school youth for tutoring in their subject(s) of choice and need. Secondly, Stephanie launched the AEDI_VIH/SIDA non-profit organization and registered it through Niger’s Ministry of Public Health. This organization received monetary funding from the Niger government and promoted evidence-based sexual health education and STD’s prevention course trainings to middle and high school students in Niamey, Niger. Lastly, Stephane utilized his passion for video game play by starting a small business gaming house venture as well in Niger. Through this initiative, he was able to create internship opportunities for local boys to acquire business skills that further encouraged their classroom studies. After his departure from Niger, Stephane was able to leave the gaming house business in the hands of his trained mentees. These youth today independently remain successful in running this business as a result of Stephane’s time invested in mentoring them.

Stephane currently lives in Maryland, USA. He works as a Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional for the non-profit organization CRi (short for Choice. Respect. independence) based out of Chantilly, Virginia.

CRi largely focuses on serving individuals with intellectual & developmental disabilities & mental health needs within the community.  As a Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional, Stephane coordinates efforts of the Interdisciplinary team and program staff to ensure that all individuals receive the optimum services that meet their individualized needs.  In addition to his present employment, Stephane continues to study medicine and his future goals are to pass his United States Medical Licensing Examination and complete his residency. He desires to utilize his valuable non-profit & medical school education to further help the needs of many internationally.

As a result of Stephane’s diverse West African cultural background, he fluently speaks French, standard- English, West African Pidgin English & his mother’s native tongue Ghomola.  The Ghomola language stems from the Bamilekié ethnic group that is rooted in the western region of Cameroon. As the sole YACD board member from a French speaking region of West Africa, Stephane serves as an integral part of the organization’s needs to reach this important demographic on the African continent.