Coming from a large family of nine siblings in Cameroon, Steve always knew that his professional and academic development opportunities lay outside his country. “In Cameroon, people with means tend to leave,” says Steve, who has had a strong passion for the sciences since he was young.

His journey to Spain began with the good fortune of meeting a Spaniard who informed him about available educational grants, particularly those from Luis Valls through the Fundación Patronato Universitario.

As with other types of student support, one non-negotiable requirement for obtaining the scholarship is academic performance, an area where Steve excels.

Thanks to the Foundation, Steve received a loan of 48,350 euros to cover six years of studies in Spain, helping him pay for university tuition and the rest of his living expenses in Madrid. In September 2023, Steve arrived in Spain and began his second year of high school at Andel School in Alcorcón, Madrid, where his extraordinary grades earned him a reduced loan amount. This is a common feature of this type of educational aid from the Fundación Patronato Universitario, where if you are an outstanding student, part of your debt is forgiven. It’s an incentive that Steve is taking full advantage of.

His goal is to study mechanical engineering at the Universidad Politécnica of Madrid, and he is confident he will achieve the necessary grades. Afterward, he has very concrete plans. He dreams of returning to his native Cameroon to establish a university focused on engineering and contributing to the development of his country.

He feels deeply grateful for the welcome he has received in Spain and the support from the Fundación Patronato Universitario, which has relieved great financial stress and motivated him to give his best.

“If I could stand before Luis Valls, thank you so much. Thank you for the great example you are setting for me and society. I hope we can continue to follow this example,” Steve expresses with sincere gratitude.