In 2021, at the age of 17, Sandeep Kaur heard from neighbours that her father was injured in a trucking accident in Dubai. Her family tried calling him, but got no answer.
The next day, sorrowful news arrived; her father had passed away.
For the next two hours, Sandeep Kaur didn’t say a word. She was frozen. She couldn’t comprehend what had happened. Then, she began to cry.
“My father told me he would guide me in every situation. He always encouraged me. He told me to do whatever I want to do, and to study what I want,” recalls Sandeep Kaur.
She was in her first year of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program when she attended her father’s funeral.
Her father was the provider of the family. Without him, Sandeep Kaur, with her mother and two younger siblings, had to find a way to survive.
Sandeep Kaur’s mother began working tirelessly as a seamstress to make ends meet.
“It is a very hard time for us. Now she is working until midnight. Sometimes she wakes up at 4 a.m. to complete the clothes,” explains Sandeep Kaur.
“When we are on holiday, we help our mother stitch the clothes. We have to do house work, so my mom can be free to work,” she continues.
Sandeep Kaur says the family doesn’t participate in leisure activities; their hours are consumed with earning enough to live.
Still, the family’s background means that earning ‘enough’ can be hard to come by.
Growing up in rural Punjab
Sandeep Kaur grew up in the village of Mirpur, in rural Punjab. Her family home consists of two rooms; a living area and a shared bedroom where all family members sleep.
The cooking is done outside.
Although rare for their time, both her father and mother completed grade 12. Her mother married after high school. Her father had little job prospects at the time.
When she was just three years old, her father began working in Dubai. He returned on extended visits every few years.
“My parents taught us to help everyone who is not in a good situation, and to respect everyone,” says Sandeep Kaur.
Since finances were tight, Sandeep Kaur and her siblings (one and three years her junior) attended government schools.
All three had a desire to complete higher education. But, without a father, the only way forward was dire.
Nonetheless, with her mother’s encouragement, Sandeep Kaur and her sister, Jasmeen Kaur, entered college. Her brother, Navneet Singh, continued his high school studies.
Relief from bursary giving
It was a great relief of burden when, in the spring of 2024, and again 2025, Sandeep Kaur learned she was the recipient of bursaries donated by Canadians.
Knowing that Sandeep Kaur’s story is not unique, funds were raised specifically for students at Guru Nanak College of Nursing (GNCON). The college has a history of helping disadvantaged youth advance through education.
Sandeep Kaur’s bursaries covered 30% of each years’ tuition.
“It made such a big difference,” explains Sandeep Kaur. “I didn’t have to ask my mother or uncle for all of the fees.”
The affordability of Guru Nanak College of Nursing also made education accessible to her.
The college was recommended by her cousin, who studied there three years ahead of her.
“The other colleges have high hostel fees. But the reviews here are good. The lectures are good and the education is the best. We also have a hospital facility, so we don’t have to go out for our duties,” explains Sandeep Kaur.
Thankfully, an uncle living overseas was able to help with the remainder of Sandeep Kaur’s tuition.
A desire to advance
After graduation, Sandeep Kaur hopes to take her career further with a Master of Science in Nursing (MScN).
“I’ve wanted to be a doctor or nurse since 8th grade. But suddenly my father died, and I didn’t have time to prepare for a doctor’s degree. So I came to study nursing,” she explains.
“I want to work as a registered nurse. I like that in nursing, we care for people who are sick and suffering from diseases,” she continues.
Support students like Sandeep Kaur
Sandeep Kaur’s journey reflects the reality for many young people in rural Punjab, where education has the power to transform lives.
To ease the burden on families, we established a scholarship and bursary fund for students at Guru Nanak College of Nursing in Dhahan-Kaleran, Punjab.
In India, scholarships, bursaries, student loans, and part-time jobs are limited. Many families face difficult choices just to afford tuition.
Your gift—whether $5 or $5,000—can open doors for students who need it most.
Donate today to support scholarships and bursaries: