Savitri was born in 2002 and became the eldest of two siblings. She moved to Punjab from Uttar Pradesh when she was seven years old. Her father, Bhola Prasad, migrated to the Indian province looking for work when her grandfather died. He was hired as a farmhand. Years later, he called for his family to join him.
Bhola was compelled to drop out of school as a child. It was standard among his siblings. His family required children to work to meet financial needs.
In Savitri’s case, it was unique that, among her extended family, her father and mother both desired that their children would become educated.
Savitri and her two siblings attended government schools until they graduated from high school. All the while, their parents were a constant motivation to do well in their studies.
Savitri’s mother, a homemaker, now works during harvest season with her husband.
The family lives as caretakers in a home owned by emigrants.
Inspired by community health nurses
Shortly before she was set to graduate high school, Savitri had the chance to witness the healthcare profession in action.
Her town of Mahil Gaila fell within the catchment of a community health outreach program. Nursing students from the nearby Guru Nanak College of Nursing (GNCON) travelled to the area to serve people in the village.
Savitri remembers seeing the nurses arrive in buses while wearing their uniforms. She thought she might like to be a nurse too.
As she neared high school graduation, she felt she needed career advice. She approached her grade 12 English and social studies teacher, Mr. Satish Kumar. She had been contemplating computer science and nursing. He asked her, “What is your interest? What would you like to do?”
Savitri’s response was honest; she was concerned about finances. She needed to get a job.
Mr. Satish Kumar told her the General Nurse Midwifery (GNM) program would be a great option. Within three years, she could graduate, and be hired at a well-paying job.
Receiving parental support, despite the financial struggle
When Savitri’s mind was made up, she told her father she wanted to study nursing.
At first, his response was muted. The fees were high.
But eventually he said, “It’s ok. If you want to do nursing, we’re going to support you. We’ll figure it out.” Her mother agreed.
Originally, he wanted to use his savings to build a house in his ancestral village But instead, Savitri’s father decided to support his children through higher education.
Savitri entered nursing school, while her sister enrolled in teacher training. Her brother continued with his high school studies.
Thankful for relief from bursary giving
In 2023, a group of Canadians fundraised to send young girls to nursing school in Punjab, through Canada India Education Society (CIES).
A total of 14, ₹30,000 (i.e. $500 CAD) bursaries were made available to those who could demonstrate financial need.
Through an application process, Savitri was selected to be one of the bursary recipients.
She recalls the financial help being a relief of stress on her and her family. It covered about 30% of her tuition for the year.
“These bursaries and scholarships were set up to help people in Savitri’s shoes,” says Barj S. Dhahan, co-founder of CIES.
“Many of these families rely on educating their children to advance their economic situation. Helping with small amounts goes a long way. The awards may not seem like a lot to Canadians, but they come to about a three month’s salary for the average worker in the region,” he continues.
Aspiring to advance her studies in nursing
Now in her last year of the GNM program, Savitri is hopeful she’ll be able to pursue her Post Basic Bachelor of Science in Nursing (PB BScN) degree. The additional two-year program will qualify her for a bachelor’s degree, per the Indian nursing registration system.
After graduating, she hopes to obtain clinical work, with the end goal of being a nursing teacher.
Her favourite part about nursing is seeing patients being well cared for, so that they leave in better health.
Her favourite healthcare specialty is obstetrics.
Help more students like Savitri
To train young people in healthcare, we’ve set up a yearly scholarship and bursary fund for students studying nursing in rural Punjab, India.
Scholarships, bursaries and student loans are hard to find in India. So are student jobs. Many families struggle to improve their financial situation through post-secondary education.
We can’t help them on our own; we rely on several donors contributing whatever they can. Whether you give $5 or $5,000, your contribution will make a difference in the lives of real people.
You can donate directly towards nursing scholarships and bursaries at the link below.