A Dream of Snow Came True – Indian Nurse Builds Her Future in Kuopio

Rajvir Kaur has fallen in love with her new homeland. In Finland, children grow up in a safe environment and have great opportunities for education.

As a child in India, Rajvir Kaur dreamed of living surrounded by snow. Not even the cold could dampen her dream, as the 50-degree heat in India was far too much for her liking.

“My childhood dream has come true in Finland!”

Originally, Kaur didn’t come to Finland because of snow. After living in Cyprus for five years, she explored different options and realized that Finland offered a safe place for children to grow up – and education was free.

“There was too much racism in Cyprus. I want a bright future for my children in Finland, and I want to continue my own studies here,” Kaur says.

Kaur moved to Kuopio in 2024. She appreciates that everything is close by and children are well cared for. In Finland, kids are also allowed to be children without responsibilities until they reach school age. Kaur has a 4.5-year-old daughter and a newborn son.

“I love Finland and its forests – the plants and the tranquility bring me peace. I also value the honesty of people here,” Kaur notes.

The only thing that amuses her is how much Finns talk about the weather. Many people keep repeating that summer is coming, yet in springtime Finland it just keeps snowing. Not that the snow-loving Kaur minds, but it makes her wonder whether it might still snow in July.

Found a Job at Savas

Trained as a nurse in her home country, Kaur now works at the Savas Foundation, helping residents with intellectual disabilities and people recovering from mental health challenges manage their everyday lives. She encourages them to be independent, helps them integrate into society, and emphasizes that they are just like everyone else.

“They don’t need to feel different,” says Kaur.

During her maternity leave, Kaur is trying to learn as much Finnish as possible so she can better understand her clients. She is also studying to become a practical nurse and working toward getting her nursing qualifications recognized in Finland. Kaur’s husband is a laboratory technician and is currently studying Finnish to be able to work in his field.

Kaur’s best experience in Finland has been the support she received from her employer when she was moving to the country and didn’t know how to find housing. Savas found her an apartment near a daycare center and even donated furniture and food.

“It was a huge help in a new situation, especially since I arrived alone. My family came a few months later. It felt like I came home. I didn’t have to struggle to settle in – everything was ready when I arrived.”

Kaur wants to highlight to other international professionals that Finland is the best place to grow one’s expertise. Here, one can focus on studying without needing to work multiple jobs just to pay tuition. The society offers a lot of support.

“I Want to Live in Finland”

Kaur regrets that in India, especially girls don’t have many opportunities to study. In Finland, girls live in an equal environment and can make their own choices about their future.

“There’s also a lot of crime in India. I believe our childhood shapes how we see the world. I’m afraid of everything because I faced threats growing up. I don’t want my children to go through the same. That’s why I want to live in Finland – this is my home,” Kaur says with her baby boy in her arms.

Text: Minna Akiola

Photos: Rajvir Kaur