Oct 8, 2025 Building Dorms, Nurturing Futures

Imagine you’ve had a long day at boarding school, filled with secondary curriculum, and you’re missing home. You lie in bed to get some rest, but the rain starts leaking through the ceiling. All your belongings are constantly wet, you are kept awake by the rain in your room, bugs and rats are a common sight, and there is no proper place to wash your clothes. 

That was Joanna’s life; she was trying to beat the odds. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2022-23 in India, only 40% of students ages 14-18 are enrolled in secondary school. 

Joanna didn’t want to be a statistic, but the dormitory conditions weren’t making it easy to stay. 

The SDA Senior Secondary School is the only SDA boarding school across six states in India. The dormitory is overcrowded, and the infrastructure is falling apart. 

Now having graduated, Joanna reflects on her time there, “In the midst of all those (infrastructure) struggles, something beautiful happened – the people. The friendships I made during that difficult year were what kept me going. We bonded over shared experiences, and in those moments, we created memories that would last a lifetime. Even though the physical conditions were challenging, the support and companionship of my friends made the place feel like home.” 

Dr. Attar Singh, the principal for SDA Senior Secondary School, reached out to QHM and a few other ministries, and together we are working on providing 150 students with new dorms. 

Thanks to our donors, our partnership with SDA Senior Secondary School dates back 25 years. 

Similar to Joanne’s experience, Gagan Singh sent us a letter – 

“I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the profound impact your organization (QHM) has had on my life. At the age of seven and a half, I was sent to a dormitory supported by your ministry at the Adventist School Hapur, and this pivotal experience shaped my future in ways I could never have imagined. 

Though I was initially overwhelmed by homesickness and the unfamiliarity of dorm life, the love and care extended to me by the administration and staff were truly comforting. As the youngest in the dorm, I faced challenges with self-responsibility and chores, but the nurturing environment helped me overcome these obstacles. Over the period of 11 years (2000-2011), my knowledge of the Bible, prayer, and academic studies flourished. 

By the time I graduated from high school, I had gained not only a solid education but also a deep appreciation for the values instilled in me by your ministry at Hapur School. 

Inspired by my experiences, I pursued further education at Spicer Memorial College and eventually embarked on a career in education. 

Today, I am a junior high school principal, entrusted with the responsibility of providing moral education to my students like what I received years ago.” 

What happens inside those school walls is extraordinary: students are encouraged in their faith, friendships are created that carry them through hardship, and they are given an education that opens doors to the future. 

It’s a privilege to help create the environment where this good work can continue to flourish. 

Together, we’re not only building dorms — we’re making space for His saving grace to be shared.