Şükran Karataş (also known as Shukran Karatash) was born in 1950 into a Caucasian Turkish family who migrated to Turkey in the 1930s. She grew up in Ankara, Turkey's capital city. Despite her passion for education, cultural, social, and political injustice prevented her from continuing her studies initially.

In 1978, she relocated to Bursa, working during the day while pursuing evening education as a divorced single mother. Determined to create a better future, she made a bold decision in 1980 to move to England, seeking educational opportunities while raising four children and learning English.

In 1999, she attended university simultaneously with her youngest son, demonstrating her lifelong commitment to learning and growth.