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A donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is giving newcomers to Canada a second chance at the careers for which they have trained. The CAD$300,000 (US$220,000) donation to support Windmill Microlending (WM) will enable at least 60 immigrants and refugees to pursue professional re-credentialing, thus allowing them to pursue careers in their fields and integrate more successfully into the Canadian workforce.
Leeja, originally from India, was unable to continue her nursing career after moving to Canada, despite having 15 years of experience. Empowered by support from Windmill, Leeja is now a proud registered nurse in Calgary.
“For many newcomers to Canada, like Leeja, the journey to professional success is filled with unexpected roadblocks. Despite arriving with training and years of experience, systemic barriers can prevent skilled immigrants from working in their trained professions,” said Sandy Marett, national director, WM philanthropy and campaigns.
WM empowers skilled immigrants and refugees to achieve career success and economic prosperity by providing microloans of up to CAD$15,000 (US$11,000). These loans help clients obtain the Canadian licensing or training required to work in their field or secure a position that matches their level of education, skills and experience.
The Church’s donation and the collaboration between the Church and WM reflect a shared mission to lift and strengthen communities through education and employment by empowering newcomers and helping them succeed.
“These loans become more than a monetary opportunity. They give individuals a chance to share their talents, potential and gifts with all of us. There is power in self-reliance, and that power lifts us to our potential,” said Elder James E. Evanson, General Authority Seventy.
WM was inspired by the compassion and determination of the late Dr. Maria Eriksen, a Calgary-based clinical psychologist who recognized a troubling trend in her hospital workplace. Many of the janitorial and support staff were internationally educated professionals who, despite their qualifications, were unable to work in their chosen fields. Determined to address the problem, she helped establish WM (formerly the Immigrant Access Fund) to provide affordable microloans to newcomers seeking to have their credentials recognized in Canada.
Since its founding, WM has supported more than 14,000 newcomers, granting more than 2,600 loans this year alone. The impact is transformative: On average, clients triple their incomes within a few years, often transitioning from survival jobs to careers for which they have received training. These loans not only help lift individuals and their families out of poverty but also boost Canada’s economy by addressing critical labour shortages in sectors such as health care, engineering and information technology.
Most loans are used for re-credentialing high-demand professionals: dentists (33 per cent), physicians (14 per cent), pharmacists (10 per cent), nurses (5 per cent) and lawyers (4 per cent). For example:
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Yasemin, a refugee from Turkey, is determined to return to her profession as a lawyer and re-establish a legal career in Canada. While working to support herself, she is also studying law at the University of Toronto and hopes to take her bar exam this fall.
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With a CAD$7,000 (US$5,100) loan, Teleola, who was born in Nigeria, is now building her future in Ontario as she works toward becoming a licensed pharmacist.
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Omar, originally from Jordan, now lives in Manitoba and is working toward becoming re-credentialed as a lawyer in Canada.
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Sarah, from the Philippines, has made Alberta her new home as she works toward becoming a licensed pharmacist.
With a loan repayment rate of 95 per cent, Windmill’s model is sustainable and self-reinforcing. Most clients repay their loans within four years, allowing funds to be reused for future borrowers. With this “pay it forward” approach, the Church’s gift of CAD$300,000 (US$220,000) could support not just 60 newcomers, but many more in the years ahead.
Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles< said of the refugees in our midst: “Let us come out from our safe places and share with them, from our abundance, hope for a brighter future, faith in God and in our fellowman, and love that sees beyond cultural and ideological differences to the glorious truth that we are all children of our Heavenly Father” (“Refuge From the Storm,” April 2016 general conference). This partnership is a step toward that vision — a future where everyone, regardless of their origin, can thrive.