July 26th, 2025, 3pm MDT
Donations from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints help dozens of immigrants and refugees in Canada restructure the careers they trained. It offers not only financial aid, but a new sense of purpose, dignity and hope.
The church’s $300,000 CAD ($220,000) contribution reported in the Canadian newsroom in Canada, thanks to a donation to Windmill Microlending, a nonprofit that provides low wages to migrants and refugees.
These microloans allow recipients to obtain the licenses, retraining, or exams they need to work in their chosen field.
If your credentials do not cross the border
Leeja Benoy, an Indian nurse with over 15 years of experience, was unable to practice when she moved to Canada. Without a Canadian qualification, her professional skills would be unused. Today she is a registered nurse in Calgary.
Sandy Marett, National Director of Windmill’s Charity, said: “For many newcomers to Canada, like Leeja, the journey to professional success is met with unexpected obstacles. Despite arriving with training and years of experience, systematic barriers can prevent skilled immigrants from working with trained professionals.”
According to a report by Canada Newsroom, Windmill offers loans of up to $15,000 ($11,000 USD) to help recipients move into meaningful careers that suit their training and education.
Most recipients will pay off their loans within four years, with a 95% repayment rate, and Windmill’s model allows each donation to celebrate life for the next few years.
Elder James E. Evanson, 70, will become the Directorate of the Region of Canada.
Rebuild your life and revive your dreams
Windmill’s Microlending was founded thanks to the vision of the late Calgary-based psychologist Dr. Maria Eriksen.
Turning to action, she helped establish the Immigration Access Fund (now Windmill’s Microlending) and provided practical solutions to these barriers, the Canadian newsroom reported.
Since then, Windmill has supported more than 14,000 individuals from over 150 countries. Over 2,600 loans have been allocated this year alone.
According to the Canadian newsroom, clients triple their income on average after re-giving. Many people fill a significant workforce shortage in areas such as healthcare, law and engineering.
Most Windmill clients are high demand experts.
33% are dentists 14% are doctors 10% pharmacists 5% nurses 4% are lawyers
There are already successful cases from church donations highlighted by the Canadian newsroom.
Yasemin Mamaroglu, a refugee and lawyer from Turkey, is currently studying law at the University of Toronto and preparing to take the bar exam in the fall. Nigerian native Telera Adelier has received a CAD $7,000 loan to pursue a pharmacist license in Ontario.
A shared mission of lifting and empowering
According to the Canadian newsroom, collaboration with the church with Windmill brings the common values of education, independence and community development.
Elder Patrick Caeron, a quorum of the 12 Apostles, invited members in April 2016. “Beyond our hope for a rich future, our faith in God and Fellows, and our hopes with refugees who want love that looks like the glorious truth that we are children of all heaven.”
As Windmill’s model reinvests the loans that Reinvest will pay back to future borrowers, the church’s one-off gift can continue to celebrate life after the first 60 newcomers are helped.
