New to Canada? Windmill Microlending is a national charity that helps skilled immigrants return to their profession by offering low-interest loans up to $15,000 for higher education and licensing, plus free coaching and mentorship.
Interest rates start as low as 4.45% for regulated healthcare professionals
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Lawyer | Calgary
Charles, a lawyer with 20+ years of experience from Nigeria, faced challenges re-entering his profession in Canada without a license. Working as a security guard, he struggled to balance studying for exams with supporting his family. With a loan from Windmill Microlending, he covered exam fees and dedicated time to study. Today, Charles practices law in Canada, fulfilling his dream of returning to his profession.
Dentist | Mississauga
Binal, an established dentist in India, moved to Canada in 2014 and began working at a sandwich shop to support her family. Despite long shifts handling meat products as a vegetarian, her life changed when she connected with her Windmill career coach, Robert. With support from a Windmill loan, Binal completed her exams and is now back to her profession, bringing smiles to her patients.
Physician | Vancouver
Payam immigrated to Canada to continue his medical education and secure a residency. The path to obtaining a medical license was challenging, requiring costly exams and certifications. With financial assistance from Windmill Microlending, Payam covered these expenses, easing the financial burden and letting him focus on his studies. Despite the challenges of recertifying skills and adjusting to life in a new country, Payam eventually matched into a family medicine residency at the University of British Columbia.
Teacher | Calgary
Mina and her husband moved to Calgary in April 2020, seeking freedom and better opportunities due to political unrest in Iran. Despite pandemic challenges and job shortages, Mina pursued TESOL certification with a $6,000 Windmill loan. She rebuilt her teaching career, advancing to a management role while continuing to teach part-time. Mina now shares her experiences with other immigrants, advising them to focus on building a new life in Canada without comparing it to their past.
Psychotherapist | Vancouver
Parikshit, originally from India, moved to Canada in 2019 to study psychotherapy. Facing financial challenges during an internship in BC, he turned to Windmill for support. The loan helped him cover living expenses, complete his studies, and become a registered counsellor. He now works in BC, supports an online mental health initiative in India, and credits Windmill for helping him achieve his career goals and find meaningful work in his field.
Osteopath | Barrie
Liliana, originally a dentist from Bogota, Colombia, now lives in Barrie, Ontario, and has found a new career in healthcare. After moving to Canada in 2019, she faced accreditation barriers and financial challenges, leading Liliana to work in a factory. With a Windmill loan, she retrained in osteopathy and now finds joy in helping her clients. Liliana plans to open a clinic with her husband in the near future.
On average, clients triple their income
Newcomers take on low-income jobs to survive. Windmill helps our clients return to their trained profession to boost their income by over 3 times.
Skilled immigrants and newcomers supported
Over 15,000 new Canadians have received the support they need to start anew in Canada, making dreams a reality and forging a brighter future.
Over 2000 five-star Google reviews
A reputation built on impact: 2,000+ five-star ratings.
Four years in a row!
2025
Four years in a row!
2025
Four years in a row!
2025
100% effectiveness rating
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2025
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2026
Canada faces critical labour shortages, especially in our healthcare sector. Skilled newcomers can fill these gaps but face barriers to work in their trained fields. With your support, we can help change this.
Fraud alert: Beware of individuals or accounts falsely claiming to represent Windmill Microlending. We never request personal information or payments through social media or messaging apps. Please verify all communication via our official channels ending with "@windmillmicrolending.org", "@lemoulinmicrocredits.org" or contact us via verified information available on our website if you are unsure.
As a trusted national charity for over 20 years, Windmill Microlending provides low-interest loans to help skilled immigrants and newcomers restart their careers in Canada with affordable financing.
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Microlending is a form of financing that issues smaller loans to individuals who may not otherwise qualify for traditional credit products from larger financial institutions. Windmill provides loans to skilled immigrants and refugees who require licensing, training, or relocation to achieve their career goals in Canada.
We lend to clients who may not have much credit history in Canada or are otherwise deemed high-risk by banks and face prohibitive interest rates. We offer newcomer-friendly repayment terms as well as other add-on services like coaching and a mentorship program to help clients succeed in their goals. Gain a better understanding of how an affordable career loan can help you. Explore Windmill’s Skilled Immigrant Career Success Guide.
