Lakshmi enrolled in YMCA pre-arrival programs while still in India, his home country. He hoped that these programs would be enough to help him assimilate into Canadian culture but there were many surprises along the way. The initial months were tough for both Lakshmi and his wife. “We knew nobody here,” he remembers. Finding a home with no credit history or employment was very challenging. He wanted to enjoy life in Canada but there seemed to be endless barriers facing him.
Lakshmi was a senior system administrator back in India and he was interested in pursuing similar work in Canada. However, he needed Canadian education first. He applied for a bridging program at Humber College. During the registration stage, he received a pamphlet about Windmill Microlending and how a loan could help him complete his course.
A Loan from Windmill
For Lakshmi, not having a credit score was a barrier to anything he wanted to do. Renting a house or enrolling in a course seemed impossible. Windmill, he says, encouraged him to pursue his career ambitions despite his low score. His Career Success Coach Joyce offered much-needed assurance that his loan repayments would increase his score.
The trust that Windmill placed in him gave him the courage and support to complete his course and receive his accreditation. Lakshmi noticed that having his Canadian education listed on his resume was very attractive to potential employers. Things were looking up for him at last.
Life in Canada
Lakshmi’s life is very different now from the one he had in the first few months of moving to Canada. He is employed in a job that aligns with his experience and education. His job includes three weeks of paid vacation, which he never had back in India. Life feels much freer than before. “I see everything as an opportunity,” he says. Funds are easier to manage and planning for the future has become much easier.
