Our Volunteers

Lifeline's Team

Our Volunteers

Bernadette Jean Jacques plays a crucial role as office administrator. Often the face of lifeline to the public as they come seeking advice and support, Sister Berns as she is affectionately known, is a friendly hostess for all ou rAirB-n-B guests and tourists in trouble. She can also be found patiently assisting British citizens grappling with online passport applications . She is a leader in her church and a key player in the Lifeline Family.

Tina Alfred – having graduated from Dominica State College with an Associate Degree in Psychology, Tina was placed by the National Employment Programme with Lifeline for three years running, working as a Social Work Assistant with special responsibilities for victim support training and for the Teens Support Group. The Teens Support Group is the context for trained mentors and teens to interact and discuss and experience connection. Tina is a role model for the girls, having been the Queens Young Leader for Dominica in 2015. As a result, some of the youngsters have gone on to represent their country in Regional and Global forums. Tina volunteered extensively with the Dominica National Council of Women (DNCW) and, since Hurricane Maria, has been employed by the Ground Truth Research Organisation and more recently with the World Food Programme.

Marieke van Asten provides administrative support to the Peaced Together training and research and development work on new project proposals. Motivated to volunteer to help others and to make a difference in a humble way, found her way to Dominica where she took up residence. Finding and becoming involved with Lifeline has enabled her to continue her passion for helping others by being involved with many projects. Marieke, from the Netherlands, has over 35 years of working experience including 10 years as an executive assistant with the international branch of the only Cooperative Bank in the Netherlands. She is educated in tourism and management support, and enjoys traveling, writing, painting and other arts and crafts.

Royette Cooke

Melissa Hurtault is a valued teen mentor who volunteers extensively with us at Lifeline. She has a joint honours Associate Degree in Psychology and IT and is especially useful in the area of communications. Melissa is a success story who started as someone receiving help and has become and effective mentor and assistant to us in the office.

Marileen Hypolite

Rianna Patterson joined Lifeline Ministries in 2016 as a Young Leader through the Victim Support Training programme. Rianna is also an active volunteer in Civil Society. She is a member of the Dominica National Council of Women (DCNW) and volunteers in their office, and is an active member of the National Youth Council. In September 2016, Rianna established The Dominica Dementia Foundation in an effort to assist those who have dementia and to raise awareness across Dominica. She has also been acknowledged by Alzheimer’s Disease International, World Young Leaders in Dementia (WYLD) and various other Alzheimer’s organizations in the region. Recently, she was selected as one of the Queen's Young Leaders of 2017 and will travel to England in June 2017 to meet Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Prior to joining Lifeline, Rianna studied psychology at Dominica State College and graduated with an Associate’s Degree in October, 2016. During the course of her study, she was a member of the Dominica Psychological Society and held the position of president of the Dominica State College Psychology Club.

Rianna's Story - “Having been bullied at school I tended to shy away from social gatherings and avoid initiating relationships with peers. I battled with low self-esteem for a number of years but eventually decided I no longer wanted to live my life in fear and started volunteering and creating bonds. At age 16, I lost my grandfather who was battling dementia. My own father had passed when I was younger, therefore my grandfather had been the only father-like figure in my life. I battled with depression for some time, but found a way through with the help of counselling."

Renatta Langais -- Recently returned from the University of the West Indies with a degree in Political Science, Gender and Development, Renatta is an enthusiastic young advocate with a particular interest in Young Women's Rights. She has traveled to more than ten countries attending conferences and volunteering. She has transitioned from beneficiary, receiving a Scholarship to attend Dominica State College, to adult Advocate and Rapporteur representing both Dominica and Barbados and the Caribbean Region.

Vanessa Lissa Winston is a key player and skills trainer with Lifeline. Whilst still on her journey, she describes herself as follows:

"I traveled a long way in my search to be free from domestic violence and all the ills that come with it. I ended up at the doors of Lifeline Ministries about 10 years ago. In doing so I found mentors and support for myself and my four children; this encouraged me in my determination to serve God and give my family a better life. Since then, over the years, I have been able to work with Lifeline to motivate and inspire others to recover from Gender Based Violence and to see God meet their needs. I enjoy being part of a team that positively impacts the lives of others. As I grow, I am blessed to have the Lifeline team mentor and support me to this day."

Several years ago Vanessa was instrumental in assisting a rape victim and took another step to being a committed advocate for those who dare to break the silence. She speaks out against victim blaming and is committed to the organization she leads, Dominica Association of Arts and Crafts Producers; she was instrumentental in getting this orgainzation to join the NGO Coalition for the Protection of Children.

Vanessa's Story - Vanessa first came to Lifeline as a victim of violence in need of a double stroller for her twins, I (Tina) still remembers her covered in bruises and that we had just recived want she needed from Lifeline supporters in the UK. Vanessa was struggling to make it with four children to feed and educate. But, there is much to thank God for as we at Lifeline saw her secure a piece of land, and then a house, and then a workshop, thanks to the Canada Fund for Local initiatives. She has now added a shop and building in Roseau. Many different individuals have helped her get on her feet including various visitors to Dominica who were impressed with her efforts to help herself with leather craft, candle and soap making and, more recently, metal and silversmithing for which she had opportunity to study in china in 2016.