Our Volunteers
Lifeline's Team
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.
eLoik Charles, Lifeline intern, is a visually impaired 29-year-old Dominican.  In 2013, he graduated from Saint Mary’s Academy, Dominica, where he received two awards including the National Youth Council’s esteemed Challenge Award given in recognition of outstanding contributions in the social / economic / professional sector despite disability, and the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development’s, Special Recognition Award for CSEC.
 
He then attended Dominica State College where he graduated in 2016 with an associate degree in Information Technology. He then attended the University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, USA,  where he graduated in May of 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Business Marketing. Loik is now back in Dominica seeking employment in social work and business. He is also discovering ways to be a more impactful citizen while living with a disability. He is an advocate for the global community of human rights fighters and dedicates many hours volunteering with Non-Government Organizations such as Lifeline Ministries and the Dominica Association of Persons with Disabilities. - Read More About Loik's Successes
Debbie Jean Jacques is a retired public officer having worked with the Government of Dominica and private NGO’s over the past 30 years.
 
Her academic studies are in Agriculture, project proposal and small business development which has afforded her wide, one-on-one experience with rural people.  She decided to retire early due to an unfortunate experience with breast cancer in 2010 and soon after began volunteering as an adult literacy teacher with the Adult Education Program of the government of Dominica.  Thereafter, she began a small private enterprise called ‘Ti Boutique' which seeks to supply mastectomy bras and prostheses to low income breast cancer survivors.   She is a proud member of the Dominica Cancer Society as well as other women's support groups in Dominica.  Her passion now is being able to reach out to as many women as possible to help provide spiritual and mental support during their journey of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
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. 
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Rianna Patterson trained with 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 (DNCW) 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.
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 instrumental in getting this organization to join the NGO Coalition for the Protection of Children.