Chest of Hope was formed out of the need to facilitate the growing overpopulation and lack of facilities and resources for women and children of domestic violence, and the state of homelessness around the Caribbean.
It is the goal of the organization to create hope and stability for needy women and children of all ethnicities internationally with special emphasis on transitional home and abused women and children.
Through implementation of programs that will benefit in areas of education, health, nutrition and housing, Chest of Hope will attempt to improve the standards of the less fortunate and those in need. We are currently seeking funds to build homes for orphans and to open shelters for women and children.
Merlyn relocated to the United States from Trinidad & Tobago at the age of nineteen and currently resides in California. She holds an associate's degree in Business administration and certificates in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice.
For three years Merlyn devoted a month of her time volunteering in orphanages and women's shelters in Tobago by providing food, clothing and additional resources. Her faith and steadfast desire to assist children and women on a global level helped conceive Chest of Hope in 2005. The organization was then developed along with a board of directors whose convictions match her own.
The vision of Chest of Hope was originally focused on providing safe and nurturing environments for orphaned children internationally. This vision has since expanded to include assisting those women and children who are victims of domestic violence.
Tricia is a native of Trinidad & Tobago, and is concerned about issues pertaining to the overall welfare of youth, particularly those in Third World countries. In 1997, as the Public Relations Officer for the Trinidad & Tobago Association of Northern California, she established T & T Read to provide books for school libraries in rural areas of Trinidad & Tobago. This resulted in the successful exporting and distribution of one ton of textbooks, educational videos, and other reading to several schools for use by hundreds of children in Trinidad. As a consultant, she also planned and managed a project that obtained 30,000 textbooks, as well as computers, to provide for a new library in a Nigerian village. Tricia has committed herself to Chest of Hope out a sincere desire to follow Jesus’ example of servant leadership.
Professor Patrice Gouveia-Marks is Dean of the Division of Language Arts at Antelope Valley College in southern California. A native of Trinidad and Tobago , Dr. Gouveia-Marks grew up next door to a children's home and witnessed firsthand its invaluable role in keeping families together and providing a safe, nurturing Christian environment. She adds, "I am humbled by the opportunity to be a part of an organization committed to the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of women and children in need." There is a critical shortage of wrap-around services for orphaned, abused, handicapped and abandoned children in T&T, and we are morally responsible for providing for them. They are our children. God has placed them in our care.
Erica was born in Jamaica and raised in Toronto, Canada where she currently resides. Her position as a Volunteer Coordinator working with the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention in Toronto has her working in support and care of those infected with HIV/AIDS in the African and Caribbean communities. Erica’s involvement with Chest of Hope has her focused on providing the care and resources necessary to assist children who are victims of domestic violence.
Cyril Boldon has an M.B.A in Business Management and specializes in the organization and management of small business and non-profit organizations. Born in Trinidad, Cyril was a resident of northern California for over 20 years. His personal philosophy is that public welfare and socio-cultural groups within the communities are effective to the extent that they are well organized and have a substantial membership/support base. He was a founding member of the T&T Association of northern California and of ACANI, a conceptual pan-African cultural group in the Bay Area, bringing organizations from within the Diaspora under one umbrella.
CHEST OF HOPE
Chest of Hope is a Christian organization committed to promoting and providing access to quality education, and protection against abuse, exploitation and violence.
Merlyn relocated to the United States from Trinidad & Tobago at the age of nineteen and currently resides in California. She holds an associate's degree in Business administration and certificates in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice.
Professor Patrice Gouveia-Marks is Dean of the Division of Language Arts at Antelope Valley College in southern California. A native of Trinidad and Tobago , Dr. Gouveia-Marks grew up next door to a children's home and witnessed firsthand its invaluable role in keeping families together and providing a safe, nurturing Christian environment. She adds, "I am humbled by the opportunity to be a part of an organization committed to the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of women and children in need." There is a critical shortage of wrap-around services for orphaned, abused, handicapped and abandoned children in T&T, and we are morally responsible for providing for them. They are our children. God has placed them in our care.
Erica was born in Jamaica and raised in Toronto, Canada where she currently resides. Her position as a Volunteer Coordinator working with the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention in Toronto has her working in support and care of those infected with HIV/AIDS in the African and Caribbean communities. Erica’s involvement with Chest of Hope has her focused on providing the care and resources necessary to assist children who are victims of domestic violence.
Cyril Boldon has an M.B.A in Business Management and specializes in the organization and management of small business and non-profit organizations. Born in Trinidad, Cyril was a resident of northern California for over 20 years. His personal philosophy is that public welfare and socio-cultural groups within the communities are effective to the extent that they are well organized and have a substantial membership/support base. He was a founding member of the T&T Association of northern California and of ACANI, a conceptual pan-African cultural group in the Bay Area, bringing organizations from within the Diaspora under one umbrella.