Patrons & Donors
Sir Louis Tull
Sir Louis Tull is a respected Barbadian lawyer and former Member of Parliament with over three decades of public service. He has held several ministerial roles, including Minister of Education and Attorney General, and remains active in national and international governance. A Knight of St. Andrew, Sir Louis holds degrees from the University of Manitoba, Oxford, and St. John’s College.
Dr. David O. Akombo
Dr. David O. Akombo is an internationally recognized scholar in music education and interdisciplinary musicology. He serves as Dean of Culture, Creative, and Performing Arts at the University of the West Indies Caribbean and has held academic posts across the U.S. Dr. Akombo has been published internationally and remains a respected voice in global conversations on arts and education.
Yvonne Spencer
Yvonne Spencer, founder of the Dyslexia Center of the Caribbean, has devoted her life to helping children with dyslexia reach their fullest potential. For over 30 years, she has led the Centre with compassion, dedication, and lifelong advocacy. Yvonne has been incredibly supportive and has played a key role in implementing the Project Uplift program into the Dyslexia Center, helping to expand its reach and impact. She has transformed countless lives and inspired a movement of understanding, support, and hope across the Caribbean.
Dr. Gillian Birchwood
Dr. Gillian Birchwood is a paediatrician and neonatologist who has worked extensively across the Caribbean promoting newborn care. She serves as Director of the Neonatal Unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Associate Professor at The University of the West Indies. Since 2014, Dr. Birchwood has been a Regional Neonatal Advisor with the Pan American Health Organization, conducting neonatal care audits and developing guidelines throughout the Caribbean. She holds an MB.BS and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Our Founder & Team
Andrea (Andy) Wells
Andrea Wells is the founder and project manager of Project Uplift, a nonprofit transforming how children with dyslexia are supported in schools. She also co-founded Uplift House, focused on teacher training and educational resources. In partnership with the Caribbean Dyslexia Centre, Andy helped launch Project Uplift in Barbados to bring evidence-based literacy instruction to teachers. A lifelong advocate for accessible education, she has served on multiple school boards and helped establish learning centers across Canada.
Orla Wallace
Orla holds a B.Ed. and M.Ed. in Educational Psychology from McGill University and is a certified Orton-Gillingham practitioner and CERI-certified Dyslexia Interventionist. With over 25 years of experience, she supports early learners through structured literacy in both school and private practice. At Project Uplift, she was instrumental in developing the program and now coaches educators and supervises the practicum.
Marlene Desjardins
Marlene is a licensed school psychologist with an M.Ed. from McGill University and a Ph.D. in School and Child Psychology from the University of Toronto. She specializes in assessments and interventions for students with learning and language challenges. Marlene currently works at a nonprofit clinic in Montreal, supporting students and families through evidence-based, individualized care.
Samantha Varadarajan
Sam holds a M.A. in Teaching from Hamline University and is a Certified Academic Language Therapist and Wilson Certified Dyslexia Practitioner. She specializes in structured literacy for students with dyslexia and dysgraphia, and is trained in multiple evidence-based interventions including Take Flight. Her work spans reading intervention, dyslexia evaluation, and ESL support. Sam has also served as President, Treasurer, and on the Board of Directors for the International Dyslexia Association – Dallas Branch.
Caroline Layne
Caroline is a Dyslexia Tutor and trained Assessor with the Caribbean Dyslexia Association in Barbados, where she has worked since 1998. She provides one-on-one tutoring and conducts weekly assessments for new students. Caroline is trained in Orton-Gillingham, Hornsby, and THRASS, and holds the Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing from the British Psychological Society, qualifying her to administer educational assessments.
Candice Richards
Candice Richards is a secondary educator in Barbados with over 20 years of teaching experience. She holds an MSc in Natural Resources Management and a Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership from Erdiston Teachers’ Training College. Ms. Richards completed two years of structured literacy training through Project Uplift and is certified by the International Dyslexia Association Ontario. She teaches Economics, Geography, and Social Studies at Graydon Sealy Secondary School.
Asha Yearwood
Asha Yearwood is an early childhood educator with over nine years of experience, including three years in formal classroom settings. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Care and Education and certificates in Childcare and Nursery Management and Structured Literacy. Asha is dedicated to supporting young learners through evidence-based teaching practices.
Our Impact
In our pilot year, 20 teachers completed Phase One of Project Uplift’s literacy training. In partnership with the Dyslexia Center of the Caribbean, a growing community of educators across Barbados has now completed the full program and is currently in training to become structured literacy facilitators — a step that aligns with our goal of building a sustainable project throughout Barbados.
This year, our reach is expanding significantly. We will be working with over 30 teachers across 15 schools in Barbados, while also mentoring three local team leaders in training. Their dedication is helping ensure the program’s continued growth, sustainability, and life-changing impact for children and families across the country.
Learning Partners & Resources
