The Trust Board members are volunteers keen to further the work of the Ministry. Members come from three different countries: Fiji, the U.S.A. and New Zealand. At any one time at least one member of the Board is a member of the Fiji Deaf community. Several of the Fiji representatives are members of Suva St Chapel, a local church which has been very proactive in its support of the Deaf community and which has a special relationship with the ministry. There is also a representative from Bryndwr Chapel, in Christchurch, New Zealand, which has supported the ministry from its beginning. Some members have expertise in working with and/or educating the deaf.
The 2023 Meeting was a mix of Zoom and In-person
(Photos are from 2019)
The main current concerns of the Board are:
To ensure the effective running of the school and hostels. The 2023 Operational Audit concluded as follows: "The GSD and Hostels have maintained credence professionally and as a ministry in Fiji and the region and commendation must be ascribed to the sound leadership of operations for which credit must go to the Director, Headteachers, teaching and hostel staff with the support of the Trustees. We must maintain vigilance in the security, welfare and development of those entrusted to the institutions and principally to glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who said, “Suffer little childrento come unto me.”" To promote the quality of the education provided. Three teachers attended ICED 2021 (International Congress for Educators of the Deaf) over Zoom. Promoting the up skilling of the teaching and hostel staff is a priority. To provide quality hostel accommodation. The purchase of a large local house was completed in 2023. The Board is very grateful for the support of generous donors in acquiring what we now call Jireh (the Lord will be provide) House. It has now been upgraded and the top floor is a hostel for the Senior Boys. In addition, there are flats underneath: one provides a home for the for the Director and his wife, the others are rented - providing some income to pay rates and insurance. The Ministry now no longer rents homes. Property maintenance of the three hostels is ongoing. To plan for the future sustainability of the Ministry within the context of the needs of the Deaf of Fiji. The search for suitable land on which to develop a farm, to be run by the Deaf, is ongoing. A job description is being developed for a new role: someone to support young Deaf, post-school, and into work. Support for the Deaf throughout the South Pacific. Seven deaf students are now receiving sign-medium education in Vanuatu. GSD staff provide support for the teacher over Zoom. Technology has also permitted personal support to continue for Kiribati Deaf. |