Our Team

The current Board is composed of President, Vice-President and nine regular members, each of them deaf and having a different nationality. Board members’ term is four years with an option for re-election. The Board members are all volunteers and financially supported by their national deaf associations (or another sponsor) enabling them to attend Board meetings. Find out the sign name by clicking on the icon at the bottom of each photo.

The Board usually holds meetings twice a year in different locations all over the world. These meetings are hosted and financially supported by the organising deaf association. If you are interested in hosting the WFD Board, please contact: [email protected].

The staff members are in charge of the daily operations of the WFD. They are based in different parts of the world.

Find out the sign name by clicking on the icon at the bottom of each photo.

The main aim of the World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section (WFDYS) is to advocate the human rights of deaf youth in the world. WFDYS aims are in accordance with those of the WFD.

All nationally recognised Deaf Youth Associations and Deaf Youth Sections can apply and become Youth Ordinary Members of the WFDYS. The responsibilities of the WFDYS include organising WFD Children Camps for age 10 to 12, WFD Junior Youth Camps for age 13 to 17, and WFD Youth Camps for age 18 to 30. All of these camps are hosted every four years. The objectives of the camps are to provide leadership training for deaf youth, support for youth organizations and advocacy, networking, and cultural exchange. It is all about leadership, educating on human rights to strive for equality, and the celebration of our linguistic and cultural identity.

Regional Secretariat is established to lead Ordinary Members in the corresponding region. WFD has eight Regional Secretariats and one Regional Co-operating Member. They cooperate with, and report on their activities to, the WFD Secretariat.

In response to the request by at least three Ordinary Members in good standing in a geographical region, the WFD Board may establish a Regional Secretariat. Such Ordinary Members are expected to establish Internal Rules and take over the responsibility for the financial and governance support and maintaining momentum for the activities of their Regional Secretariat.

The WFD Expert Groups are advisory bodies for the WFD Board and its Working Committees, WFD Youth Section Board, and the WFD Secretariat. The WFD Expert Groups strive to provide relevant, robust and evidence based advice and guidance to assist the WFD to fulfil the goals of the WFD Action Plan 2023 – 2027.

Some of the responsibilities of the WFD Expert Groups include:

• Provide technical assistance and expert advice, either directly or indirectly, to the WFD Secretariat and WFD Ordinary Members.
• Represent the WFD in various events.

All of the members of the WFD Expert Groups serve as volunteers. The term of work is four years until 31 December 2027.

For enquiries relating to the WFD Expert Groups, email [email protected] .