Four WANGO National Chapters Inaugurated

Four new WANGO national chapters were inaugurated at the Annual Membership Meeting on October 24, 2004, which convened during the recent Annual Conference in Budapest, Hungary. Chapters were recognized in the nations of the Dominican Republic, Hungary, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka.

Representatives of the first three of these chapters were delighted and proud to be brought to the stage and received official certificates recognizing their chapters. The representative from Sri Lanka was unable to be present, but will be formally recognized at next year’s Annual Conference.

The recognition of the national chapters culminated months of foundation work and preparation completed by the national representative in each of the countries. They are exceptional NGO leaders and public servants in their own right. In the Dominican Republic, Mr. Juan Larancuent is the President of Bloque de Organizaciones No Gubernamentales (BONGs), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (BONGs was selected in April 2004 to be the civil society representative on the Projects Selection Committee, which was formed jointly with the Delegation of the European Union and the Dominican Government, through the National Office of European Funds of Development; BONGs will be representing all the nation’s NGOs until 2007.) In Hungary, Mr. Denes Bank, is the Deputy President of the National Children and Youth Parliament, Budapest, Hungary. In Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Attah is the Executive Director of NGO Guide 2000, Kaduna, Nigeria. In Sri Lanka, Mr. Chandrarathne Bandara (Chandra) is the Field Director of Samadeepa Samaja Kendraya, Inc. (SSK), Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

According to WANGO Bylaws, members of WANGO may organize themselves into national chapters, in order to address regional concerns, facilitate intra-state networking, and coordinate national activities. Organizations and individuals who are members of the international Association are eligible to join the national chapter. Only one national chapter is allowed per nation, and all members of WANGO in that nation are automatically members of the chapter and have the right to vote for officers of the national body.