ZAGREB, April 11 (Hina) - GONG, a non-governmental organisation of citizens monitoring elections, celebrates its fifth year of activity this month.
ZAGREB, April 11 (Hina) - GONG, a non-governmental organisation of
citizens monitoring elections, celebrates its fifth year of
activity this month. #L#
Besides the non-partisan monitoring of elections, GONG in the past
two years organised a series of projects aimed at bolstering the
citizens' confidence in democratic institutions and elected
representatives.
As part of GONG's programmes, more than 3,000 citizens visited
parliament and more than 500 took part in parliament's work.
The organisation, which was officially registered only in 1998,
also staged more than 150 meetings between citizens and their
elected representatives.
As part of the Internship Programme, which introduced in Croatia
the possibility of volunteering in state institutions, 30 students
volunteered in parliament, government offices, and local bodies.
Those are just a few of GONG's projects. The NGO is financed through
international donations, with the budget depending on election
monitoring campaigns. GONG's budget last year, when a local ballot
was held, totalled EUR400,000. This year it amounts to EUR350,000.
(hina) ha sb