Participation fees for external projects
Why do we charge a participation fee?
In the past, we have refrained from any kind of participation fees from our side in order to keep opportunities open to as many young people as possible. The organization does not receive any support for sending Estonian participants abroad. However, each project actually involves small costs, which we have covered from other funds so far (EVS projects, Estonian local projects). Printing of partnership agreements, paper costs, postal costs (often you have to send e.g. contracts abroad by post), Internet, tools, bank fees, etc. It doesn't seem like much, but since the number of our projects has increased by more than 100 per year, the costs have become so high that we can no longer cover them from other means. The purpose of the participation fee is not to earn income, but to cover the organization's resources, ensure stability and improve the quality of projects. In the longer term, we would like to create a special fund so that if the participants cannot buy tickets for themselves for financial reasons, then we would be able to do it, and this would also be an option in case it takes too long to reimburse the travel expenses (we could pay the participants their travel expenses immediately and deal with receiving funds from the organization ourselves). In addition, we would also like to offer our volunteer coordinators, youth leaders and mentors additional opportunities for training and self-improvement.
So what about participation fees?
After a thorough analysis of the feedback, we decided to make three options regarding participation fees:
What is the solution if you don't want to pay the participation fee? One good solution is to enter into a partnership yourself. Of course, if you have entered into a partnership to participate in this project, you can participate without a participation fee. If you cannot participate in this project yourself, you can save yourself a free participation in a project with a similar participation fee for the future. So, for example, let's say you make a successful partnership for a youth exchange in Italy and the project gets funding. Unfortunately, the dates do not suit you, and you cannot participate in this project (the participation fee for this project is otherwise €20, but it would be free for you). Therefore, the next time you apply for a Spanish project with a €20 participation fee, you do not have to pay the participation fee. Therefore, those who actively enter into partnerships can still participate without participation fees. We also hope that this initiative will help us attract more partners in the future :)
There are exceptions to the general system as well, and it may happen that we change the system based on how it works.
Under investigation: it may be possible that we will be able to apply for additional support for young people registered in the city of Tartu to help young people with fewer opportunities to buy tickets or avoid the participation fee. The option is currently under investigation, we will inform applicants when this option becomes available :)
- Voluntary participation fee - the project has a voluntary participation fee, which means that participants can pay as much as they can / can afford. Meaning the participant him/herself decides whether they are able to pay the participation fee and how much they are willing to pay. There is no minimum or maximum limit. We believe that, in fact, the participants are also willing to contribute to help cover the costs of the organization. However, those who really cannot afford it do not have to pay.
- €10 participation fee.
- €20 participation fee.
What is the solution if you don't want to pay the participation fee? One good solution is to enter into a partnership yourself. Of course, if you have entered into a partnership to participate in this project, you can participate without a participation fee. If you cannot participate in this project yourself, you can save yourself a free participation in a project with a similar participation fee for the future. So, for example, let's say you make a successful partnership for a youth exchange in Italy and the project gets funding. Unfortunately, the dates do not suit you, and you cannot participate in this project (the participation fee for this project is otherwise €20, but it would be free for you). Therefore, the next time you apply for a Spanish project with a €20 participation fee, you do not have to pay the participation fee. Therefore, those who actively enter into partnerships can still participate without participation fees. We also hope that this initiative will help us attract more partners in the future :)
There are exceptions to the general system as well, and it may happen that we change the system based on how it works.
Under investigation: it may be possible that we will be able to apply for additional support for young people registered in the city of Tartu to help young people with fewer opportunities to buy tickets or avoid the participation fee. The option is currently under investigation, we will inform applicants when this option becomes available :)
I can't participate in the project, can I get my participation fee back?
In general, we do not refund the participation fee. We would like the participants to think thoroughly about whether it is possible for them to participate (whether they can get off school, whether their parents allow, whether the travel route is suitable, etc.) and do so before confirming their participation. This also places a small responsibility on the participant to check whether he can/will really participate before confirmation. Therefore, we will not refund or transfer the paid participation fee to another participant/for the next project.
An exception is the situation where participation in the project is not possible due to a factor not dependent on the participant. For example, the participant fell ill, etc. In this case, please forward a digitally signed statement and attach a medical certificate to return the participation fee. Questions - comments? Write to us at [email protected] :)
An exception is the situation where participation in the project is not possible due to a factor not dependent on the participant. For example, the participant fell ill, etc. In this case, please forward a digitally signed statement and attach a medical certificate to return the participation fee. Questions - comments? Write to us at [email protected] :)
