George Soros’ new crisis fund brings millions to Estonia

The biggest single amount of money – one million kroons – went to Estonian Women’s Associations Round Table. “The interest has been vast,” said the leader of Open Estonia Fund Mall Hellam in evaluating the interest Estonians have for George Soros’ crisis fund he created this summer in order to fight the economy crisis. Soros assigned 100 million dollars for the crisis programs in Central and Eastern Europe. According to Hellam there is no set sum per country, a lot depends on how the representatives do their jobs and the quality of applications. Although the program has no deadline Hellam still thinks that this is a two-year project.

Katrin Enno from Open Estonia Fund explained that the aid provided by Soros’ crisis program can be divided into two groups. Firstly, up to 25,000 dollar (275,000 krooni) applications which are processed quickly and secondly, bigger than 25,000 dollar applications which take up to six weeks to process. The latter applications will go to a special international commission who then decides whether to approve them or not.

Katrin Enno emphasized that Soros’ crisis program isn’t “business as usual”. “All the applications presented must prove that the project that needs money is in that situation directly because of the economy recession.” Most of the applications presented at the moment have a social side (which is only natural). According to Enno they are also waiting for applications which would be directed at developing the morals of the society and would condemn populism, demagogy and any sightings of intolerance.

“At the same time, the offered solution must be practical and give a realistic result in a short time. The crisis fund does not aid big researches,” added Enno.