Corona Emergency Fund

Dear donors,

With your help, we have been able to support 375 students from 50 nations quickly and unbureaucratically in the past weeks in copeing with the corona crisis. In total, we received over 174,000 EUR from over 1000 donors. The commitment from members of the Friends and Patrons, from our alumni, from members of the university, from the business community and the city of Jena was overwhelming. Every contribution, large or small, has helped a student to be able to continue their studies at the University of Jena.

Our fundraising campaign was intended as a interim aid for acute emergency situations and until the start of a federal aid programme for students. Our donation fund is now almost used up. However, we continuously pass on newly received donations to our students. Since June 16th, 2020, the German government has been supporting students who are in financial difficulties due to the corona pandemic with a special loan and grant program.

At the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, we were able to achieve a lot in a very short time by working together. Dear donors, we thank you for your selfless commitment to the University of Jena and its students!

Yours,
Wolfgang Meyer, Chairman Society of the Friends and Patrons of Jena University
Walter Rosenthal, President Friedrich Schiller University Jena

The corona virus has reached the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and poses great challenges to the university. Our students have also been hit hard financially by the Corona pandemic. They are no longer able to continue their student jobs and thus cannot finance their livelihood. The "Society for Friends and Patrons of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena" therefore called for a fundraising campaign for the students of the University of Jena at the beginning of April.

These are unprecedented times.

Many student jobs are currently discontinued. The dining halls are closed, food is more expensive without the student services organization; and parents often cannot support their children any further because of the changed economic situation (short-time working allowance). Students with children find themselves in an especially difficult situation. International students are particularly vulnerable—they often cannot rely on their parents’ support, who partly live in areas that are also hit hard by the crisis. There is no longer enough money for expenses such as the health insurance, which is especially important right now—and this puts the students’ residence status at risk. Nobody can currently tell how long this crisis will last.

Corona Emergency Fund for Students

Together with President and Vice-President for Learning and Teaching, the “Friends and Patrons of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena” aim at providing swift and hassle-free assistance to students. The donation goal are €175,000 for a flexible aid fund. 

Donation receipts are issued for donations of 200 Euros or more. For smaller donations, a bank account statement is sufficient for the tax office.