TRAVEL BURSARIES

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OKFestival is happy to announce that we have received enough funding to provide travel bursaries to help those with limited financial resources take part in the festival this September. This has been made possible with the help of our programme partners, with special thanks to Sida and the Sunlight Foundation.

The Bursaries

There have been two travel bursary types:

 

(1) Travel Bursary Details: GENERAL

The majority of our ‘general’ travel bursaries awarded will be between 300€ and 600€ depending on costs. These bursaries are meant solely to help cover international travel, accommodation and other transport costs, with additional thanks to the Sunlight Foundation for helping us cover the costs of American and Canadian candidates. Because we are a community-driven, mostly volunteer-run event, festival ticket costs are not covered by these travel bursaries – but if you also apply for the #OKFestCrew volunteer scheme, you have a strong chance of additionally receiving a free week-long ticket.

Who are the Bursaries For?

These bursaries are intended for anybody who can make a significant contribution to the festival, but who is not able take part without financial aid. Due to limited funds, we cannot give the bursaries to all applicants, so we will prioritise those who are already working to build the programme in some way (guest programme planners, advisory board members, session leaders, speakers etc) or who will otherwise make a significant contribution to the festival. We will also prioritise those who truly cannot make it to Helsinki on their own without financial help.

How to Apply?

The deadline for the 2nd round of applications was Wed 1st August (midnight BST). Our first deadline for travel bursary applications was Wed 27 June. All bursaries from this round have been awarded and recipients notified.

How to Claim Your Bursary?

Those granted a bursary will be required to send their contact and bank information, proof of participation in the festival (ie confirmation of festival ticket) and receipts. Bursaries can be claimed before the festival or few weeks after. The detailed guidelines for claiming the bursary will be provided with the confirmation email.

Apply for your Travel Bursary – GENERAL

The deadline was Wed 1st August (midnight BST). The application window has now closed.

 

(2) Travel Bursary Details – DEVELOPMENT PRACTITIONERS & CODERS

Sida, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, offers travel bursaries to a number of development practitioners and coders taking part in the Open Development topic stream. These travel bursaries will cover all reasonable flight costs and accommodation for the duration of the conference core days. A week ticket to the festival is also included. Transportation to/from airport and within Helsinki and food costs are not covered by travel bursaries.

Who are these Bursaries For?

The Sida travel bursaries are for development practitioners and coders who can make a significant contribution to the festival, but who are not able to take part without financial aid. People who are taking an active part in the Open Development topic stream will be prioritised. We will also prioritise those who truly cannot make it to Helsinki on their own without financial help, e.g. people from developing countries. Read more about why development practitioners should take part in the OKFestival in the blog post “What does ‘open knowledge’ have to do with ‘open development’?”

How to Apply?

The deadline for travel bursary applications was Wed 8 August (midnight BST).

How to Claim Your Bursary?

We will notify those who have been granted a bursary via e-mail before Fri 24 August (obs, the date has been postponed by one week from the original 17 Aug).Those granted a bursary will be contacted by a travel agency, who will make the travel arrangements and pay for the flights, accommodation and festival tickets. Detailed guidelines for the travel bursary will be provided with the confirmation email. If you have stated in the application form that you need a letter of invitation for a visa application to Finland, we will send that to you as soon as possible after granting the travel bursary. Applying for a visa is your own responsibility. Information about visa applications can be found here.

Apply for the Travel Bursary – DEVELOPMENT PRACTITIONERS & CODERS

The deadline was Wed 8 August (midnight BST). The application window has now closed.