Parents of Athletes Outraged by Cash Fees for Camp

When preparing for the winter session at the children«s recreational camp »Zelenaya Volna,« parents of young athletes were asked to make payment in two ways: by bank transfer and in cash. The application for the trip requires indicating the number of the personalized supplementary education (PFDO) certificate, but there is no mention of cash payment in the contract and other documents. This raised suspicions among families about misuse of funds.

As explained by one of the mothers, whose child practices sambo, the trip is organized under the «Sambo» program. «First, they said to transfer 5,000 rubles (approximately $50 at current rates) to the settlement account, and bring another part in cash. The total came to 12,500 rubles (approximately $125 at current rates),» she said. «In the documents, only the 5,000 rubles (approximately $50) we transferred is accounted for, and the rest, according to the wording, is covered by the certificate. But there is no mention anywhere of the 7,500 rubles (approximately $75) in cash.»

In the service agreement, only a contribution of 5,000 rubles (approximately $50 at current rates) is mentioned, which needs to be transferred to the camp«s account. The full cost of the voucher is not disclosed in the document, nor is the necessity of cash payment. »I pay 5,000 rubles (approximately $50), then bring 7,500 rubles (approximately $75) in cash, and also pay with the certificate, on which I pay my taxes? If the trip is paid by parents, then why touch the certificate?« the woman wonders. »It has a limit. If money is deducted from the certificate now, the child won«t be able to attend other clubs.»

The education committee of Volgograd Oblast stated that payment for the voucher is made from the regional budget and parental fees, which are paid exclusively by non-cash methods. «The amount of partial payment for a 7-day session from the regional budget funds is 7,030.80 rubles (approximately $70 at current rates), the amount of partial payment for the voucher cost for parents is 5,040.00 rubles (approximately $50 at current rates). The full cost is 12,070.8 rubles (approximately $121 at current rates),» clarified the department. They emphasized that the camp does not work with cash, and money from PFDO certificates is not deducted.

Acting director of the «Zelenaya Volna» camp Anastasia Kolesnikova reported that the final lists of children for the session, which begins on February 15, are still being formed. «We are working with the Sambo Federation, which sends us a list of children; it will be fully formed only closer to the trip date,» she explained. At the same time, the chairman of the VROO «Sports Club »Sambist«» Yevgeny Kozlov denied his organization«s involvement in this trip. »The thing is, we are not going to this camp at all. Our children, I repeat, are not going to any camp, not to any «Zelenaya Volna.» That is, they are not going in winter or spring,« he stated.