Terms & conditions

These Terms & Conditions (the “Terms”) govern your access to and use of Yewogen Derash (the “Platform”), a trust-first crowdfunding service operated for donors and campaign owners worldwide. By creating an account, donating, or running a campaign, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform.

1. Definitions

• Owner — a verified user who creates and manages a campaign.
• Donor — a user who contributes funds to a campaign.
• Campaign — a single fundraising effort with its own querycode, QR code, and separated ledger.
• We / us — the operator of Yewogen Derash.

2. Eligibility & verification

You must be at least 18 years old and able to enter a binding agreement. Campaign owners must complete identity verification — including government ID upload and a live face capture — and pass administrator review before any campaign is published. We may decline, suspend, or revoke verification at our discretion where we cannot confirm identity or suspect misuse.

3. Accounts

You are responsible for the accuracy of your account information and for keeping your credentials secure. You are responsible for all activity under your account. Notify us promptly of any unauthorised use.

4. Campaign conduct

• Campaign information must be accurate, current, and not misleading.
• Supporting documents must be genuine and relevant to the stated cause.
• Funds must be used for the purpose described to donors.
• Duplicate, deceptive, or impersonating campaigns are prohibited.

5. Donations

Donations are voluntary and are directed to exactly one campaign, resolved by that campaign's unique querycode. A donation is recorded only after the payment gateway confirms it through a verified webhook. Donations are generally non-refundable except as set out in our Fees & payouts policy or where required by law.

6. Fees & payouts

Each campaign's funds are held in a separated ledger and are never pooled. Payouts are released only after administrator approval; owners cannot self-release funds.

Two deductions apply, and they are the only deductions the Platform makes. Both are set out in full in our Fees & payouts policy and are shown to you in the Platform before you act:

1. Transaction fee — 3% of every donation, deducted from each donation at the time it is paid. This is charged on the gross amount the donor pays and covers payment processing, identity verification and fraud screening. The balance shown to a campaign owner is therefore always net of this fee — it is 97% of what donors gave. Donors are shown this fee before they confirm a donation.
2. Safety & guarantee withholding — 7% of the total gross amount donated to a campaign, deducted when funds are withdrawn. This withholding is charged once per campaign, not on each withdrawal: where a campaign owner withdraws in instalments, any amount not yet collected is carried to the next withdrawal until the full 7% has been charged. It is deducted from the amount being withdrawn, and the exact figure is disclosed on the withdrawal request before the owner submits it. This withholding funds donor protection, including refunds where fraud is established and the guarantee that stands behind every verified campaign. It is retained by the Platform and is not refundable or returnable to the campaign owner.

Taken together, a campaign owner receives 90% of the gross amount donated to their campaign. The Platform retains 10% in total. No other charge is applied to a campaign owner by the Platform. Fees are stated exclusive of any charge your own bank may levy to receive a transfer.

The Platform may change these rates. Any change is published on the Fees & payouts page before it takes effect and applies only to donations and withdrawals made after that date; it never changes the rate applied to money already received.

7. Prohibited activities

You may not use the Platform for fraud, money laundering, financing of illegal activity, or any purpose prohibited by applicable law. Such activity may be reported to the relevant authorities and will result in suspension and forfeiture of access.

8. Intellectual property & your content

You retain ownership of the content you submit, and grant us a licence to host and display it as needed to operate the Platform. You must hold the rights to any content you upload. The Yewogen Derash name, brand, and software remain our property.

9. Suspension & termination

We may suspend or terminate access, and withhold or reverse payouts, where we reasonably believe these Terms have been breached or where required to protect donors, owners, or the integrity of the Platform.

10. Disclaimers & limitation of liability

We provide verification and safeguards but do not guarantee campaign outcomes or the conduct of any user. The Platform is provided on an “as is” basis. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for indirect or consequential losses arising from your use of the Platform. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.

11. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by an updated “Last updated” date, and continued use of the Platform constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

12. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and disputes are subject to the courts of Addis Ababa.

13. Contact

Questions about these Terms can be sent through our contact page.