The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) was founded in 1925 as a political legacy of Germany's first democratically elected president, Friedrich Ebert.
Friedrich Ebert, a Social Democrat of working class background who rose to the highest political office in Germany, proposed the establishment of a foundation to serve the following aims:
- Furthering political and social education in the spirit of democracy and pluralism;
- Facilitating university access and research by gifted young people through scholarships;
- Contributing to international understanding and co-operation.
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, banned by the Nazi Regime in 1933 and re-established after World War II in 1947, continues to pursue these aims in all its' extensive activities in Germany and around the world. A private non-profit institution, FES is committed to ideas and basic values of social democracy. FES promotes international peace and understanding among peoples, as well as democracy, social and labour rights, independent media and the recognition and promotion of human rights.
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