For more than 30 years, the Hanns Seidel Foundation ("Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung" - HSS) has committed itself to action in the field of socio-political education, both at home and abroad.
The "Bildungswerk" (Educational Association) of the HSS is responsible for socio-political education at home, while the Academy for Politics and Contemporary Events ("Akademie für Politik und Zeitgescheben") covers the fields of social and political research; the Grants Committee ("Förderungswerk") offers scholarships to domestic and foreign students, and the Institute for Foreign Relations ("Institut für auswaertige Beziehungen") fosters an international exchange of information and views.
Measures and projects in the fields of development cooperation are undertaken by the Institute for International Contact and Cooperation ("Institut für internationale Begegnung und Zusammenarbeit" - IBZ). What started in 1976 as a project in Africa has grown over the years into a worldwide commitment: by the end of the year 2000 projects were being carried out in more than 50 countries.
ASEAN is one of the key regions in which we concentrate our efforts. Together with partner countries, we work to deal with major political challenges in the field of development policy, and are committed to stay the course over the long run. The rationale for this commitment are, for example, the unbalanced concentration of economic development in only a few urban centers, with a consequent adverse effect on rural regions, as well as an inadequate infrastructure over a large area of the countries of the region. The acute financial crisis of the past few years has shown that many nations in the region are still struggling with major challenges in political, social and economic transformation.
To deal with such challenges, the following instruments, suitably adapted for the conditions of respective partner countries, are exploited:
1. Political dialogue and sociopolitical adult education
2. Sponsorship and support of administrations in the creation of constitutional structures, at national, regional and municipal levels
3. Management training and the formation of institutions in both government and non-governmental sectors
4. Dual vocational training as a sociopolitical task
With the aid of such instruments, HSS, together with its local partners, continues to tackle challenges in areas such as combating poverty, population growth, the destruction of the environment, conflicts and disputes, migration and international organization crime.
Our partners come from governmental, regional or municipal levels, as well as from the non-governmental sector, including industry and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
HSF works closely with all countries in ASEAN, in a mutual commitment a number of projects. Among others, there is the provision to Indonesia of consultancy and information services in setting up an education and management system for environmental protection, particularly through promoting and focusing on environmental education.
In 1994, the Philippines drafted a vocational education bill with our support; simultaneously, we are helping to promote rural development by providing training and advanced training schemes for management.
Singapore also has a regional leadership and management education program, as a basis for socioeconomic development in the ASEAN region and Indochina, the purpose of which is to promote the rule-of-law principle, stimulate a market economy and build regional cooperation.
With a history of some 20 years of steady cooperation with ASEAN member countries and with the ASEAN Secretariat, the Hanns Seidel Foundation will continue to remain a reliable partner in tackling these key tasks.
Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the ASEAN Secretariat and UNEP for their fruitful cooperation over the years, and hope to continue our success story.
