The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) was founded in 1925 as a political legacy of Germany´s first democratically elected president, Friedrich Ebert.
Ebert, a Social Democrat from a humble crafts background who had risen to hold the highest political office in his country, in response to his own painful experience in political confrontation had proposed the establishment of a foundation to serve the following aims:
• furthering political and social education of individuals from all walks of life in the spirit of democracy and pluralism,
• facilitating access to university education and research for gifted young people by providing scholarships,
• contributing to international understanding and cooperation.
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, which was banned by the Nazis in 1933 and re-established in 1947, continues today to pursue these aims in all its extensive activities.
As a private cultural non-profit institution, it is committed to the ideas and basic values of social democracy.
FES is very active in Albania since 1991. The foundation strongly cooperates with national and regional partners- individuals and their organizations that are committed to work for the development of a social and democratic state.
Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is the biggest student association in Europe. It was born on the 16th October 1989 and legally registered in 1990 for supporting and developing student exchange.
We are present in more than 800 Higher Education Institutions from 39 countries. The network is constantly developing and expanding. We have around 15,000 active members that are in many sections supported by so called buddies mainly taking care of international students. Thus, ESN involves around 34,000 young people offering its services to around 200,000 international students every year.
ESN is working in Higher Education (HE):
• offering services to 200,000 students
• 15,000 active members (34,000 with the buddies included)
• mainly on a volunteer basis
• with an average annual growth rate of 12% since 2005
ESN is operating on three levels: local, national, and international.
ESN works for the creation of a more mobile and flexible education environment by supporting and developing the student exchange from different levels, and providing an intercultural experience also to those students who cannot access a period abroad ("internationalisation at home").
Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is a non-profit international student organisation. Our mission is to represent international students, thus provide opportunities for cultural understanding and self-development under the principle of Students Helping Students.
EDS Foundation emerged from the growing need to create a cultural circuit that is characterized by the common exchanges and initiatives in cultural and economical promotion. Such fields are, including but not limited to, history, art, environment, tourism, and archeology. To achieve the aforementioned purposes the foundation cooperates with various public and cultural institutions, foundations, associations, travel agencies.
EDS Foundation provides social-cultural and professional information to citizens who are continuously in need to gain information regarding Albania. Moreover, the Foundation provides services to public and private institutions interested in professional advice with respect to legislative and economical issues.
The main aim of EDS Foundation is to be a close partner of cultural, public and private institutions and local artists by bringing values to traditional and alternative cultures through the organization of cultural activities
EDS Foundation intends to develop a cultural politic through the organization of conferences, meetings, seminars, activities with cultural/artistic character that will have a positive impact in the academic, cultural and artistic world in Tirana and around.
The foundation will cooperate with the University of Tirana, institutions and important personalities in order to develop a new and accurate cultural politics.
To fulfill its objectives, EDS Foundation also aims to cooperate with European cultural circuits.
