Since it was established on 11 April 1967, the Hanns Seidel Foundation has been carrying out political educational work with the aim of promoting the "democratic and civic education of the German people based on Christian principles", as stated in the foundation's statutes. Consequently, the political education work of the Hanns Seidel Foundation is based on an image of man that includes both the unrestricted development of personality and autonomy as well as social responsibility and solidarity. Today, this mission is more relevant than ever, in view of the increasing demand for more personal responsibility, for a "culture of self-reliance" and an "active civil society" which are so characteristic of our times.